A cocotte is a versatile, enamelled cast-iron cooking pot that can be used for recipes involving braising, baking, stewing, frying, sautéing, and even boiling. It is essentially a large cast iron pot that has been enamel coated, and it is a large, wide pot that is forged in either a round or oval shape. The word "cocotte" is French for "casserole," so many people think of the cocotte as a casserole dish, though it has many other uses. Cocottes are very versatile, and their large size allows them to hold a lot of ingredients at once. Most commonly, cocottes are used for baking, braising, stewing, and boiling. They are excellent vessels for one-pot meals, liquid dishes, and dishes that require long, slow cooking times. Cocottes are also great for cooking French food. They are safe for the freezer, microwave, oven, broiler, and dishwasher, and they are perfect for single-serve portions. The lids on cocottes fit very tightly, which allows liquids to come to a quick boil, and they come in a wide range of sizes to suit your needs. The advantages of having a cocotte in your kitchen include consistent moisture and flavor of the dish you’re cooking, the ability to serve it directly on the dining table, and the enamel coating that prevents food from sticking to the pot.