If you're splurging on one piece of quality cookware, Hayden says it's gotta be the Le Creuset Signature 5 1/2 Quart Round Enamel Cast Iron French/Dutch Oven ($420). She's confident the cast-iron pot, which she mostly uses for soups, stews, and braises, will stand the test of time because her mom's beloved Le Creuset dutch oven has held up for decades.
"My mom got her first Le Creuset in the '80s or '90s when she got married. It was her wedding gift, and to this day, she still uses the exact same one," she says. "It's definitely seen some better days, but it still fully works and it's still stunning."
Pro Tip: Though the Le Creuset pot comes in so many beautiful shades, the content creator recommends choosing a darker color for long-term use. "Cookware can stain on the outside from the stove," she says. "While I'd love to have a white or a pale-pink one, I think that the darker colors require a lot less maintenance in keeping them." (In case you were wondering, Hayden's dutch oven is navy, while her mom's is blue.)
