I Love My Dutch Oven... Until I Have to Drain the Beef

We all have that one kitchen tool we swear by—until it turns on us.

For me? It's my beloved Dutch oven.

It's perfect for cozy soups, slow-cooked stews, and browning meat like a boss. But the moment I need to drain grease from a pan of ground beef? Suddenly I’m doing a full upper-body workout, trying not to spill hot fat all over myself—or the dog patiently waiting at my feet.

In case you missed it, I captured the moment on TikTok (because if you’re going to struggle, might as well let the internet enjoy it too):

🎥 Watch it here

Seriously, why are Dutch ovens so heavy? I love them. I really do. But sometimes, they make me question every dinner decision I’ve made up to that point.

Let’s Be Real: Kitchen Life Isn’t Always Pinterest-Pretty

Meal planning is great. Having systems is great. But even the best laid dinner plans can be temporarily derailed by physics, questionable cookware choices, or just plain exhaustion.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• It’s okay to laugh at yourself. Real kitchens aren’t spotless showrooms—they’re where life happens.

• Dinner doesn’t have to be fancy to be good. Ground beef and taco night still wins.

• You can love your tools… and still complain about them. (Looking at you, 15-pound cast iron pot.)

If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by your cookware, know you’re not alone.

Tell me: what’s your “why is this so hard?!” kitchen moment? Drop it in the comments or message me—I might just feature it in an upcoming post (or TikTok)!