Lids
Store the lid cracked or use protectors if moisture lingers in your cabinets. A little airflow beats that stale trapped smell.
Care
What keeps a heavy pot pleasant to use for years.
Let the pot cool a bit before cold water. It is a boring habit, but it saves you from the sickening ping of thermal shock and the chipped enamel story that follows.
Heat
Most cooking does not need maximum burner power. Cast iron rewards patience more than brute force.