Recommendations for Dutch oven needed

2zbeach · ‎03-11-2010

I am in the market for a Dutch oven,looking to do stews,corned beef,etc. need recommendations as to brand and most practical size. Easy clean-up,of course. TIA!

mouser29 · ‎03-24-2010

2zbeach, not on here much but would like to recommend a six-quart coated dutch oven you can buy at Wal-Mart for about $40. it is recommend by America's Test Kitchen, it is heavy, but makes the most delicious roast on top of the stove or in the oven. It is not non-stick, I found it to be rather easy to clean, heavy, but easy to clean! Hope this helps you.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Le Creuset, if you want quality. There is every size from tiny to huge.

BTW, there are numerous threads, some of them fairly current, here that have a lot of info with this same exact question. HTH

peachesncream · ‎03-13-2010

I have a Staub 5 quart Dutch oven (about 15 years old) and I love it. I bought it at QVC, though they don't carry them anymore. I would buy Staub again. It's more costly now.

In 2013, America's Test Kitchen recommended the Lodge 6 quart enameled cast iron Dutch oven. Lodge is a good brand and reasonably priced.

I believe that ATK at one time recommended the Travontina brand of Dutch oven. QVC has some of those.

LeCrueset is the Cadillac of enameled cast iron. If you can afford it, it is excellent.

camochef · ‎03-28-2010

2zbeach,

I love enameled cast iron, especially dutch ovens. The first one I ever purchased was a 6 qt made by lodge. I still use it frequently! I have many others by Le Creuset, Staub, Techniques, MCM, Tramontina, Better homes and Gardens, Kitchen Aid, Cooks Essentials, and a few other brands. I think my smallest is 2 Qt, up to 8 Qt, but the majority are 6 Qt.

I wouldn't part with any of them but the three I use most frequently are the huge kitchen-aid, the 6 qt. lodge, and the 6 qt MCM.

Most people like to impress others with their very expensive Le Creuset; but you can buy 8-10 equal sized pieces that perform just as well for the cost of one Le Creuset. Of all the enameled cast iron I have, only Le Creuset and my original Lodge have any chips in the enamel, both are small and on the outside of the lid, so I'm not overly concerned.

As a user of enameled cast iron, I cannot in good conciense recommend the higher price's paid for Le Creuset. I believe all brands will give you a lifetime of good performance if cared for properly.

I also have stainless, clad, and anodized aluminum dutch ovens...but to be honest, they don't get used near as frequently in this household. Another nice thing about enameled cast iron...it can be used on the nu-wave PIC or other induction cooktops.

Enjoy!

Camo

Razzy 7 · ‎03-11-2010

On 3/12/2014 camochef said:
2zbeach,

I love enameled cast iron, especially dutch ovens. The first one I ever purchased was a 6 qt made by lodge. I still use it frequently! I have many others by Le Creuset, Staub, Techniques, MCM, Tramontina, Better homes and Gardens, Kitchen Aid, Cooks Essentials, and a few other brands. I think my smallest is 2 Qt, up to 8 Qt, but the majority are 6 Qt.

I wouldn't part with any of them but the three I use most frequently are the huge kitchen-aid, the 6 qt. lodge, and the 6 qt MCM.

Most people like to impress others with their very expensive Le Creuset; but you can buy 8-10 equal sized pieces that perform just as well for the cost of one Le Creuset. Of all the enameled cast iron I have, only Le Creuset and my original Lodge have any chips in the enamel, both are small and on the outside of the lid, so I'm not overly concerned.

As a user of enameled cast iron, I cannot in good conciense recommend the higher price's paid for Le Creuset. I believe all brands will give you a lifetime of good performance if cared for properly.

I also have stainless, clad, and anodized aluminum dutch ovens...but to be honest, they don't get used near as frequently in this household. Another nice thing about enameled cast iron...it can be used on the nu-wave PIC or other induction cooktops.

Enjoy!

Camo

Camo is right on. You don't need to purchase Le Creuset if you want quality. While it certainly has snob appeal it won't give you better results than much less expensive brands. Initially Cook's Illustrated ranked the Tramontina brand as highly as the $305 Le Creuset. Unfortunately the Tramontina Dutch oven has been discontinued and CI now recommends the Lodge Color Enamel 6-quart Dutch Oven at $49. With proper care it should last a lifetime - and even if it doesn't you can purchase SIX of the Lodge Dutch ovens for the price of one Le Creuset.

RocketMom · ‎03-09-2010

Le Creuset 7.25 Qt oval French oven. I just used mine for the first time this weekend, and contrary to being just "snob appeal" as someone stated, this oval French oven is probably the single best purchase I have ever made. Even, steady cooking, no scorching, easy cleanup. Everything about it is wonderful. Best of luck with whatever you purchase.

peachesncream · ‎03-13-2010

Camochef, what is MCM? I'm always interested in good brands!

I've been thinking that I need a smaller version now, perhaps a 3 quart or 3-1/2 quart.

Since it's just the two of us at home, I don't always fill up the 5 quart Dutch oven.

camochef · ‎03-28-2010

On 3/12/2014 peachesncream said:
Camochef, what is MCM? I'm always interested in good brands!

I've been thinking that I need a smaller version now, perhaps a 3 quart or 3-1/2 quart.

Since it's just the two of us at home, I don't always fill up the 5 quart Dutch oven.

peachesncream,

MCM is Mark Charles Missilli's wonderful enameled cast iron dutch oven that was available on QVC a few years back. I think it was actually called MCM 360 and was either a 6 qt or maybe a 6 1/2 qt oven. It was also the heaviest Dutch oven I own, heavier than my 8 qt Kitchen aid.

There are only 2 of us in the household anymore, and even though I own plenty of 2, 3, 4, and 5 qt enameled dutch ovens...I usually use the 6-8 quart ones for most dishes. Especially for recipes like stuffed cabbage or stuffed peppers.

Now I prefer using one of my pressure cookers or the Ninja 3 in 1 for most of the recipes I used to make in my Dutch ovens and slow cookers. It's a lot less time and the recipes turn out tasting much better. Pressure cookers in particular for recipes like corned beef, pot roast, or pulled pork. You never find a tough chicken when cooked in a pressure cooker and it takes just minutes.

Still, find many uses for all my favorite enameled cast iron pieces though.

Enjoy!

Camo

2zbeach · ‎03-11-2010

Thanks,everyone. I bought a Lodge 6 qt. Looked at Le Creuset since alot of my cookware is Le Creuset,but decided the price was just more than I wanted to spend right now. Staub looked pretty good,but in the end, the Lodge won. Thanks,again.