Products We Use By Mark / April 26, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Share A cast iron dutch oven is one of my three big picks for the kitchen. It can handle almost anything requiring a pot. Roasts, soups, vegetables, lasagna, steaming eggs, the dutch oven can easily handle them all. A good enameled dutch oven also provides an easy to clean and almost nonstick surface that lasts for generations. My days of cooking over a campfire with the Boy Scouts using an old, did I say really old (?), cast iron dutch oven still makes my mouth water. Here are my “go to” picks that I reach for time and time again. Budget Enameled Dutch Oven I have 2 choices for our budget classics. They are not inferior to the Lifetime pick, just a more basic design with simpler casting and manufacturing. I swear some of the very first ones created in 1896 by Lodge are probably hidden away in kitchens today. Consistent quality reigns even when the rest of the world seemingly chooses cheaper quality to drive down costs. Even though the enameled ones are not made in their U.S. factory they still maintain great quality control, and their customer service seems to be top notch. Lodge Dutch Oven My budget pick for a great enameled dutch oven is the Lodge 4 1/2 quart enameled. The quality is consistent, heat distribution is excellent and the look is timeless. This size is versatile. They do offer it in larger sizes if you have a larger need. This size holds enough to easily feed 4-6 hungry staffers, or 2-4 teenagers after football practice! Michael Symon Home Dutch Oven My intermediate pick is the 4 1/2 quart enameled dutch oven by Television super cook Michael Symon. It costs just a few dollars more but has two features I absolutely love. The first feature is the dimples on lid that allow the juices to condense and drip back onto the cooking food, in essence, basting the food. This feature is famous in cast iron dutch ovens but missing from most enameled ones. The second great feature is the black interior. It reminds me of the old time cast iron without the worry of rust or staining. The look is also classy and looks just as good on an elegant table as it does at a picnic. Lifetime Enameled Dutch Oven Form meets function in this handmade and hand finished cocotte from Staub. Cocotte is a fancy french term that means dutch oven. Staub a French firm, and member of the Zwilling family of companies, set out to renew the worlds love of cast iron. They added old world craftsmen with modern technology to make a 3 layered enamel dutch oven that will last far beyond a lifetime. Their timeless designs are functional and beautiful. They are expensive.They check the quality from start to finish. Quality craftsmen require a living wage and that is a good thing. If you can afford one, you will never need to replace it. Staub 5 Qt Enameled Cast Iro You have an enameled dutch oven. Now grab a great frying pan then a saucier, and start cooking.
