What Dutch Oven to buy?

[UglyCasanova]

I'm in need of a Dutch Oven and I'm not sure if I want to go the cast iron route again or not. I need one that is at least 5 qt, I would like bigger but I have a tiny sink and I need to be able to wash the thing and I'm not sure if anything bigger would really fit. It will be used to cook all sorts of things.

I had a 5 qt Lodge cast iron one at one point which I loved. It would get nice and hot, cook evenly, clean up well, etc. My budget is between $50 and $100 which that would fall into. I would love to get a Le Crueset but alas I can't do the price tag on those. Is Lodge the brand to go to if I do cast iron, or is there anything else?

 

[Phoenix86]

King sized dutch oven.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

King sized dutch oven.

Alternator sized?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Check your local Army/Navy surplus. They usually have good deals on cast iron. You might also check out the enameled steel there which works quite well on gas ranges.

 

[Newbian]

Why buy one when you can give your partner one for free?

Just eat a lot of beans.

 

[TheVrolok]

I still have a Lodge 5qt cast iron and love it

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Wait, isn't a Dutch Oven a type of fecal sex move?

 

[Phoenix86]

Alternator sized?

That'd be a small bed. :biggrin:

 

[Drako]

The Lodge one is pretty good. My wife and I have this one of the 6 quart jobs, and an older Mario Batali branded Dansk. Both are good quality, but the Lodge is significantly cheaper. Both are much cheaper than Le Ripoff :biggrin:

http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Batali-C...pd_sim_sbs_k_2

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Color-EC..._sim_sbs_gro_2

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Lodge is fine. I picked up a cheap-o Tramontina from Walmart about a year ago and it's been very good, especially considering the price.

 

[kage69]

Lodge.



Or, check out flea markets and garage sales for used and/or antiques!. You might have to clean it up some but you can really find some gems out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XlsNucmbiE


I'm going to be getting a large one pretty soon, have my mind set on a big enameled Lodge. Le Creuset is nice sure, but the difference in price is huge.

 

[Rakehellion]

Wash it in the bathtub.

 

[Scotteq]

For the money - Lodge

 

[drnickriviera]

Do you have a TJ Max or Marshalls in your area? They have 2nds Le Creuset and Cuisinart ones. I got a 7qt and 5qt Cuisinart they were half the price of Amazon. A 5qt Le Creuset 2nds one was $150

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Do you have a TJ Max or Marshalls in your area? They have 2nds Le Creuset and Cuisinart ones. I got a 7qt and 5qt Cuisinart they were half the price of Amazon. A 5qt Le Creuset 2nds one was $150

That's a good price. I bought my wife a 5 qt. Le Creuset for Christmas a couple of years ago and it was around $250 IIRC. I think she has used it twice (and yes, she had asked for one for years).

 

[xSauronx]

That's a good price. I bought my wife a 5 qt. Le Creuset for Christmas a couple of years ago and it was around $250 IIRC. I think she has used it twice (and yes, she had asked for one for years).

a friend got me the 7qt or something a couple of years ago for xmas. love that damn thing.

another friend borrowed it and chipped the bottom inside slightly. i might have to kill her.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Lodge one is pretty good. My wife and I have this one of the 6 quart jobs, and an older Mario Batali branded Dansk. Both are good quality, but the Lodge is significantly cheaper. Both are much cheaper than Le Ripoff :biggrin:

http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Batali-C...pd_sim_sbs_k_2

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Color-EC..._sim_sbs_gro_2

We have a Le Creuset outlet here that has pretty good deals on their stuff. I picked up a large Dutch Oven years ago for around $100. It is blue and I've used it many times to cooks whole chickens in or small turkeys. It didn't really cost much more than the links you posted.

 

[ponyo]

If you're Costco member, they have Kirkland 8 qt enameled cast iron French oval oven for $59 in store I believe. You can order it on their website for $90 but why pay $30 for home delivery? http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature%E2%84%A2-8-quart-Enameled-Cast-Iron-French-Oval-Oven.product.11758081.html It's made in France and some people say it's made by Le Creuset for Costco but I don't believe that. And since it's Costco and their house Kirkland brand, you basically have lifetime warranty and return.

 

[Greenman]

I read this wondering what a Dutch oven was. Now I'm let down, it's just a pot.

 

[kage69]

I read this wondering what a Dutch oven was. Now I'm let down, it's just a pot.

Yeah "oven," not "rudder." lol


I hear that Sauron! My wife is always joking that if I mess up her mise en place in the laundry room, she'll get all Hillary on me and go for the nuts.

After seeing how she's been treating some of my fine steel, cookware and cutting boards she's on notice! My inner Sean Connery will emerge and begin the lesson!

 

[kage69]

Update of the day #2.

Pulled the trigger and ordered my wife a Lodge 7qt enameled Dutch Oven. Very happy with the purchase, it's great. It got used for the first time last night, she said the heat distribution and retention will take getting used to as she's been using stainless steel to cook with up until this point, but she loves it. My little sister the chef saw it and is jealous, so that speaks well to it's qualitative too.

Lodge won't let you down with this cookware.

 

[Drako]

Update of the day #2.

Pulled the trigger and ordered my wife a Lodge 7qt enameled Dutch Oven. Very happy with the purchase, it's great. It got used for the first time last night, she said the heat distribution and retention will take getting used to as she's been using stainless steel to cook with up until this point, but she loves it. My little sister the chef saw it and is jealous, so that speaks well to it's qualitative too.

Lodge won't let you down with this cookware.

Nice!

What did she cook to break it in?

 

[silverpig]

We have a set of Le Cuistot enameled cast iron cookware and it is awesome. I love using it.