PrintI need advice re: a cast iron enamel dutch oven...
I bought a Food Network cast iron enamel dutch oven. Not being able to afford a Le Creuset, and never having had any experience with one, I thought $100 was a good bargain for the FN pan. Well, after two days (with careful use), the cover was chipped around the edge. I exchanged it for a different one at the store where I bought it. When I got it home and took it out of the box to look at it, I noticed that the enamel isn't covering some spots on the very inside cover, and the overall paint doesn't look "even". Should I exchange it again? Are there other brands besides Le Creuset that are better quality and not too expensive?
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27 Comments:
I think I have the same Dutch Oven (Mario Batali?) and mine works fine. Enamel is holding up pretty well after almost a year of rough use. Whichever variety you get, you really want one with the little dimples on the underside of the lid. Keeps your food "basted" properly...
HunterAnglerGardenerCook at 11:05AM on 01/11/08
Hmm. You usually get what you pay for, and with a big piece of cookware like a Dutch oven, any flaws seem to show up more readily than with a piece that you might not use as often. Since a Dutch oven is so incredibly versatile, I recommend just taking a big gulp and paying for something that's really good and will really last you. You'll thank yourself in ten years.
That said, AIEEEEEE!!! Amazon is having a HUGE sale on Le Creuset right now. So you're in luck! For example, you can get this gorgeous red Dutch oven for only $119.95. There are lots of other choices, too, so go look around. Oh, and if you happen to buy more than $159 worth of Le Creuset, they also throw in a nifty seven-piece spatula set. How cool is that?
I say, chalk the Food Network oven up to experience and get yourself a good piece of cookware. You deserve it!
sheeats at 11:11AM on 01/11/08
Cook's Illustrated did a little review of inexpensive dutch ovens in the February Issue. They liked a Tramontina, 6.5 qt (~$40) and one from Lodge, 6qt (~$65). My husband got me a Calphalon 8qt, its a beast. He liked that its top handle was not plastic. The lid is self basting, has little spiky things the inside for liquid to drop off of. It was a little cheaper that Le Creuset too. Dillard's has them but make sure you look at the inside enamel before you purchase, otherwise you have to lug it back to exchange it.
MadameD at 11:24AM on 01/11/08
CI says the best buy for quality they have a dutch oven Round Enameled Cast Iron Casserole with Lid by Chefmate for Target ($39.99)
They offer it as a value if you cannot afford Le Creuset.
I only have Le Creuset which is fabulous and so worth the money.
JerzeeTomato at 11:35AM on 01/11/08
I say either get your money back or store credit for items on which you know you can depend. Go for the LC sale at Amazon or save more $ towards the better enamel cast iron of your choice. You've had 2 bad experiences with the same line of pans and I say don't waste your time on a third.
chiff0nade at 11:40AM on 01/11/08
Save up and get a Le Creuset, it is totally worth it. I love my 5 1/2 qt, use it all the time. I'm trying to restrain myself from getting a 7 qt, which would mean that I would cook more and eat more leftovers -- but what's wrong with that?!
ride&cook at 12:31PM on 01/11/08
There is a saying that goes: "buy cheap, buy twice." A good piece of cookware will last more than your lifetime. I'd say, return it, get your money back, or store credit for another item that is a high quality piece for what you are owed, and buy a LC from Amazon. Personally I prefer Staub...
seyo at 12:35PM on 01/11/08
Thank you everyone for all of the great feedback and advice! I'm checking out the sale at Amazon right now. :)
aungeinphx at 12:50PM on 01/11/08
...and my father used to say, "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things". I, too, would return the second pot and buy a good quality one. There is a way of finding a good quality cast iron pot at a bargain price though. Do you have Marshalls or TJ Maxx in your area? They have LC and other decent brands (I don't recall the names now, sorry), and their prices are remarkable. I bought my LC at Marshalls for the same price you bought your FN pan, and I can't tell you how happy I am with this purchase.
brooke29 at 1:01PM on 01/11/08
A vote for regular cast iron for those on a budget. I'm not up for getting into the seasoning-cast-iron debate, and besides, you can buy pre-seasoned now, although they cost more. But with a dutch oven, the cooking pretty much seasons it over time. (You know grammaw didn't pre-season hers, just used plenty of lard or bacon grease at first when she cooked in it.) My only precaution has been to put my cast iron over a low flame to dry it, so it didn't go into the cabinet damp.
lemons at 1:19PM on 01/11/08
TJM and Marshalls do have LC. I've also seen some at Home Goods.
I used to find the odd piece of copper cookware at Marshall's but I'm sure that buyer got fired because they were basically giving it away.
Lemons brings up a very valid point. There are great regular cast iron pieces available, especially from Lodge. While making the link, I saw a nice piece of enameled cast iron on their front page!
chiff0nade at 1:29PM on 01/11/08
If you have any antiques stores in your area, it's always a good idea to go see what they have. Very often they will have piles of old cast iron skillets, griddles, and dutch ovens for almost nothing. There is one such place in the little town where my parents have a house (Saugerties NY) and I always go look at what he has just in case something catches my eye. You can save tons of money that way and still get a top quality product. And yes, the non enameled kind works very well too.
seyo at 1:35PM on 01/11/08
i have a {gulp} rachael ray enamel cast iron oven. i bought it super super cheap at bbb when it was half price, plus coupon, for a total of about 30 bucks. it had a plastic handle which i swapped out for a le creuset metal knob, purchased at a housewares store for under ten bucks. {i got the idea to do this from a serious eater here -- thanks!}
i've made brisket in it a couple of times and it has worked perfectly. it's a beautiful shape and color. now that the handle's off, i don't even have to see the dreaded name. normally i'm a total cookware snob -- all my pots and pans are all clad, le creuset or lodge -- but i really have no complaints about this oven so far.
cybercita at 1:44PM on 01/11/08
While you're doing your searches on Amazon, include the word "doufeu". This is a type of dutch oven that is designed for braising. I love ours!
grampart at 5:43PM on 01/11/08
So thanks to sheeats, I took a look on Amazon at the LC items on sale. One item on sale jumped out at me: Le Creuset 4 1/4 Quart Soup Pot with Cover for $129.
http://www.amazon.com/Creuset-Quart-Soup-Cover-Dune/dp/B000B14YIC/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1
I have been debating one of the 5 quart round ovens or the 5 quart buffet casserole, and now will throw this one into the mix too. Typical uses: soups, stews, maybe risotto.
But- the images on Amazon make the soup pot finish look shinier than the typical LC. Now that I look at it, so does the buffet casserole. I think I have to go look at these in person. Does anyone have either model and what do you think? Thanks!
souvenir at 6:35PM on 01/11/08
when I get one, I'm getting a Lodge
kramer73 at 6:46PM on 01/11/08
If you try lots of other brands, and still don't find anything satisfactory, I purchased both my Le Creuset pieces, as well as a wedding present for a friend, from a Le Creuset outlet (in a big outlet mall in Leesburg, VA) that saved me about $150 on my big 9 qt. dutch oven and quite a bit on everything else I purchased as well. I HIGHLY recommend shopping there, as the "imperfections" that the pieces they sell have are teeny tiny things like a dot of enamel showing on a corner of the lid, and other insignificant things like that.
ChristineB at 6:48PM on 01/11/08
I have the one from Target and it's been great. The only drawback is that the handle on the lid is only safe up to 350 degrees, so you may want to replace it if you intend to use it at higher temperatures.
GregWA at 9:52PM on 01/11/08
ChristineB has it right: if you live close to an any of the Chelsea Premium Outlets like the Leesburg Outlets, check out the Le Creuset shops. If you're not set on buying a particular color, they have the clearance racks in the back with discontinued colors/slight imperfections (like a small scratch on the bottom of the pan), you can save so much money. I bought a 5 qt buffet casserole for $95.
I've also seen Le Creuset pots at Marshalls and HomeGoods - but snap them up once you see them. (Usually hidden under all the Le Creuset knockoffs, so do a little digging.)
I actually lucked out and bought an entire set off Craigslist for $120. That's right, $120. And the only thing that had been used was the grill pan. The sellers were an older couple, and though they loved the set, it was too heavy for them (the husband had arthiritis). They posted on Craigslist, and I picked it up 15 minutes later.
lorelei76 at 10:14PM on 01/11/08
I bought the less expensive pot at Target - switched out the handle/knob - and it's great. I don't use it often and am grateful to someone, somewhere on the web, that mentioned the Target pan.
It's a nice color and, so far, it's proven to be a marvelous buy. The replacement knob cost only $ 2.55 at my local hardware store.
suegsf at 3:35AM on 01/12/08
IKEA currently has a line of enamel cast iron pots (called "Hero") that seem to be very high quality, and quite inexpensive. I've seen rumors that they're actually made by Staub, and after comparing their shape, heft, and "Made in France" stamps to Staub pots, I think that may indeed be the case. We already have two Le Creuset dutch ovens, but I'm planning to buy the IKEA fondue set.
Messily at 1:22PM on 01/12/08
I'm a big fan of Lodge cast iron but still haven't determined if there are things that could be done better with an enamel dutch oven... would love to hear feedback on what the benefits are of spending an extra $200! I'm guessing the enamel handles acid-based foods (like tomatoes) a little better...?
sshokie at 5:10PM on 01/12/08
if you cook with wine, i definitely recommend getting the enamel. i've had some very unhappy experiences cooking with wine in cast iron skillets.
cybercita at 7:16PM on 01/12/08
I use Le Creuset dutch ovens, after being brought up in a household with Le Creuset dutch ovens, and black cast iron frying pans. I love my Le Creuset and try to pick a piece up when I see it's on sale.
Having said that, last year I had to return my Le Creuset big dutch oven as the enamel had started chipping away. They were frankly horrified and immediately promised me a new one, which was delivered a few weeks later. (Maybe 2?) So they're pretty good about replacing, and I'm already planning my next purchase.
LizzieBee at 7:14AM on 01/13/08
lorelei76, you win - a whole Le Creuset set for $120??? Amazing! I have to chime in for LC, given the high quality and the guarantee, which applies even to the factory seconds that are available (for 15% off new prices) at LC outlets, which also have regular sales. I got a 3.5-qt. oven to match my 7.25 for 20% off the already-reduced seconds price. Still pricey, but so worth it.
producestories at 9:50AM on 01/13/08
I saw some very nice enamel covered lodge cookware at "le gourmet chef". They were certainly very comparable to LC, but the handles were metal. They also weren't quite as expensive.
Geeka at 7:34PM on 01/13/08
After reading CI reviews on dutch ovens, I bought the 7 1/4 quart LC and I haven't regretted it for a moment. It's turned me into a soup meister and a braising queen... and although it's heavy, it's surprisingly easy to clean. I also read about the cheaper alternative at Target, but it seemed to be unavailable now. Go ahead and treat yourself!
she11ey at 10:49AM on 01/14/08