Anyone ever use the Martha Stewart Cast Iron Pot?
Martha Stewart Collection Red Enameled Cast Iron Chili Pot, 5.5 Qt: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=256785&CategoryID=42160
So, anyone ever used one of these? I have the stock pot (I think its 16 or 20 qt) from that line and I like it, but cast iron seems more risky... thoughts? At $60, I think it looks like a good idea. Thanks in advance everyone!
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15 Comments:
I have a cast iron pot from that line and my mom cooked some pinto beans in it and HATED it. So, who knows. It was a steal though... literally 5 bucks. I think it might need to be seasoned, but it supposedly was pre-seasoned, so who knows. Mine isn't enameled, so I really have no answer for you.
Just disregard this entire comment. Haha. :)
I will season that pot though when I get back Stateside.
meg3j at 5:50PM on 03/02/09
if you mean the enamel coated cast iron -- the colored ones, (red, blue)
i have one that i use quite often and find that it's perfectly fine for doing stews, slow cooked things, etc. it cooks evenly, cleans up very nicely.
(it's a le crueset knock-off).... for the price it's perfectly fine as far as i'm concerned. sometimes they go on sale, i got the largest one for $49.
pooch at 6:38PM on 03/02/09
I'm a bit disillusioned with LC lately and may try the Martha line next time I'm in the market to buy enamel covered cast iron. I've had to return a couple of pieces to LC that didn't seem to have much wear.
I also thought the Batali line was nice if you're considering enameled cast iron.
therealchiffonade at 7:05PM on 03/02/09
@chiff - yes, check out martha, really good for the price, i thought. lodge also makes a nice line. i'm so tired of seeing prices that are so over the top. i mean, $400 for a dutch oven?
i guess last year i might have said it was an investment, this year i'm saying it's my car insurance payment for a few months.
pooch at 7:13PM on 03/02/09
I just bought a Martha 5qt enameled cast iron pot - oval, and I love it so far. Granted, I've only braised short ribs and made Jamie Oliver's chicken in milk so far, but it seems fine. And was only $50.
suthungirl at 8:25PM on 03/02/09
What about Lodge? Those look to be the same price more or less as the Martha Stewart ones. Anyone ever use those? They look ok.
fozziebayer at 10:05PM on 03/02/09
Of those two, I'd probably choose Lodge, since it is/was made in the US. Or at least it was last time I checked. Not sure where the Martha brand is made, or by whom, but I'd bet it's an import from China. Just a guess. But if I was buying, that's one thing I'd look at, and I'd be willing to spend more for the one made here.
dbcurrie at 11:52PM on 03/02/09
I was given MS dutch ovens as a gift and I like them as much as my Staub. I'm much more inclined to use them at higher heats, and transporting places, since they are much cheaper, and easier to replace if ever damaged.
Just a note about Lodge, their ENAMELED cast iron is made in China. I love their regular American made cast iron (and pre-seasoned Logic line), and no doubt the MS stuff is also from China. It's my hope that someday they can afford to produce it here, but that's not the case so far.
bobcatsteph3 at 7:05AM on 03/03/09
@pooch - I hear what you're saying. It seems this lousy economy has everyone looking at things from a whole new perspective.
@bobcatsteph - When I went to cooking school, I purchased a 10" Chicago Cutlery chef's knife and a 3" parer of the same brand. This was back when CC was made in the US. Everyone else had Wusthof and Henckles (the two widely-accepted brands at the time) and looked down their noses at my lowly CC knives. I somehow managed to become teacher's pet with those knives - not to mention I could always find them on the table and never mistook them for anyone else's.
I really hope the US can get back to manufacturing products here. I never quite figured out what was so terrible about the manufacturing trade that we had to ship nearly 99% of manufacturing jobs overseas. In exchange for what? Sitting behind a desk? Some other sort of "educated" career? I will always have a great deal of respect for anyone who builds or creates with their hands. I hope this wave of nostalgia for better times here in the US has us reviving some of those jobs, including manufacturing cookware.
therealchiffonade at 10:11AM on 03/03/09
I have that very one. I bought it at Macy's when they were selling it for half price, and I bought the display model, so another 10% off (final price $45.00). It works just fine. I wish the lid fit a little more tightly, and I'd prefer a metal handle, but for the price I paid, it seems like an excellent value. In fact, I have a pot of soup going right now.
juliec at 11:59AM on 03/03/09
I've had the 7-qt. version of this pot for over a year - love it and use it often. Great for soups, sauces, braises, curries, etc. Great value.
salty_sticky at 5:27PM on 03/03/09
@chiff - wouldn't it be nice if we could start making things in our country. i see things in catalogs lately that say made in USA, but why can't we make shirts and shoes and coats and pots and pans, etc. etc. if i had a lot of dough, i'd buy up some of these old factory buildings and start up places where we could make shoes or shirts or SOMETHING. i believe
there is so much opportunity at the moment. why don't one of these big shots make the first move.
pooch at 11:18PM on 03/03/09
@fozziebayer- I have the Lodge that you mentioned, bought it a year ago for about $50, I'm not going to get into the where's it's made controversy, all I'll say is I like it, it works fine, I use it often to bake no knead breads, and it handles the 500 degree oven heat with on problem. I did buy a cheap metal knob for it to use at that temperature, just as a precaution so I don't ruin the one that came on it. It is made in China, what isn't.
dmcavanagh at 3:50PM on 03/04/09
I have that same pot, paid $50 for it---sent it down to my dad's place in Florida so that I could make no-knead bread while visiting down there. It functions fine for that purpose. Can't beat the price, but I too wish the lid had a more snug fit. It's a bit wobbly.
Boswell at 1:00AM on 03/09/09
Mine just chipped last night. I've had it since Christmas and have probably used it 15 times or so. I'm very nice to it; no high heat, hand wash, no other pots are stored in it, wooden utensils. I noticed under the ratings that a few others have had the same issue. It was so nice before this. It has a limited lifetime warranty, so I'll try and get a new one.
tallmisto at 11:29AM on 05/23/09