Ordered a Lodge enameled Dutch Oven

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whistlepig

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Dec 23, 2011
760
361
Preble County, OH
Love cast iron cooking and have no problems maintaining my Lodge cast iron skillets. My Lodge cast iron Dutch Oven has/is been a pain. Not matter how hard I try to keep it seasoned the seasoning flakes off especially when cooking pork loin with sauerkraut and beef pot roast.
 
Love cast iron cooking and have no problems maintaining my Lodge cast iron skillets. My Lodge cast iron Dutch Oven has/is been a pain. Not matter how hard I try to keep it seasoned the seasoning flakes off especially when cooking pork loin with sauerkraut and beef pot roast.
Most likely due to acid from the kraut. CI isn’t the best choice for acidic foods.
We have had the enameled Dutch for 15 or 20 years and really like it. It’s the only enameled CI we have, all the rest are regular Lodge, like those to but every tool has a purpose. You will enjoy that enamel.
 
I was going to order the lodge 7qt enameled one..non USA model but it did not get great reviews. The USA made one was over $300....I know, I know but for something I will use maybe 2-3 times a year I could not justify it in my mind.
 
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I was going to order the lodge 7qt enameled one..non USA model but it did not get great reviews. The USA made one was over $300....I know, I know but for something I will use maybe 2-3 times a year I could not justify it in my mind.
Keep an eye on Facebook marketplace, I see these and Le Creuset on there fairly often for decent prices. At least comparatively decent.
 
I was going to order the lodge 7qt enameled one..non USA model but it did not get great reviews. The USA made one was over $300....I know, I know but for something I will use maybe 2-3 times a year I could not justify it in my mind.
I can get the 6 quart for 77.00. Or a 7.5 quart for 120.00 Been thinking about it.
Nevermind. They are both imported.
 
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Most of the high end brands have a visual imperfection sale at some point. Just got a Staub La Cocotte 7 quart for $200. It retails for $500. The imperfection was almost impossible to find, it was a minuscule lack of enamel on the underside of one handle. None of the imperfections are claimed to impact performance.
 
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questionable reviews.
Right . I also think there is / was concern with some people about the materials used with china made cast iron . You know how that goes though . I researched it pretty good after I found This camp oven at Goodwill .
20240422_112530.jpg
From what I saw there is no concern with the newer stuff .
My Son has the " Amazon brand " enameled cast iron . It's decent for the price .
It is prone to chips . It looks just like the cheaper Lodge stuff .
 
Mine are Lodge 6qt.

I don't baby them, I don't abuse them.

Had them for a few years now.

I couldn't justify more expensive ones.

Prefer to buy American when I can, but not in a case like this.
 
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I ordered a 7.5 enameled Lodge (China version). We use our Dutch Oven a lot. We would rather have things cooked in a Dutch Oven verses a slow cooker. And that big Dutch Oven pot is good for a lot of stove top things. I did read a lot of reviews on the more expensive Dutch Ovens and the Lodge seemed to hold it's own. If this enameled thing works out like I hope it will I may look at some more expensive brands.
 
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We just gave our future daughter-in-law (hopefully) this for Christmas...
1736129080479.png

7½ quart Lodge made in the USA. We've had it for awhile and never used it because we have another just like it...
 
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We just gave our future daughter-in-law (hopefully) this for Christmas...
View attachment 710769
7½ quart Lodge made in the USA. We've had it for awhile and never used it because we have another just like it...
I looked at these and the reviews on it were great. Let me try my first enameled a for a while and maybe I'll upgrade to one of these!
 
Even super fancy cookware sometimes ends up on the shelves at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, so those stores are worth scoping out.

My bare CI Dutch oven used to flake, presumably because I did a mediocre job of seasoning it the first time. When I took the time & effort to strip it down to bare metal and properly season it from scratch, no more flakes (...just like in the dandruff shampoo ads!)

I also have an enameled CI Dutch oven but, eventually, the enamel discolors and micro-cracks (especially if given fast/uneven temperature changes). Not usually an issue, but because it is more prone to sticking, while also being both heavier and more delicate than the plain one, it spends a lot more time in the cupboard.
 
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I have several Dutch ovens, and for what it's worth none of them are "enameled." I've never known the seasoning to "flake off," although food baked-on layers sometimes do. (So far as I know, it is a "molecular" coating.) Anyhow, the pieces are promptly washed and dried after cooking, and I've never had a problem.

Cost? Around $50. From Lodge. I have no idea where these vastly-higher prices might be coming from.
 
Lodge stated they were unable to source a usa company that could give them the vibrant colors there were looking for, I have 1 enameled dutch oven it is a Kemore sold by sears.
 
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