Dutch ovens - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Daka · 04-04-2011, 06:34 AM

What can ya'll tell me about DUTCH OVENS. They seem to range in price from about $50 to $300...is a lower priced one ok for occasional use. Sears has a few...Le Cruset is probably the best ???
I imagine that a porcelain coated iron one is best...what size for 2-4 people
tnx Daniel

snowy · 04-04-2011, 07:38 AM

I can't imagine life without my enameled cast iron Dutch oven. I have a six quart from Lodge. It has a couple of chips after seven months of heavy use, but none of the chips are on the cooking surface; they're all on the handles or the lid, so they don't bother me. Prior to the Lodge, I had a super cheap Innova, and while it worked fine, it developed a blister on the enamel on the bottom of the interior, and eventually, the enamel popped off on that section of the oven. I was able to keep using it for some years after that, until some of the enamel around the bare spot started cracking; once that started happening, cooking liquid was able to get under the enamel in those spots, which rusted the cast iron, and then the rusty spots started turning my cooking liquids rusty. So now I keep my old cast iron oven on the floor of my oven; I use it for creating steam in my oven when baking breads. After it went, I think I was able to go about a week before I reached a point where I said to my husband: "I HAVE to replace our Dutch oven!" It is probably the cooking vessel I use most.

I read a LOT of reviews of enameled Dutch ovens before picking mine. It wasn't the winner in Cook's Illustrated's review, but the winner (Tramontina) has been impossible to find since Cook's Illustrated reviewed it. I picked the Lodge largely because of the positive review they received and the price point, plus the fact that I could buy it in the town where I live (the selection here is limited to Lodge, Mario Batali, Le Creuset, and Emile Henry). The Martha Stewart enamel cast iron from Macy's is also well-liked.

I find that my 6-quart is really more than enough, even when cooking for a large crew of people. I am able to cook large batches of beans, tomato sauce, soups, and other freezables in it.

Good luck on your search! FWIW, if I had the money, I'd buy a Le Creuset or a Staub; both come with lifetime warranties (limited to proper use of the Dutch oven).

robot_parade · 04-04-2011, 06:03 PM

I love mine, too. It's a Tramontina that I happened to pick up a couple of months before the Cook's Illustrated review that snowy mentions...and yes, i did a little dance when I saw that my impulse buy was so highly rated by CI. :-)

Lots of good stuff you can do in a Dutch Oven. A couple of my favorites are long-cooking stews and bread. The crust comes out awesome.

Daka · 04-05-2011, 02:44 AM

Great,
Thanks, I was able to order a TRAMONTINA from Walmart of all places, not that color maters but its GREEN, $48 shipping included....

Leto · 04-05-2011, 04:40 AM

I also can't imagine a Le Creuset priced at only $50...

the Bay | Home Fashions

But definitely a good choice

a few folks discussion on Tramontina: tramontina enameled cast iron? - Cookware - Chowhound

snowy · 04-05-2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

a review on Tramontina: tramontina enameled cast iron? - Cookware - Chowhound

I don't know that I'd call that a "review", Leto. It's more like random people's random opinions versus any kind of actual testing of the product. Unfortunately, Cook's Illustrated's website is firmly behind a paywall, otherwise I'd link their test of enameled Dutch ovens. They put a lot of effort into it, and it's quite systematic.

Leto · 04-05-2011, 11:46 AM

oops. I stand corrected...

Daka · 04-13-2011, 11:38 AM

Well, my TRAMONTINA (6 1/2 qt) arrived today from WALMART.
This thing weighs about 20 pounds I don't "love" the green color but hey, the food won't care and it was less than $50 SHIPPING INCLUDED. Now the fun begins...

snowy · 04-15-2011, 06:39 AM

So my Lodge developed a chip in it on Wednesday evening. A spot on the bottom of the pot just popped off. I couldn't find my UPC for the warranty, but contacted Lodge on their website anyway. They had me send some pictures of the damage to the customer care rep, and after seeing it, they are replacing my Dutch oven at no cost. I can't wait until the new one gets here. The chip is not that sizeable, and I'm planning on using my old Dutch oven to bake bread in (with parchment paper).

04-04-2011, 06:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Daka Tilted Location: Fort Lauderdale	Dutch ovens What can ya'll tell me about DUTCH OVENS. They seem to range in price from about $50 to $300...is a lower priced one ok for occasional use. Sears has a few...Le Cruset is probably the best ??? I imagine that a porcelain coated iron one is best...what size for 2-4 people tnx Daniel

04-04-2011, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I can't imagine life without my enameled cast iron Dutch oven. I have a six quart from Lodge. It has a couple of chips after seven months of heavy use, but none of the chips are on the cooking surface; they're all on the handles or the lid, so they don't bother me. Prior to the Lodge, I had a super cheap Innova, and while it worked fine, it developed a blister on the enamel on the bottom of the interior, and eventually, the enamel popped off on that section of the oven. I was able to keep using it for some years after that, until some of the enamel around the bare spot started cracking; once that started happening, cooking liquid was able to get under the enamel in those spots, which rusted the cast iron, and then the rusty spots started turning my cooking liquids rusty. So now I keep my old cast iron oven on the floor of my oven; I use it for creating steam in my oven when baking breads. After it went, I think I was able to go about a week before I reached a point where I said to my husband: "I HAVE to replace our Dutch oven!" It is probably the cooking vessel I use most. I read a LOT of reviews of enameled Dutch ovens before picking mine. It wasn't the winner in Cook's Illustrated's review, but the winner (Tramontina) has been impossible to find since Cook's Illustrated reviewed it. I picked the Lodge largely because of the positive review they received and the price point, plus the fact that I could buy it in the town where I live (the selection here is limited to Lodge, Mario Batali, Le Creuset, and Emile Henry). The Martha Stewart enamel cast iron from Macy's is also well-liked. I find that my 6-quart is really more than enough, even when cooking for a large crew of people. I am able to cook large batches of beans, tomato sauce, soups, and other freezables in it. Good luck on your search! FWIW, if I had the money, I'd buy a Le Creuset or a Staub; both come with lifetime warranties (limited to proper use of the Dutch oven). __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

04-04-2011, 06:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
robot_parade Junkie Location: San Antonio, TX	I love mine, too. It's a Tramontina that I happened to pick up a couple of months before the Cook's Illustrated review that snowy mentions...and yes, i did a little dance when I saw that my impulse buy was so highly rated by CI. :-) Lots of good stuff you can do in a Dutch Oven. A couple of my favorites are long-cooking stews and bread. The crust comes out awesome. Last edited by robot_parade; 04-04-2011 at 06:03 PM.. Reason: Spelling, ftw.

04-05-2011, 04:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	I also can't imagine a Le Creuset priced at only $50... the Bay \| Home Fashions But definitely a good choice a few folks discussion on Tramontina: tramontina enameled cast iron? - Cookware - Chowhound __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I Last edited by Leto; 04-05-2011 at 11:46 AM..

04-05-2011, 11:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	oops. I stand corrected... __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

04-05-2011, 02:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Daka Tilted Location: Fort Lauderdale	Great, Thanks, I was able to order a TRAMONTINA from Walmart of all places, not that color maters but its GREEN, $48 shipping included....

04-13-2011, 11:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Daka Tilted Location: Fort Lauderdale	Well, my TRAMONTINA (6 1/2 qt) arrived today from WALMART. This thing weighs about 20 pounds I don't "love" the green color but hey, the food won't care and it was less than $50 SHIPPING INCLUDED. Now the fun begins...

04-15-2011, 06:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	So my Lodge developed a chip in it on Wednesday evening. A spot on the bottom of the pot just popped off. I couldn't find my UPC for the warranty, but contacted Lodge on their website anyway. They had me send some pictures of the damage to the customer care rep, and after seeing it, they are replacing my Dutch oven at no cost. I can't wait until the new one gets here. The chip is not that sizeable, and I'm planning on using my old Dutch oven to bake bread in (with parchment paper). __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau