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Evidence index · Dutch Ovens

Dutch Ovens, according to Cooking YouTube

Only claims about dutch ovens made by people we have grounds to call Cooking YouTube. The unrestricted dutch ovens evidence is on the dutch ovens page.

Cooking YouTube is a community we read.

13 people on record as Cooking YouTube make 243 quoted claims about dutch ovens across 24 sources. Membership is recorded with its own evidence — for a person by the trait they are on record holding, for a community by the source it was said in — and authority is scoped to dutch ovens rather than to fame.

Which dutch ovens do Cooking YouTube recommend?

Endorsements and objections about dutch ovens from Cooking YouTube, together, strongest evidence first. There are 18 with evidence; the 15 with the most independent voices are below, and every one is in the claim search.

Le Creuset dutch oven

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Along with Misen, Le Creuset handles have the widest openings.

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites ease of cleaning, handle, heat resistance, lid, weight

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Because of that and the lightweight design, it's by far the easiest Dutch oven to pick up, wash, and store.
The lid has ridges that prevent a spoon from slipping off
the knob has a wide top and a thick stem, which makes it easy to grip and control
In my test, both knobs stayed cooler than most other brands, but the plastic knob barely heated up at all.
the plastic knob barely heated up at all
I love Le Creuset's color options, lightweight design, and large handles.
1:00 supports Liz speaking on BestReviews Cookware Reviewer
all four ovens scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for heat retention and evenness of cooking

performance Tested it Amazon Basics vs Lodge vs Staub vs Le Creuset Dutch Ovens

Cites even heating, heat retention, non-stick surface

the L cruset Lodge and stove have a non-stick enamel finish over the interior and exterior of the pots Amazon does not have enamel but instead is pre-seasoned lay cruset and Lodge each scored Perfect 10 out of 10 however we did notice some veggies sticking to the bottom of both the stove and Amazon dutch ovens while…

Staub dutch oven

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I also appreciate the flat lid design, which lets you rest a spoon on top or add ice to make the lid cold and quickly turn steam back into liquid before it can escape.

use-case fit Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites availability, lid

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Staub offers 10 different sizes and 15 colors - only one other brand, which I'll talk about next, offers more colors.
Staub's flat self-basting lid is fantastic
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The enamel finish is flawless, and the whole pot has a truly high-end look and feel, as it should at this price point.

appearance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites appearance, coating

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

9:03 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this
with Staub, the construction quality is outstanding

reliability Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites build quality

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Lodge Dutch oven

2:07 objects The Knife Wizard Buy It For Life Enthusiasts
the finish on the lodge is definitely a more uh bargain finish I would say it has lots and lots of orange peel it's not polished there are definitely little pin marks and pin holes everywhere uh it's just sort of a you you can tell they're trying to save money and make it a bit more budget conscious the same is very…

appearance Tested it Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.

Cites surface finish (against)

3:38 objects The Knife Wizard Buy It For Life Enthusiasts
so in my mind and I'll give you my opinion in my mind I would much rather buy a l cruset knowing that if I ever wanted to sell it I could get 75% of what I paid for it back without any hassle then try to save some money and get this have a subpar product and at the end of the day never be able to sell it and get my…

value Tested it Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.

Cites build quality (against)

Lodge Essential Enamel

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If you're looking for the best value, I recommend the Lodge Essential Enamel Dutch oven.

Two judgements rest on this sentence:

  • value Tested it cites price
  • recommendation Tested it

Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

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It has a large knob and handles, a warranty that covers chips and cracks, and a reasonable price.

repairability Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites warranty

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Made In dutch oven

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In my controlled experiments, Made In had the second-best heat retention, the second-best moisture retention, and the lowest knob temperature, and it didn't chip from my durability test.

Two judgements rest on this sentence:

Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

On top of that, it performs excellently in real-world testing.
in the $200 to $300 price range, Made In has a more functional knob and performed better in my tests
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the handles stick out further than any Dutch oven I tested, giving you plenty of room to grip

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites handle, heat resistance

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

I also love the lid knob, which has the widest diameter of the group.
I really like Made In's large knob, big handles, and wide cooking surface.
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If budget is not a concern, I'm buying Le Creuset, Staub, or Made In.

recommendation Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Tramontina 5 1/2 qt Dutch oven

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It had the worst heat retention score

performance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites heat retention (against), moisture retention (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

the ridges under the lid that are supposed to redistribute moisture evenly over the pot don't really do anything
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This Dutch oven arrived with a chip on the rim of its lid.

reliability Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites build quality (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

the chipped damage right out of the box makes me question their quality control
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Tramontina and Great Jones are the two brands at the bottom of my list.

comparison Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Lodge USA Enamel 6qt Dutch oven

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I prefer the rounded knob because there's more to grab, which makes it easier to lift and tilt the lid

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites ease of cleaning (against), handle (against), maintenance (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

The one feature that annoys me about this Dutch oven is the metal accents on the handles - they look nice, but they're not completely flush with the cast iron part of the handle, so food can get trapped and be a pain to clean.
You can unscrew these metal pieces to clean them, but it's an extra unnecessary step.
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it's made in America and has a unique retro look inspired by cars, guitars, and other mid-century American designs

appearance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites appearance

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

This knob aligns with the retro design
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I'm a fan of Lodge's USA Enamel collection

recommendation Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Caraway 6.5qt Dutch oven

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This Dutch oven performs fine in cooking tests but poorly in my controlled experiments.

performance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites heat retention (against), moisture retention (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

It had the second-worst heat retention and the worst moisture retention
despite the flat lid and self-basting dimples, evaporation runs to the edges and doesn't drip over the middle of the pot
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I appreciate the modern look, but I don't like that the handles have small openings that don't provide enough room to wrap your fingers.

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites handle (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

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Most of the pot has a shiny smooth finish, but the top of the handles, the knob, and the bottom of the pot have a rough texture - it almost feels like they're not enameled.

reliability Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites coating (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Great Jones oval Dutch oven

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While it looks nice, it's not nearly as functional as a traditional circular knob. You can only fit two fingers, which makes it difficult to lift and control the heavy lid.

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites handle (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Similarly, I'm not a fan of the looped side handles. Compared to the other Dutch ovens, the design is very basic, and they're not long enough to comfortably fit four fingers.
the Great Jones lid handle is a deal-breaker for me
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Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 12:04.

comparison Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

4:31 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this
It's functional, but in my opinion, it looks a bit dull and ugly.

appearance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites appearance (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Amazon Basics pre-seasoned cast iron Dutch oven

Le Creuset cast iron Dutch oven

1:00 supports Is It Worth It? (Product Reviews) earns commission on this
overall I'm really really impressed with this Lake cruset Dutch oven it's really durable it's incredibly versatile and honestly I think it's just a great value for how high quality it is

value Owns it Is A Le Creuset Worth Buying? My Quick & Honest Review...

Cites price

Is It Worth It? (Product Reviews) earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

0:00 supports Is It Worth It? (Product Reviews) earns commission on this
I bought this Lake cruset cast iron Dutch oven about 4 years ago and while it has become one of the most used items in my kitchen there is definitely one really big thing I think everyone should know before getting it first off the quality of this loret Dutch oven is amazing I've used it hundreds if not thousands of…

durability Owns it Is A Le Creuset Worth Buying? My Quick & Honest Review...

Cites build quality, coating durability, crazing, durability

Is It Worth It? (Product Reviews) earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Owned 4 years

now the one thing I was worried about before getting it was how durable it would be but the enamel is actually resistant to dulling staining chipping and even cracking
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the enameled cast iron construction does a really great job of heat distribution and retention which makes it great for a variety of different cooking methods I used it for slow cooking brazing roasting baking and even frying

performance Owns it Is A Le Creuset Worth Buying? My Quick & Honest Review...

Cites flavour impact, heat conduction, heat retention, lid, moisture retention

Is It Worth It? (Product Reviews) earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

one of the features that I like the most that not many people talk about is this tight fitting lid it's actually designed to circulate Steam and return moisture back to the food which I find makes the dishes more juicy and flavorful

Le Creuset 9 quart dutch oven

Industrias Cheff casserole

Misen 7qt Dutch oven with grill pan lid

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The grill pan lid retained the most liquid of all nine Dutch ovens I tested

performance Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites moisture retention

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

the ridges on the grill pan lid collect and redistribute moisture evenly over the pot
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when you use the grill pan lid, the entire Dutch oven weighs close to 17 lbs, which makes it the heaviest by far

handling Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites handle (against), weight (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

the grill pan doesn't have a knob, so it can be tricky to lift
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if you cook with the grill pan, the bottom will stain and discolor over time just like any other pan, so if you don't scrub it thoroughly, those stains will be visible when you use it as a lid

durability Tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Cites ease of cleaning (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Staub 9 quart dutch oven

What do Cooking YouTube say about dutch ovens in general?

Not a recommendation for a specific product: technique, materials and what to look for in dutch ovens. Citable on its own terms. There are 23 of them; the 21 with the strongest evidence are below.

2:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
But they’re better for roasting large, long cuts of meat in the oven, like a leg of lamb, pork shoulder, or beef tenderloin.

use-case fit 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

They're also better for baking bread because they allow you to make a traditional long loaf shape.
1:30 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
Unless you have a large household with over five people, a Dutch oven over 7 quarts is too big and heavy and won't fit well on most burners.

handling 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Cites handle (against), weight (against)

You also want to avoid looped handles like this. While these look nice, they are not very functional because you can only fit a couple of fingers in them.
Don't buy a Dutch oven with small side handles or handles with a thin opening that doesn't comfortably fit your hand. And definitely don't buy one with handles that are just ledges with no opening.
1:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
for 99% of home cooks, a 5- to 7-quart Dutch oven is ideal. These sizes are large enough to cook generous batches of soup, stew, and chili but not so big that they won't fit on your burner or take up too much space in your cabinet.

use-case fit 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Cites size and capacity, versatility

One to three-quart Dutch ovens can be nice for side dishes and serving
Even if you cook for yourself or one other person, a 5-7 quart Dutch oven is a better choice because it's more versatile, and you'll have the option to cook enough food for plenty of leftovers.
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You want a lid with a wide top and a long stem. The larger top makes it easier to grip and tilt the lid, even when wearing an oven mitt. And the longer stem allows you to grip the knob without your knuckles touching the hot lid.

handling 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Cites handle, lid, moisture retention

You want a heavy lid with a tight seal to lock in moisture, but there are a few other features to consider. On top, it's nice to have a grove to rest a spoon without it sliding off. Even better is a flat lid with raised edges. With this design, you can rest utensils and put ice on top while you cook. When the hot…
Look for handles that stick out at least 1.25 inches with an opening of .75 inches. Ideally, they will stick out 1.5 inches with an opening over one inch.
0:37 notes The Knife Wizard Buy It For Life Enthusiasts
the point of a dutch oven in terms of a stew or a brazer what have you is really to Stew so the idea here is you have the liquid all the way up and you have the meat fully submerged in liquid and you're using the actual uh liquid to cook the food

use-case fit Le Creuset — Braiser vs. Dutch Oven.

How do dutch ovens score among Cooking YouTube?

Computed only from claims about dutch ovens by people we have grounds to call Cooking YouTube, so the axes answer “according to Cooking YouTube” rather than “according to everyone”.

Domain authority

1 recommender, weighted by demonstrated expertise in dutch ovens. Weighted by expertise in this category, never by audience size.

Independent consensus

1 independent voice across 1 source. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.

Long-term ownership

no dated ownership reports yet. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.

Performance

3 performance claims. Claims about how well it does the job.

Value

no value claims yet. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.

Repairability

no repairability claims yet. Claims about whether it can be maintained or rebuilt.

Community breadth

all evidence from a single community so far. How many distinct communities converge, rather than one echo chamber.

Recency of evidence

most recent evidence from 2024. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.

Objections raised

3 negative claims, mostly ergonomics and aesthetics. How much complaint is on the record. A high figure means the drawbacks have been stated and quoted, not that the thing is worse.

These are separate measurements, not components of a score. They are never added together, and there is no overall rating, because which of them matters depends on what you are buying the thing for. An axis that says no evidence means nobody has spoken about it, not that the answer is low.