Evidence index · Dutch Ovens
Dutch Ovens, according to cookware reviewers
Only claims about dutch ovens made by people we have grounds to call cookware reviewers. The unrestricted dutch ovens evidence is on the dutch ovens page.
cookware reviewers is an occupation.
7 people on record as cookware reviewers make
224 quoted claims about dutch ovens across
16 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 cookware reviewers recommend?
Endorsements and objections about dutch ovens from cookware reviewers, together, strongest
evidence first.
There are 16 with evidence; the 15 with the most
independent voices are below, and every one is in
the claim search.
5 voices 67 claims 17 objections
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…
After speaking with their customer service, I confirmed that they cover the enamel for life. So, if 10 years down from now under normal circumstances, you see a chip in the enamel they'll replace the Dutch oven for free.
repairability Passing on someone else's experience Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)
Cites warranty
After posting that video, dozens of people commented that Le Creuset does the same, and as the customer service rep confirmed, they were right.
4 voices 63 claims 19 objections
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
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.
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 Essential Enamel
1 voice 12 claims 6 objections
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.
Made In dutch oven
1 voice 12 claims 3 objections
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
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.
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
1 voice 10 claims 6 objections
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
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
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
1 voice 8 claims 1 objection
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.
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
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
1 voice 7 claims 4 objections
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
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.
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
1 voice 6 claims 3 objections
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
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.
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
1 voice 6 claims 3 objections
1:00 supports Liz speaking on BestReviews Cookware Reviewer 3:30 supports Liz speaking on BestReviews Cookware Reviewer 3:00 mixed Liz speaking on BestReviews Cookware Reviewer Le Creuset 9 quart dutch oven
1 voice 5 claims 2 objections
Misen 7qt Dutch oven with grill pan lid
1 voice 3 claims 2 objections
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
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
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
1 voice 3 claims 1 objection
Lodge cast iron Dutch oven
1 voice 2 claims no objections from cookware reviewers
a cast iron Dutch oven this I use for baking bread like sourdough and stuff like that or I also use this for Soups and stews over a campfire or in the smoker
use-case fit Owns it If I Started Over, I'd Only Buy These Pots & Pans
Christopher Scott earns commission on this.
Stated in the source: “(Amazon Affiliate Link)” 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'd also go cast iron Dutch oven
recommendation Owns it If I Started Over, I'd Only Buy These Pots & Pans
Christopher Scott earns commission on this.
Stated in the source: “(Amazon Affiliate Link)” 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'd also go cast iron Dutch oven
Le Creuset Signature Dutch oven
1 voice 2 claims no objections from cookware reviewers
Lodge Dutch oven
1 voice 2 claims 1 objection
I repeated this test with Tramontina, Lodge, Le Creuset, and Great Jones Dutch ovens and, as you can see, Staub retains heat better than all of them.
performance Tested it Staub Dutch Oven Review: Is It Better Than Le Creuset? (Test Results)
Cites heat 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.
How do dutch ovens score among cookware reviewers?
Computed only from claims about dutch ovens by people we have grounds to call
cookware reviewers, so the axes answer “according to cookware reviewers”
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.