What 7 cooks actually recommend among enameled cast iron

45 quoted claims about enameled cast iron from 7 named people across 10 long-form sources, covering 6 products , 16 of them raising objections. Every claim links to the second it was said.

What enameled cast iron do particular groups recommend?

Cohort pages restrict the same enameled cast iron evidence to one group at a time. Authority is scoped to enameled cast iron, never to how large someone’s audience is.

Why do cooks recommend enameled cast iron?

The attributes cooks cite most often about enameled cast iron, counted from the reasons attached to each claim rather than read out of the prose.

Which enameled cast iron do cooks actually recommend?

The enameled cast iron below are ordered by how many independent voices are on record about each one — a count of evidence, not a rating. Products without their own page have not yet cleared the evidence threshold for one.

Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

2 voices 16 claims 6 objections

0:30 supports Liz Cookware Reviewer

the lodge 6q enameled cast iron Dutch oven is a versatile and durable piece of cookware known for its ability to retain and distribute heat evenly

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

Cites even heating, non-stick surface, ease of cleaning, even heating, heat retention

all four ovens scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for heat retention and evenness of cooking

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…

while the lodge was a pretty quick cleanup there was some Browning we noticed from the oven that didn't come out when cleaning taking it down to a 7 out of 10

2:31 supports Product Reviews Cookware Reviewer

the lodge 6qt enameled cast iron Dutch oven is a budget-friendly choice that doesn't compromise on performance it's perfect for home Cooks seeking a Dutch oven's benefits without the Hefty price tag of Premium Brands

value Top 3 Dutch Ovens 2024: Staub vs. Le Creuset vs. Lodge Review

Cites price, price

Lodge's main advantage is affordability delivering Great Value often below $100 making it accessible for many

2:30 mixed Liz Cookware Reviewer

the bigger handles and enamel coating of the lodge make it easier to grip when pouring and serving however the handles got very hot so we gave it a 9 out of 10

handling tested it Amazon Basics vs Lodge vs Staub vs Le Creuset Dutch Ovens

Cites handle (against), handle

Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven

1 voice 10 claims 4 objections

0:35 supports Uncle Scott Beginners earns commission on this

I'm going to give this guy a 90% thumbs up on the pro side.

recommendation tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!

Uncle Scott earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “USK currently has affiliate links and/or influencer links with Amazon, Falk, De Buyer, Thermoworks, Breville, Lodge, Smithey and others.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance, country of manufacture

But I am glad I have one of them in my Battery Deuisine now. They crank out a ton of delicious food. I think they have a nice look and design. They're made in America.

Um, I really like mine. I'm giving it a 90% thumbs up.

1:05 supports Uncle Scott Beginners earns commission on this

This lodge is pushing 15 pounds. Holy cow, that is a sturdy piece of cookware.

handling tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!

Cites weight

0:35 supports Uncle Scott Beginners earns commission on this

First is realworld cooking performance. It has turned out a ton of delicious food and that is the most important factor.

performance tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!

Cites heat retention

it is nice to see the Lodge USA made Dutch oven competing nicely with the stove and I think this beef bergen was equally delicious in both.

the oil temperature only dropped down to about 342. So that is not much of a drop in temperature at all. And then of course it rebounded on up.

So there's a lot of heat trapped in that thermal mass of a lodge and I think it did a great job.

It's winter time in Utah at the moment and I've been using these lodges to crank out some shephardd's pies and they've turned out fantastically.

Made In enameled cast iron

1 voice 3 claims 1 objection

4:01 supports Made In® works for this brand

My tip for you for enamel cast iron is that it's a little bit slower to respond to heat than stainless or carbon steel. It's going to take a little longer to preheat, and once it's hot, it's going to stay hot.

performance tested it Buyer's Guide To Non-Toxic Cookware | Made In Cookware

Made In® works for this brand. Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites heat retention

4:01 supports Made In® works for this brand

I actually like to keep them out at all times because they give such a nice pop of color to my kitchen.

appearance owns and uses it daily Buyer's Guide To Non-Toxic Cookware | Made In Cookware

Made In® works for this brand. Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance

4:01 objects Made In® works for this brand

My tip for you for enamel cast iron is that it's a little bit slower to respond to heat than stainless or carbon steel. It's going to take a little longer to preheat, and once it's hot, it's going to stay hot.

performance tested it Buyer's Guide To Non-Toxic Cookware | Made In Cookware

Made In® works for this brand. Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites heating speed (against)

Le Creuset enameled cast iron skillet

1 voice 2 claims 1 objection

3:31 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Now let's talk about our winning enamel cast iron option from Le Creuset, another gorgeous pan.

best in class tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites appearance

6:02 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Enamel pans also tend to be more expensive. Our winner from Le Creuset is about $250.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price (against)

Made In enameled cast iron skillet

1 voice 2 claims 1 objection

2:31 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer paid by this brand

And not surprisingly, cast iron heated the slowest.

performance tested it Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Prudent Reviews paid by this brand. Stated in the source: “Before I show you that, I want to thank Made In for sponsoring this video.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites heating speed (against)

The stainless steel pan cooked the pancake fast and evenly, carbon steel heated quickly but one side of the pancake cooked more than the other, and the cast iron pan heated so slowly that the pancake wasn’t close to done when the timer went off.

4:01 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer paid by this brand

After 5 minutes, the surface of the carbon steel pan was 112°F. The stainless steel pan was 123°F, and the cast iron pan was 178°F.

performance tested it Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Cites heat retention

Viking enameled cast iron skillet

1 voice 1 claim no objections yet

6:32 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

We also tested a bunch more and found a best buy from Viking, which was around $110.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price

What do cooks say about enameled cast iron in general?

Claims about enameled cast iron that name no single product — technique, materials, what to look for. Still evidence, and often the claims that decide a purchase.

5:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

The enamel isn't toxic, but you certainly don't want that in your food and it does make the surface more sticky.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites non-stick surface (against)

Another downside, don't expect enamel cast iron skillets to be or become non-stick.

5:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

The enamel coating can sometimes heat and expand and retract at different rates, which can lead to cracking, an issue called crazing.

reliability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites crazing (against), non-stick surface (against)

While some manufacturers claim their pans will do this and become more non-stick with use, in our hands-on testing experience, we found that not to be the case.

5:02 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Be warned however that this enamel coating makes these skillets less durable than their uncoated brethren.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites coating (against), durability (against), scratch resistance (against)

You also wanna avoid using metal utensils and scraping or banging the pan, you know it's glass, so you gotta be a little bit careful with it.

2:01 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Generally being a single piece of metal also makes these skillets very sturdy.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites build quality, coating, durability, ease of cleaning, maintenance, rust resistance

These cast iron pans start out like traditional cast iron, but then they're coated in a glass like vitreous glaze that seals the pan from air and moisture that could cause rust

their enamel coating makes enamel cast iron pans virtually maintenance free. You never have to season them and you can soak, use soap and scrub as much as you'd like.

Okay, that is my buying guide for these wonderful lifetime pans.

0:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens are protected by a coating of fused glass particles that are melted down and sprayed onto the cast iron. This coating is hard and non-reactive, which means you can cook any ingredient for any amount of time without issues. You never have to worry about rust, and you don't have to season…

durability 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Cites coating durability, maintenance, rust resistance

5:02 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Finally, their colorful appearance is pretty enough to bring to the table for serving.

appearance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites appearance

1:00 supports STAUB USA

one of the reasons I love enameled cast iron is because it has a very even heat distribution and it is perfect for searing proteins

performance owns and uses it daily Which STAUB Dutch Oven Should You Buy? Size Guide & Expert Tips

Cites even heating

1:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Unless you plan to use your Dutch oven over a campfire, get one that's enameled.

recommendation 10 Dutch Oven Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Cites browning visibility

Although I appreciate that a dark interior makes discoloration less noticeable, it's more important to be able to monitor your food's progress. So, if all else is equal, I prefer Dutch ovens with a light interior.

8:03 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

if you want cast iron but would like a lighter pan look to enamel, they tend to be lighter than traditional

handling tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites weight

6:32 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Enameled cast iron is essentially the same as traditional cast iron, but it's coated in a thin layer of hardened glass. This enamel acts as a permanent barrier that prevents rust and eliminates the need for seasoning.

durability tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites maintenance, rust resistance

1:00 supports

You can scrub an enameled pan with soap, something you shouldn't do with traditional cast iron pans since soap will remove the seasoning that makes it non-stick and rust-free.

use-case fit tested it Equipment Review: The Best Traditional & Enameled Cast-Iron Skillets / Pans & Our Testing Winners

Cites ease of cleaning