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Evidence index · Cast Iron Skillets

What 10 cooks actually recommend among enameled cast iron

62 quoted claims about enameled cast iron from 10 named people across 13 long-form sources, covering 9 products, 19 of them raising objections. Every claim links to the second it was said.

11 voices across 13 sources.

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 speaking on BestReviews 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

Two judgements rest on this sentence:

Amazon Basics vs Lodge vs Staub vs Le Creuset Dutch Ovens

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…
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

Two judgements rest on this sentence:

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

Lodge's main advantage is affordability delivering Great Value often below $100 making it accessible for many
this Dutch oven is versatile suitable for various heat sources like stov tops ovens and grills offering flexibility and cooking methods

Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven

1 voice 10 claims 4 objections

0:35 supports Uncle Scott speaking on Uncle Scott's Kitchen 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!

Cites appearance, country of manufacture

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.

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 speaking on Uncle Scott's Kitchen 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

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.

0:35 supports Uncle Scott speaking on Uncle Scott's Kitchen 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

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.

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.

Our Place enameled cast iron pan

1 voice 8 claims 2 objections

4:31 objectssupports Wellness Daddy
so coming in second place is going to be the enameled cast iron cast iron holds and distributes its heat evenly but it heats up slower than other metals once it's hot it retains its heat well and is great for slow cooking

Three judgements rest on this sentence:

I Tested The Best Non-Toxic Pans (So You Don't Have To)

one of the first things that you have to do with especially the Cass IR is you're going to have to season it
the enamel cast iron pan had to be heated up in the oven before it also had an uneven sear
it was the second hardest to clean and in my opinion the worst tasting steak so I'm also going to put this one in the tide for last place
in terms of Versatility I'm going to put extrema in third place the 360 stainless Steel in second place the enameled cast iron in fourth place and the carway ceramic coated in first place
and then the next one is going to be the enamal cast iron because as I mentioned before the iron can leech into the food and for people who have issues with that that might be a problem
what also really surprised me is that the cast iron was easier to clean than the stainless seal
the stainless steel could be the pan that you use for sautéing and the cast IR could be the one that you use for searing and cooking steaks
2:00 supportsobjects Wellness Daddy
next is going to be the enameled cast iron from our place this is a another good option a bit heavier than the others but it's a classic

Three judgements rest on this sentence:

  • supports recommendation Tested it
  • objects handling Tested it cites weight (against)
  • supports mention Passing on someone else's experience cites reputation

I Tested The Best Non-Toxic Pans (So You Don't Have To)

okay this Cas IR is 7 lb the ceramic is 4 lb the ceramic nonstick is 4.2 lb and the stainless steel is 3.6 lb

Le Creuset enameled cast iron oven

1 voice 4 claims no objections yet

2:01 supports Jed
what's really interesting this here is caked on it's it's hard but it's not damaged I don't think I don't think it's damaged the enamel uh so I really just think it's a ton of of carbon buildup over generations of using it

durability Tested it How I carefully reconditioned a 50 year old Le Creuset Oven

Cites coating durability, durability, lid

the lid that is in good shape it had a little bit uh on the top of the lid but the bottom of the lid but the top is in great shape
this pan will now go on for another generation or two or three there's no reason for this not to go on uh indefinitely uh it is a perfectly usable pan
1:30 supports Jed
this customer had this oven this this really cool kind of late' 60s early' 7s oven uh Luc oven this beautiful unique teal color

appearance Tested it How I carefully reconditioned a 50 year old Le Creuset Oven

Cites appearance

I didn't want to damage the exterior which is I think a beautiful color for being 50 years old
so it's character marks on the bottom uh along the edge I'll show you here a closeup here there are a bunch of character marks all around this pan so it's been well used and well loved

Made In enameled cast iron

1 voice 3 claims 1 objection

4:01 supportsobjects 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.

Two judgements rest on this sentence:

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.

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

Cites appearance

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.

Staub enameled cast iron pan

1 voice 3 claims 1 objection

Le Creuset enameled cast iron skillet

1 voice 2 claims 1 objection

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)

Cites heating speed (against)

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.

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

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.

Viking enameled cast iron skillet

1 voice 1 claim no objections yet

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 of America's Test Kitchen 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.
2:01 supports Hannah of America's Test Kitchen 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.
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.