Need Dutch oven recommendations...

[Holly IN]

I know there is Le Cuesent brand, Rachel Ray brand, Mario Batali brand and the Lodge brand. Which ones are the best one?

Is there another brand that I do not know about?

Le Cuesent is pricy!! So I need good recommendations on Dutch ovens that will let me put in oven too!

Holly

[OnTheBrink]

Alton Brown recommends a cast iron one. You could probably get a good one at Bass Pro or any other sporting/camping type store for less than a fancy name-brand one.

[j.griff]

I bought an enamel coated dutch oven at Wal-Mart, clearanced for $39. :)
The rim of the pot and the lid need to be seasoned, but I think that's a great deal considering the
prices I've seen in other stores for the same size, enamel coated. I've got a cast iron one without the enamel,
and I really don't like the metallic taste of foods I've cooked in it. JMHO

[nmoira]

The latest issue of Cook's Illustrated (Feb 2008) recommends the Tramontina ($39.86) and Lodge ($49.86) dutch ovens. Both are enameled cast iron. They give the edge to the Tramontina only because it is 6.5 quarts as compared to the 6 quart Lodge. They still like Le Creuset the best, but these are more than acceptable alternatives.

[GLOWAcademy]

Jenn, I bought one at walmart on sale for 40 $ :)

Man some are high

[Laurel]

If you don't need it right away, I would shop around for a Le Creuset one. Stores like TJ Maxx occasionally have Le Creuset things cheap. I got mine on super-duper sale at Amazon, so check there too. (I just looked, it is crazy how expensive they are.) Most of my cooking ware is Le Creuset, but I have one rule (for myself, and for my family, as they like to buy it for me as well): Don't ever pay full price for it!

If you need or want it right away, or you can't find it on sale, I think any knockoff brand would be sufficient.

[imeverywoman]

Le Creuset wins hands down, no questions asked. Do check Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods. I've picked my pieces up there at drastically discounted prices.

[Amy loves Bud]

Do you have a Le Creuset outlet anywhere near you? The prices are less than half of retail. Then they take 15% off of seconds and 20% off of whatever color they have on sale at the time. If you look through the seconds, you can find a pot that you won't be able to tell why it is a second. Great deal that way.

[whitestavern]

As far as the coated pots, I only have experience with the Le Creuset and I am a huge fan. They are pricey, but they last forever!! They're super easy to clean and I use them all the time. So even though it's a tough investment to make, they are worth it IMHO. I do have a cast iron dutch oven by Lodge that we use over our fire and when we go camping. It serves its purpose, but I wouldn't use it on my regular stove day to day.

[Liz CA]

I know there is Le Cuesent brand, Rachel Ray brand, Mario Batali brand and the Lodge brand. Which ones are the best one?

Is there another brand that I do not know about?

Le Cuesent is pricy!! So I need good recommendations on Dutch ovens that will let me put in oven too!

Holly

nt

[Holly IN]

Thanks guys!! I guess I will have to try and hold out for Le Creusent.

Holly

[Jenn in Mo]

I have a Lodge Logics large cast iron (uncoated but beautifully pre-seasoned) dutch oven and LOVE it. I use it daily....from boiling water to cooking stews to popping in the oven to cook Ree's pot roast. I am now down to just using my Logics skillet and dutch oven as my only two pans. Simplified and easy. I am amazed I'm not missing my other pans. I held onto them for awhile but never needed them, so gave them away.

[cin]

I bought all of my crueset at Homegoods and TJ Maxx. Oh, I also bought a couple of pieces from amazon. I *LOVE* it!!!!!!!! I want to get a couple of more smaller pots, but am waiting and watching for a good deal.

[GVA]

I've been playing around with Dutch Oven recipes for a while, but didn't own the real thing. Mom gave me $50 for Christmas, and I found a really good deal online at Amazon. There's a small scratch on the lid, really nothing that the rest of my cookware doesn't have. And, It DOES MAKE a difference, trust me. Everything I've made since is better in it.

I want more!

[kalanamak]

Cast iron lodge (with the lipped rim for coals) for outdoor, Le Cr for indoors.

[Volty]

So a Dutch Oven is a real cooking apparatus? LOL. http://www.thestarvingbrain.com/forum/Smileys/default/bag.gif

I was wondering why the goodie-goodie ladies around here had a thread about Dutch Ovens.

[Margaret in GA]

I don't think you should buy pots and pans from tj maxx. I was on a Chantal kick years ago and bought several pans from the manufacturer and several from tj maxx. The ones from tj maxx are knicked up and the enamel is coming off in several places. The others look brand new. I firmly believe that things at tj maxx (at least in the kitchen section) are there for a reason: they stink.

margaret
btw, I have a cast iron dutch oven that was my grandmother's and it is so wonderful. I make the new york times no knead bread in it often. Is that what you're going to do with yours?

[Holly IN]

I was going to mainly use mine for soups and stews on the stove top plus some of the Rachel ray meals.

I prefer one with enamal inside.

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

Holly