can anyone tell me what the difference is between this and a $50 dutch oven?
73753
Le Creuset cast iron is made in France, not China like a good number of other brands. Le Creuset invests heavily in the quality of the enamel coating and backs it with a lifetime warranty. The enamel is easy to clean and will last a very long time without chipping when properly cared for. Chef Corner Store
73754
I had a less expensive enameled dutch oven before this one. The enemel had a tendency to chip very easily. So far no chips in this one and it tends to cook more evenly on the cook top. Is it worth the price....yes, if you use a dutch oven often as I do.
1183130
Dutch ovens are great for lots of stuff. Anything from pasta sauce to stews and soups. You can also deep-fry in it, and bake things, like bread. Because it's cast iron the heat distribution is always generally even, and because it's iron, it retains heat quite well. For frying, it's easier to clean than an electric deep-fryer, even if you do need a bit of extra "tech" to go with it - basically you should have a candy/frying thermometer and a splatter shield, preferably. Fried chicken in a cast iron dutch oven comes out spectacular, as does a good beef stew or fresh marinara sauce. Can also make killer baked beans, too. Also it's handy for pot roasts, roast chicken, roast duck...the list goes on. Also, unlike with aluminum or steel pots, you can toss this right on the campfire if you do that outdoorsy thing, and slow cook there too. It's one of the original kitchen multitaskers, heh. You may also wish to look at the enameled versions. To clarify: this is basically the same pot that you see if you've ever watched food network, and they're cooking/roasting meat or veggies in a large and colorful enameled pot - those are cast iron too, actually. The Lodge one is that dutch oven naked. The enamel does add some convenience, (washing it in soap won't destroy the coating for instance), but you pay a hefty price for it. Le Creuset is one of the more famous makers, if you wanted to check out some examples. They work great, don't get me wrong, but I've never wanted to pay $200+ for a dutch oven, though Lodge makes cheaper enameled ones now. Plain 'ol cast iron works just as well for the most part, though the enamel has its perks, for sure. I consider them fairly interchangeable, but I imagine in particulars they may not be. I haven't owned any of the Le Creuset stuff (but I've used it - its nice), so I don't know which is better long-term, ultimately. Both will probably outlive you by quite a bit, though, so would be a good investment. I defer to people with more enameled dutch oven experience than I, though. :)
832124
Bill, I will have to get back to you on this. The Double Dutch Oven is my birthday present from my wife and I can't open it until tommorrow 3/4. Based on pressure cookers and slow cookers of similar size that we cook in, I would say the DDO is plenty big enough for most anything. The 7 quart would be good for cooking for large groups or making more then you need and freezing or canning it. You are dealing with almost 2 gallons of food and a pretty large bread loaf in the 7 quart.Harry
1255209
I am used to these excellent pots since 30 years, while I lived in France. At the time they were very ordinary and cheap ones. Now they are expensive. French and Dutch oven seem to me marketing names for America, in France they are just Cocotte de chez le Creuset, see in Amazon.fr below, anyways the one that I bought as a present (my 30 year old one is still perfect) was much cheaper at Amazon than elsewhere. http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_10?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Dkitchen&field-keywords=le%20creuset&sprefix=le+creuset%2Caps%2C291 .
1868656
Yes it is. It basically is a Dutch oven. Just be sure to follow directions. It says never to cook on high. With the even cooking you get, you never need to and things brown beautifully and clean up is easy. I have the entire set and love them.
79480
I use the 7 1/2 quart dutch oven for everything and I usually cook for 2 people. I live with my husband, and the dutch oven is great for making soups, stews, sauces, chili, spaghetti, and I even use it for stir-fry dishes. You can definitely fry chicken for four people in it. I like this size because I can make a full recipe of things like chili in it, and I usually have leftovers when it's just the two of us. For four people, we'll eat the whole thing!
861671
I believe they are the same, just different wording. My box the oven came in has both wording on it!
435996
One has a porcelain cook well $50.99 this is the one I purchased. Clean up is easy and I think cleans up as easily as the stainless steel cook well. This would be a matter of personal choice the stainless steel cook well will probably last longer if you intend to use it a lot. I will use it occasionally and so I went with the less expensive one.
82767
Try one of the Imusa casseroles. Imusa Enamel Dutch Oven, 4.5 Quart, TurquoiseThey don't do heat diffusion very well (you will appreciate the difference when you get the LC), but they have the same easy-to-clean enamel advantage, they're made in Mexico, not China, and for the price of a LC dutch oven you could buy ten of them.
334675
I did I bought 2 off amazon. Both lodge brand one has a pic of lodge cast iron with a pie in it. That has great recipes. There is also a cast iron or Dutch oven www that great recipies. I think it might be Dutch oven dudes. Or something close. But amazon had the best prices for cook where & books. You can also get great used books on here...
1436862
I have the 5 qt dutch oven with the handles instead of the bail wire handle and I'm going to go and buy one WITH the bail wire because it's easier to carry and to remove the lid. If you want one without the bail wire just buy the 5 quart that has handles on the side and the lid with matching handles, that doubles as a bowl/skillet. That's the one I use for baking my bread (plus you get a multi functional lid).
2051152
I just found out what a Dutch Oven is. My neighbor told me about it. I ordered one to cook a recipe in. Comon sense would tell you to only use utensils that do not scratch the surface. This goes for any pans that have a coating or something. I really just started cooking stuff.
283888
Depends what you're looking for whether a campfire Dutch oven or one for stove top and or oven. Generally, the heavier it is, the more stable it is with regards to holding/dispersing heat. I have a campfire version, the enameled one, and another 8 qt with a dome lid. All are Lodge. There are others out there, although I'm not familiar with them. I have an older cast iron skillet that is not a Lodge, and it is fine. I also have a cast iron loaf pan in which I have made breads and meatloaf. I also recently purchased a 12 inch Lodge cast iron skillet, and got a stove top griddle and ribbed square pan as gifts; all are Lodge. Keep your un-enameled cast iron well seasoned. Even if pre-seasoned, I still season them myself.
927494
The one I purchased (L12DCO3) would work. But remember; the Dutch Oven itself is very heavy...and once filled with a soup/stew will be too heavy to move around. Be prepared to serve from the oven. and hopefully one of the men will offer to clean it. Also don't forget to season the oven prior to the first use. All that being said... this is a great item at a great price that should last a lifetime.
671097
Here's a video from the Sun Oven website with the differences between the two ovens: http://www.sunoven.com/all-american-sun-oven-vs-global-sun-oven
1013503
I actually would recommend the Lodge L8DD3 Double Dutch Oven and Casserole with Skillet Cover, 5-Quart for camping instead of this one. I own both. The reason I use this one more at home is because of the handles. Easy into the oven, easy out of the oven. The reason I would recommend the Double Dutch Oven for camping instead of this one is; because of the handles. Much easier to two-hand the other one. If you are going to REALLY go camping though, you will want one with a lipped lid so you can put charcoal on top and not have it slide off. This isn't a bad choice at all for camping; would just be my second choice for camping. I actually would recommend the Lodge L8DD3 Double Dutch Oven and Casserole with Skillet Cover, 5-Quart for camping instead of this one. I own both. The reason I use this one more at home is because of the handles. Easy into the oven, easy out of the oven. The reason I would recommend the Double Dutch Oven for camping instead of this one is; because of the handles. Much easier to two-hand the other one. If you are going to REALLY go camping though, you will want one with a lipped lid so you can put charcoal on top and not have it slide off. This isn't a bad choice at all for camping; would... » Read More I actually would recommend the Lodge L8DD3 Double Dutch Oven and Casserole with Skillet Cover, 5-Quart for camping instead of this one. I own both. The reason I use this one more at home is because of the handles. Easy into the oven, easy out of the oven. The reason I would recommend the Double Dutch Oven for camping instead of this one is; because of the handles. Much easier to two-hand the other one. If you are going to REALLY go camping though, you will want one with a lipped lid so you can put charcoal on top and not have it slide off. This isn't a bad choice at all for camping; would just be my second choice for camping. « Show Less
1248535
probably kinda late not but there are pans from Nordic ware which are not too bad. I just bought some that by Chicago Metallic and they seem better than the nordic ware. For the pan the company sends with the unit, I would rather they reduced the price of the oven as the pan is about the worst you could get.