Enameled cast iron is a true wonder when it comes to cooking delicious and flavorful meals for the entire family. In fact, cast iron has been used for centuries to preserve nutrients and juices.
Lodge is a company with more than one century of experience in manufacturing cookware and kitchen accessories. Customers value the brand for the quality, affordability, and easy maintenance of their enameled cast iron products.
Here is their top best-selling enameled cast iron cookware that you shouldn’t miss!
In the Post
Best Lodge Enameled Cast Iron (Dutch Oven)
1. Lodge 7-quart Oval Oyster Enameled Cast Iron
The best way of cooking and serving memorable dishes, this Dutch Oven is the perfect combination of function and sophisticated looks.
Features
- Loop handles for easy maneuvering
- Resistant up to 500F
- Tight lid locks in moisture
- Ideal for any cooking technique
Here are some of the best highlights of this cookware.
Cooking Techniques
This enameled Dutch oven is heat resistant up to 500F, being suitable for baking, roasting, broil, or braising your favorite dishes. The porcelain enamel is compatible with any heat sources, including gas and electric, oven, and more, but must be kept away from microwaves and open flames, such as campfires or grills.
Easy to Clean
The enameled surface eliminates the need for seasoning. In addition to this, it is easy to clean, while the hard, but smooth surface maintains the heat and improves its distribution across the entire cooking area. This saves money because the elevated heat retention properties decrease the amount of energy required for cooking.
Sealing Moisture
This oval Dutch oven comes with a perfectly sealing lid. Its knob is made of durable stainless steel and it is oven-safe. However, it is not recommended for microwaves or open outdoor flames. Finally, the beautiful black rim of the Dutch oven is made of matte enamel, not cast iron.
Generous Size
The Dutch oven provides plenty of space so that you can marinate, refrigerate, and cook a small turkey in only one dish. The 7-quart capacity is enough to prepare food for the entire family.
Drawback
The Dutch oven can be placed in a dishwasher, but this can damage its appearance. For preservation purposes, it is recommended to wash it by hand with soapy water.
Editor’s note
Overall, this 7-quart enameled Dutch oven is one of the best if you are still looking for the perfect size and ideal quality to prepare healthy family meals. It is highly resistant to heat, has a protective enameled coating, and it can be easily maintained and cleaned.
2. Lodge 6-quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
The smooth 6-quart Dutch oven comes with one of the most affordable price tags and excellent performance. It is the go-to choice for many home cooks and professional chefs.
Features
- Double enamel coating
- Both the lid and the oven are oven-safe
- Can be cooked on different surfaces
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
The 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven comes with all the bells and whistles of more expensive products. Here are some of the highlights that make it stand out from the crowd.
Porcelain Coating
The construction contains a food-grade coating that is thoroughly tested for heavy metals, such as PFOA and PFTE. It is made of a particulate of glass, known as frit, which is baked at temperatures of 1,400F in order to fuse to the cast iron. This makes the coating incredibly strong, durable, and resistant to high temperatures. What is more, there are two layers of this coating, ensuring that your vessel will last for a very long time.
Cooking Methods
Due to its construction, this Dutch oven can be used on any cooking surface, including induction, gas, ceramic, or electric. Its excellent heat distribution and retention ensure cooking each dish to perfection.
Tightly Sealed Lid
The Dutch oven is not complete without its tightly sealed lid. This helps to retain all the juices during the cooking process, resulting in more flavorful dishes for your family. The lid and its knob are also heat resistant, so they can be put together in the oven.
Drawback
You should not use it in a microwave or over open flames because this damages the enamel coating, making your Dutch oven prone to cracking.
Editor’s note
All in all, the 6-quart Dutch oven is a must-have for any kitchen. Its spacious capacity is highly versatile, allowing you to bake crusty loaves of bread and prepare other dishes for an entire crowd.
3. Lodge 3-quart enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
If you are single, or only living with your significant other, there is no good reason to invest in a large Dutch oven. The 3-quart vessel is enough to cook for 2-3 people at once.
Features
- The reduced size is ideal for a small family
- Versatile use for cooking, baking, marinating foods, and more
- Perfectly sears and browns meats
- Can be placed in the dishwasher
- Chip-resistant design
This excellent dish deserves a top place in your kitchen collection. Here are some of its outstanding features.
Space-Conscious
The Dutch oven has a round shape that is 3 inches deep and 75 inches in diameter. This makes it suitable for cooking a chicken, ideal for a small family. Due to this, it is also space-conscious, while its sturdy handles allow you to easily manipulate the dish. However, make sure you use it with mitts to stay away from the heat.
Exquisite Design
This cookware comes with a smooth red finish that can be used for food presentation, too. It is common to cook and serve the food in the same Dutch oven because it is beautiful, and it also saves your time when doing the dishes.
Flavorful Dishes
The Dutch oven retains heat very well. As a result, you can use it to sear and brown meats if you preheat it before use. When the lid is placed on top, the heat remains inside and ensures that the food is cooked throughout, remaining tender and delicious. Since it is oven-safe, you may cook chicken, stews, but also bake bread and others.
Drawback
While this dish can be placed in the dishwasher, it is recommended to protect it from open flames, such as grills and campfires. These can damage its enamel coating and might lead to chipping.
Editor’s note
Combining the classic benefits of cast iron with a modern look, the 3-quart Dutch oven can prepare and serve the most memorable meals for your family. The smooth glass surface is not only durable but also a must-have for cookware collection.
4. Lodge 1.5 Quart Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven
If you love cooking at home, but you are on a tight budget, you must consider the 1.5-quart Dutch Oven. It is ideal for a wide range of tasks and comes with lots of benefits due to its minimalistic size.
Features
- Food-grade materials
- Small size leads to faster cooking
- Multiple coating layers for durability
- Saves storage space
Lodge 1.5-quart Dutch oven is budget-conscious but comes with several other highlights, too. These make it worth every cent!
Small Design
Although you might think that a small Dutch oven has little functionality, there are many benefits to it. You can store it anywhere without worrying that it will not fit in your already-crowded cabinets. Also, if you have a small oven, this dish will easily fit inside. A reduced cooking area means that that it heats up faster, so your dishes will cook much quicker than in larger pots.
Retaining All the Nutrients
The small 1.5-quart Dutch oven is not only affordable but also comes with a tight lid. This seals off the dish, ensuring that all the nutrients and juices from your meat and veggies are retained, creating a healthy meal packed with all vitamins you need.
Versatility
Despite its small size, this Dutch oven can be used just like its larger counterparts. It is ideal for searing meats, bake goods, roast, or braise any ingredients you like. The product is heat resistant up to 500F and it can be used in the oven, gas or electric stovetop, and many more.
Drawback
The small size of this Dutch oven does not recommend it for a larger family because you will not be able to cook multiple portions at once.
Editor’s note
All in all, this small, yet extremely versatile Dutch oven might be what you need if you want an affordable piece. It is long-lasting and made of quality materials, ensuring delicious and flavorful dishes each time.
5. Lodge 4.5-quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
If you have a larger family of 4-6 people, this 4.5-quart cast iron Dutch oven is able to cover all your needs.
Features
- Large design ideal for up to 6 people
- Durable enameled cast iron
- Has a beautiful finish
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Spacious
The Dutch oven is large, so you can cook a whole chicken at once. Also, it is ideal for making soups, stews, and others thanks to its unmatched heat retention. This is due to the thick cast iron that distributes the heat evenly, ensuring that all food is tender and cooked throughout.
Versatile Use
If you love marinated, juicy meats, this Dutch oven can provide high value for money. It can be used to refrigerate ingredients, or even store the food inside after it’s been cooked. This round Dutch oven comes with a vibrant finish, making it ideal as a serving dish for any special occasion.
Drawback
Due to its significantly larger size, it might not be suitable for space-conscious people.
Editor’s note
The product has a fair price and it comes with lots of features and benefits. The most important one is perhaps its durability, ensuring that you have a versatile Dutch oven for many years to come.
6. Lodge 3.6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Casserole
With a flawless design, the 3.6-quart cast iron casserole comes in three different colors. It is best for crafting delicious souffles and casseroles for the entire family.
Features
- Large handles for greater control
- Choice of three beautiful, glossy colors
- Double enamel coating for durability
- Resistant up to 500F
- Easy to clean and maintain
Lodge’s casserole is vibrant cookware that offers plenty of value for money. Here are its main highlights.
Classic Cooking
If you are in love with the all-time favorites, such as roasted meats, delicious casseroles, and more, this dish is ideal for your needs. The design is covered in two layers of glossy porcelain enamel that is not only easy to maintain and clean but also highly resistant to chips and cracks.
Large Handles
The casserole dish comes with large handles and a stainless-steel knob that make it easy to control. These are resistant in the oven up to 500F, great for cooking a wide variety of dishes.
Drawback
It is best not to use any metal utensils that can scratch the enamel coating. Additionally, this dish is best preserved when washed by hand.
Editor’s note
All in all, the 3.5-quart casserole dish is ideal for paella, casseroles, souffles, and many more. It is resistant to all heat sources, apart from open flames and microwave ovens.
Best Lodge Enameled Cast Iron – FAQ
Is Lodge a Good Brand to Trust?
Lodge is quite popular for its quality cookware and other accessories. This is due to their extensive experience in the field corroborated with products following stringent US standards for safety and durability, although they are made in China.
They strive to keep in mind the buyer’s needs, combined with excellent materials and long life, all coming at an affordable price.
One of the main benefits of Lodge compared to other competitors is that they offer larger handles. This ensures safety as you can easily manipulate the hot vessel.
In addition to this, their products come with curved edges that do not only help the food to be turned with ease but also prevents sticking. This makes cleaning a breeze.
Can I Put My Lodge Cookware in The Oven?
Thanks to the great quality of their materials, all Lodge enameled cast iron can be placed in the oven.
They are resistant up to 500F, so you can also use them on ceramic, gas, or electric cooktops. These do not only allow a better-cooked meal but also prevents chipping and cracking.
It is important to note, however, that enamel is oven-safe, but it should not be put in microwave ovens or open flames, such as grills, campfires, and others. This will blacken the beautiful exterior coating and can make your cookware crack and chip.
Can I Boil Water in a Lodge Enameled Cast Iron?
One aspect of cast iron is that it takes some time to heat up compared to other materials. However, once it reaches 100C, the water boils just like in any other pot.
Some might consider the health risks since there is a layer of porcelain enamel that possibly contaminates the water. Fortunately, Lodge uses only top-quality materials to design its products, so this thick coating is safe as long as you only use it on the recommended sources of heat as mentioned above.
Can I Put My Lodge Cookware in The Fridge or Freezer?
Generally, cast iron cookware can be safely placed in the fridge or freezer. However, make sure you allow it to cool down before you proceed.
Rest it for some time before placing it in the fridge or freezer, otherwise, it can go through thermal shock, resulting in cracks or chips. Also, after you take it out from the fridge or the freezer, allow it to reach temperature before washing it.
Tips for Using Enameled Cast Iron
Enameled cast iron can be used in any oven or stovetop because it is resistant to 500F. However, if you slide the dish on glass or ceramic cooktops, you might scratch the surface. It is recommended to always lift the dish, but make sure you use mitts as the handles can become hot.
For easier cleanup, you can add a bit of butter or oil before cooking, and it is best to use the enameled cast iron only at low to medium temperature. Finally, do not use any metal utensils because they can scratch the enamel coating.
How to Avoid Scorched Food
Scorching food in an enameled cast iron is quite difficult. This is because cheaper pans or pots often burn the food due to the thin bottom, so investing in a quality dish will save you money in the long term. However, we might still forget about our cooking dish, so it happens to scorch the food.
One easy way of avoiding ruining your meal is to use a timer. For instance, you can set it to every 5 minutes or so to remind you to check on the food.
If you are simmering foods and you do not want to let it dry out too quickly and burn your food, it is best to cover the pot with a lid. This allows the steam to remain in the dish, so it does not dry out and burn. However, for reductions, you need to simply stand and watch your dish until the liquid is reduced to your desired level.
What to Do If You Burn Your Cookware
Burning your food when you get on other tasks is something that all of us go through at some point. Thankfully, enameled cast iron cookware can be easily cleaned, even if it looks quite bad in the beginning.
Avoid scrubbing it because you may damage the enamel coating.
Take the dirty cookware and put it on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a quart of water and let it boil. When you see the first bubbles, add two tablespoons of baking soda. Take a wooden spoon and start scraping gently the bottom of the dish to loosen up the burnt bits.
Let this mixture over medium heat for a few minutes while gently scraping the bottom. The pieces will get released from the bottom and start floating in the water. Then, discard the mixture, rinse the pot with clean water, and wipe it until it is completely dry.
If your Dutch oven is larger, you can add more water. Make sure you put another two tablespoons of baking soda for each quart.
How to Clean and Maintain Enameled Cast Iron
Enameled cast iron can be placed in a dishwasher. However, this might damage its original looks, so it is recommended to wash it by hand using soapy water and a soft brush with nylon bristles.
You should not use any citrus-based cleaners or detergents as they dull the glossy appearance of the dish without impacting its performance. Do not stack this cookware and make sure it is completely dry before storing it in a dry and cool place.
In time, it is normal to notice that the enameled cookware is stained. This does not affect performance and it can be cleaned with a Lodge Enamel Cleaner according to the instructions on the bottle. Alternatively, for stubborn stains, you can also soak the pot for up to 3 hours by adding 3 tablespoons of bleach for a quart of water.
The rim on the enameled cookware is prone to rust when it is not properly dried before storage. If you notice rust developing, it is best to use a nylon sponge with soapy water to clean it. After that, the dish must be thoroughly dried. Cooking oil can be rubbed regularly on the rim to prevent rust as it creates a protective layer.
To Sum Up
All in all, Lodge offers excellent quality when it comes to enameled cast iron cookware. They are durable, resistant to high temperatures, and easy to maintain. No matter your needs, Lodge provides affordable dishes that help you cook healthy, delicious meals with minimum efforts.
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