Reviews for Lodge EC7OD13 Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven, 7-Quart, Oyster White
People say Lodge is really similar to Le Creuset.
5.0
Having fun with my new blue toy
I'm not a foodie or devoted chef, I just like to do real cooking ... occasionally. No way would I pay $300 for a Le Creuset pot for my humble kitchen, but a positive review of Lodge products made me start thinking about getting a Dutch oven. After more research and dithering, I finally ordered the 4.5-quart model as it is the right size for my needs. (This size was not available in local stores.) I placed the order around 3PM and it was on my doorstep by noon the next day. I immediately opened the box and checked to be sure there were no chips or scratches. Good to go. During the past few weeks, I have been experimenting using recipes from my own collection as well as from the internet and cookbooks from the library. I've made bread twice, a one-pot chicken dish (photo), and a couple of other chicken or pork dishes. I am getting the knack of it and expect I will try a lot more ways of using my pretty little Dutch oven. Now I understand why many people say this is one of the essential items to have in your kitchen.
5.0
As good as Le Creuset.
I’d heard that these were as good as Le Creuset and they are! I’ve cooked and baked in it and it’s perfect. Yay!! Thanks!
5.0
The best dutch oven on the market
Don't spend $350 on a Le Creuset dutch oven when this Lodge one is an attractive and versatile kitchen workhorse. I owned one for 7+ years before I mistakenly heated it in the oven with the rubber lid pads still in place. The melted rubber adhered permanently to the inside, so I gladly purchased another one. I use it to fry foods, bake bread, make chicken stock, bibimbap, etc. I comment all the time about versatility of this 7.5 qt. dutch oven. I'm an avid cook and baker, and this is a top 5 kitchen item, along with my stand mixer, Victoronix Chef knife, digital scale, and baking stone.
5.0
Great Alternative to Le Creuset
This Dutch oven works great. I couldn’t justify spending $350 on a Le Creuset when this was $50.
5.0
Great Dutch Oven!
This is a lovely pot. It's so pretty, in fact, that it's home is the far back right-hand corner burner of the stove. The pot heats evenly, the enamel is perfect, and it is almost comparable to my super-expensive Le Creuset enamelware. The only thing that's really not comparable is that the Lodge dutch oven's edges, where the outside color meets the inside white enamel, is NOT enameled, which makes it prone to rust. Always be very aware of the edges and their potential for rust. I solve the problem by putting the freshly washed pot and lid in the oven while it cools down after dinner is over. That ensures that the water will all be evaporated out of the microscopic holes in the untreated cast iron edges. Once it's cool enough to handle, but still warm, put a little vegetable oil on the edges of both the pot and the lid to "season" them so they never rust. I won't ever have to buy another dutch oven this size because I'll be leaving this pot to my heirs when I die. Come to think of it, this pot would actually make a GREAT wedding or housewarming gift! Just remember to lift with your legs, not your back when the pot is full! ;-D
5.0
A little research goes a long way.
I think there may be an issue regarding what is to be expected and what is normal as far as Dutch Ovens go. The first one I received was perfect but it had a bump on the bottom with what looked like little holes going through. After seeing some of the negative reviews here I freaked out and ordered a replacement from Amazon. The second one looked in no way perfect, at least three bumps albeit covered in enamel and a superficial knick or two. It did have one tiny pinhole at the bottom though which, according to my research, is either perfectly normal or an area where rust can slowly develop over time and possibly cracking your enamel in the future. I inspected my first piece once again and realized that the slightly raised bump on the inside and what appeared to be holes were not at all pinholes and though there was some discoloration, they were most certainly not exposing the iron underneath. Now you may think that a high end french brand does not have issues with pinholes or bumps but if you do your research you will find that you are quite wrong and you’ll be paying six times as much. I highly recommend that you research proper care and use of your dutch oven to take good care of it and curb your expectations of what the inside should look like. You are unlikely to find a completely perfect interior without going to a physical store and opening every possible box and inspecting it for yourself. The second piece had quite a few superficial areas but the one tiny pinhole ... Read More
5.0
Best Enameled Dutch Oven
I spent a lot of time comparing Lodge to the more expensive brands such as Le Creuset and Staub. Le Creuset 5.5 qt. $400; Staub 5.5 qt. $350-$370 depending on color; Lodge 6 qt. $79-$89. I ordered the Lodge 6qt. in Indigo from Amazon Warehouse for $55. Condition description was “Used-Very Good”. It was really brand new. Cardboard box that it came in was “damaged”. Who cares about the cardboard box? They’re always damaged anyway. All in all, Lodge was the best choice for me.
4.0
Lodge is incredible
This is a modal window. No compatible source was found for this media. I chose the Lodge 5 Qt. Dutch oven in ‘Midnight’ - which, is a slightly metallic black leaning hematite finish. It’s very beautiful. After many uses, the outer finish shows some patina from some residue unknowingly left on it before a 500°F oven temp for ‘no knead’ ciabatta bread, twice. That doesn’t hamper its performance. The interior is a biscuit colored enamel that matches the Lodge ‘Oyster’ 3.6 Qt. shallow braiser I also purchased. The interior is non staining so far, shows off food and it’s entirely easy to deglaze and clean. It’s heavier than Le Creuset and the build is thicker, but there are advantages to that: better slow, low braising and longer heat retention oven to table. The mold is more of a graduated curve toward the bottom than Le Creuset - so there’s less browning surface area, but better moisture circulation from the smooth interior lid toward outer walls basting food downward and toward the center. I find I like the interior taper for deglazing and whisking sauces without furiously working toward corner edges - it’s a more natural and easy glide with Lodge to get the delicious bits into the sauce. It’s thicker, so just be prepared that a full pot roast and veg is heavier to handle than with Le Creuset. I like the slight dome on the lid. It’s fits more and it’s better for the moisture circulation than my experience with Staub. I prefer a smooth domed enamel lid because it’s easier ... Read More
4.0
Works very well for the price
I've had this for 14 months and I use it about once a week for stews and baking round sourdough loaves. I also own a larger size 30-year old Le Creuset dutch oven, so I can compare the two. I'm only going to address functionality, not the issue of it being made in China instead of the USA. I bought this to have a backup for smaller batches of food. I wanted something much less expensive than a Le Creuset but still sturdy and useful, and I was not disappointed. The pot did not come with any defects that I could find. After a year it is in excellent shape and I don't see any reason why it should not last for my lifetime. The Lodge pot is very good for browning and sauteing meats and vegetables, then transferring to the oven. I've had excellent results every time with stews and braised meats. It also works well for round sourdough loaves. It's not so good for roasts, as only a small roast or chicken will fit. After a year, the Lodge pot is still clean and slick on the inside although there is now some very slight discoloration on the bottom and some scratching on the outside. When I take the pot out of the oven, I usually leave the lid on for about 20 minutes. This way, the steam gently dissolves any browning on the sides and bottom so I can scrape it all out with a spatula. This usually gets out all the "fond." If there is still anything left sticking, I fill the pot with water and let it soak a few hours, then I can scrub it out with a plastic scrubbing sponge. The pot goes in... Read More
4.0
Changed my review -3- times !! Nice pot, But still Made in China
I have been making soups in the pot all month on top of my induction oven with no problems. I thought it was a beautiful pot, but unfortunately there may be some flaws because I ran into a problem with mine the first time I used it in the oven. This should not happen !!! That said however the company is replacing the pot for me and that is why I've upped my review from a "1" star back up to "4" stars because LODGE is a very good company and I want to be fair to the company which is located in Tennessee. Here's the deal I bought the Pot on October 6th 2018 and used it for nearly 30 days mostly making soups on my induction top and it worked out nicely with no problems. But the first time I use it in the oven I made a roast at 300 degrees for 3 hours (the meal turned out just fine.) I then let the pot cool before I soaked it with dish soap in the kitchen sink. Almost immediately THE ENTIRE POT TURNED A DUSTY WHITE. It was indeed strange, so I cleaned the pot by hand and upon closer inspection I noticed THE CLEAR COAT HAS COMPLETELY BAKED OFF !! The pot looks like hell. I've washed it by hand since day one and the first time I put it in the oven it goes to crap. Now it's Nov. 11th and I'm "SIX" days outside of the Amazon return period !!! Great. No button to return this back to Amazon. So I called the Lodge company in Tennessee and talked with Ms. Reba in Customer Service. Explained the situation, after sending pictures of the pot to the company a couple of days later they infor... Read More