****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Great pot with a durable finish!There is a reason Le Creuset is worth the price. After buying two Dutch Ovens from other sources over the past few years, I finally decided to pay the price and get one that will last a lifetime. It has been well worth the difference in price.You can buy a cheaper Dutch Oven pot but spend the money if you cook a lot. This pot will last a lifetime if you take care of it. Sometimes things are worth spending extra money on. Look for a sale or on one of the shopping networks.Le Creuset has great heat retention and versatile where you can put in oven as well as on stovetop. You can cook many types of foods in it as well knowing that it is a very practical Dutch oven that it will last forever if taken care of well!I am glad I waited to buy the Best!Thank You!Yes it is expensive. It does have one main advantage over the much cheaper Lodge one of a similar size. Namely the bottom has more surface area for browning because the bottom is wider and sides go up straighter, whereas the Lodge one is a lot more curved like a bowl on the bottom. I have cooked numerous foods in this pan. Nothing has stained it, and everything has come clean surprisingly easily. From borscht (beet soup), to browning and then braising beef in the oven for hours for shredded beef tacos, to curry with lots of spices, clean up has been a cinch.If you don't intend to brown foods in it, or don't cook a whole lot, or are on a tight budget, you probably will be content with the Lodge. Personally I prefer the Le Creuset and I find that unless I need both at the same time, the other sits in the cabinet. This is definitely my go-to pot now.I thought I had abandoned all my coated cast iron cookware back in the late 70's and early 80's. Heavy, difficult to handle for both men and especially delicate women. And then, I started my cast iron renaissance. Not total conversion as my go-to cookware is All-Clad. BUT...what do you use for the low/slow mega pot of chili, marinara (gravy) soup, etc. Certainly not "bare" cast iron!! So I thought I'd give this guy a try. NOT CHEAP! for sure. But I swallowed hard and justified by thinking it would be part of my kids inheritance. Amazon delivery was great and the Dutch Oven performance was better than expected. Now to figure out where to store. Way too heavy for the pot rack. :o/It seems to serve its purpose. I used it once and there is 1/2 inch crack in the cast iron.I hope the warranty process is smooth.I love Le Creuset cookware and finally treated myself to a cherry red French/Dutch oven to complete my collection. Yes, Le Creuset is pricey, but, even for this amateur cook, it is worth every penny. It has all the benefits of cast iron, enhanced with enamel. The size is ideal for cooking anything from a pot of chili to beef stew. My bright red Le Creuset cookware is also perfect kitchen decor. From all appearances, I could be a skilled French chef! A warning, though: high quality cast iron cookware is heavy.It's a beautiful pot. Use it for bread baking and stew. Hesitated between Le Creuset and Lodge because of the price difference. Finally decided to buy 6 Qt Le Creuset for its lighter weight (5.08 kg or 11.2 lb) as claimed in the product description instead of 6 Qt Lodge (weighing 6.75 kg or 14.9 lb). However, my 6 Qt Le Creuset (empty pot with lid on) weighs no less than 14 lb, which is almost as heavy as a 6 Qt Lodge. Huge disappointment, as weight was a big factor of purchase.Since buying my le Creuset cast iron 6.7 qt. I've used it once so far. I'm looking forward to much more cooking days with it. I'm very happy with it. looking back I should have gotten the orange one.I love this pot.These are the best pots, enameled cast iron, made in the world - a must pot for a good chef.Everyday cooking. It's built to last.
