Many years ago when I decided to buy my first Dutch oven I didn't realize the dilemma I would face. Little did I know just how many different brands there were and each manufacturer was telling me that theirs was the one to buy.

Then there were the prices and well that was another story again. They ranged from as little as $40 to as much as $300 or more! I knew there and then that choosing the right one for me wasn’t going to be easy.

But eventually I made up my mind and because I didn’t know any different, I just went with the cheapest enameled Dutch oven available and assumed it would do the job…in fact, it was so cheap it didn’t even have a brand name…not one that I can remember anyway.

I didn't know any better...

I used this Dutch oven for quite a few years and because I didn’t know any better, I thought it was doing an okay job, but it wasn’t until I decided to invest in a Le Creuset Dutch oven that I really noticed the difference between the two.

It’s like when you always buy the no-name brand of spaghetti and then one day buy the more expensive brand by mistake. It’s only then that you realize what you have been missing out on…so it was with me and my Le Creuset Dutch oven .

I'm impressed!

Firstly the quality of the two just can’t be compared. For starters, the Le Creuset Dutch oven has a much better finish. This isn’t surprising. Le Creuset Dutch ovens are made in France to exacting standards. Each piece of cookware is formed in its own sand mold and once the cookware is made, the mold is destroyed…so what that effectively means is that you are getting a totally unique piece of cookware…that’s pretty amazing when you think of it!

But what I find even more amazing is that over 30 different craftsmen handle each piece of cookware in some way before it leaves the factory. It kind of makes me love my Le Creuset Dutch oven even more knowing that…I can almost see them carefully handling each piece and adding their own personal touch.

What impresses me most however is the overall performance of my Le Creuset Dutch oven when compared to the cheaper brand. Foods sear better and my meals just seem to taste better – in other words, the meats are more succulent, the flavors are richer and it creates the perfect fond for making gravies and sauces.

Even Cook's Illustrated Rated it #1...

Cooks Illustrated ran their own tests to see which they considered the best and although Le Creuset came in second overall, they actually won the best cast iron Dutch oven category.

The All-Clad 8qt Stainless-Steel Stockpot was voted number 1 overall so if you are looking for a stainless steel version then we recommend you go with that. It’s an excellent choice if you want to avoid the weight of cast iron.

But if like me you want to stick with a traditional cast iron Dutch oven then I definitely recommend Le Creuset. You really can’t go wrong with it. This is an investment that will last you a lifetime and more…you will be handing this one down to your kids!

Let’s Take a Look in More Detail

What's in the Box?
 

One Le Creuset Dutch Oven base and one lid plus an instruction manual.

White	Caribbean	Kiwi	Onyx	Red

How Much Should You Pay for a Le Creuset Dutch Oven?

The prices range from around $220 to $310 and is dependent upon the the size and sometimes even the color. So if you aren't too concerned about having a color to match your kitchen then when checking prices on Amazon ensure that you select each color to see if one is cheaper than the other.

We check prices regularly and have always found the best price at Amazon, however Cooking.com is also quite competitive and often has very similar pricing.

What Size Should You Buy?

This is a difficult one to answer as it all depends on what you cook in it and also your family's appetite. If you have two young children they are obviously going to eat less than two growing teenage boys. So take this as a guide only.

I have a 5.5 quart Dutch oven but I am cooking for 2...it could handle up to 4 quite easily as long as you don't have big eaters in the house. For 4 to 8 people I would go with a 7 quart or 9 quart oval French oven. Any more than this and you would probably be starting to look at the 13 quart the 15 quart oval Dutch oven.

Just remember that the bigger the Dutch oven the heavier it will be and with the added food even heavier. The 13 quart and 15 quart Dutch ovens will probably require two people to lift from the stove when full of food...or at least good strong muscles.