Le Crueset vs Lodge enamel dutch ovens

I had a lodge enamel pot a few years back. I was cooking chili in it and heard a gunshot go off in the kitchen. The coating on the bottom had popped off.

Performance is almost identical but Lodge has a bit more of a quality issue.
LC also has a lifetime limited warranty.

LC does have that lifetime warranty, and factory seconds from the outlet stores are often available at really good prices. (While the factory stores don’t sell via website, you can call and they’ll tell you what’s on sale, etc and do phone orders, sometimes w/free shipping.)

On the LC vs Staub debate, I think it depends on how you plan to use the pot. LC has light interior—good for browning, so you can see exactly how dark the “fond” or crust building up on the bottom is becoming. With the Staub’s dark interior, it can be easy to take something too dark, or to have some burned spots if you aren’t diligent/closely observant. To me, it’s easier to tell when you’ve scrubbed the light interior pots really clean; the dark finish makes it easier to miss spots.

On the other hand, if you want a Dutch oven to use for baking crusty loaves of bread, the dark interior of the Staub is an asset—it promotes crust browning & radiates heat more quickly than the light interior LCs. (That said, I bake fine loaves in light-interior LCs.)

I honestly don't have any experience with Lodge, but all of my dutch ovens and pans (that aren't All Clad) are Le Crueset.

They are worth every penny and will last a lifetime.

Where do you live? There are Le Crueset outlet stores so if you're anywhere near one, that could save you a few bucks.

Also, check out Staub if you're looking to save some money but get something of higher quality.

I was gifted a knock off enamel two years ago. Love it

Want to say it’s a pottery barn

I got a 7 quart enameled dutch oven (Martha Stewart?) from Target for $45 (?). It has been great. I was in Foley and the LC store was moving and had a sale, I got a 7 quart dutch oven for $100.00. I gave it as a gift, I am still kicking myself because she turned out to be a bitch.

I use my LC like every day.

Since i switched to induction i added more lodge pots and pans. The one LC griddle i have discolored the first time i used it and still looks pretty rough.

On this weekend's episode of Cooks Country they did an enamel dutch oven comparison. Their favorite is the LaCruset, or however you spell it, but they acknowledged at around $370 it's pretty damn expensive. So they tested a bunch at $125 or less and came up with a Cuisinart model that won the test at $122.

Bought a knock off from Kohl's on Black Friday a couple years ago. Love that thing. Wouldn't pay LC prices for it.