Staub Vs Le Creuset Vs Lodge Dutch Ovens: What will be the right one for you?
Who makes the best Dutch Oven? Le Creuset vs Staub Vs Lodge
There are so many different brands and makes of dutch ovens you would be forgiven for not knowing which one would be the best for you. Don’t worry I have your back and in this article, we will look at the difference: Le Creuset vs Staub Vs Lodge.
Today, we are going to break down these three heavyweight contenders and figure out which Dutch Oven brand is the best once and for all. Shall we begin?
Who is Le Creuset?
Le Creuset has had a lead in the dutch oven market for quite some time as one of the top-end manufactures of colorful cast-iron cookware.
Chances are, you know what I am talking about with their vibrant designs at local stores or attempted to pick up their extraordinarily heavy Dutch ovens. The company itself was founded by Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq in France.
The signature of the brand itself can be found in their beautiful Flame-colored kitchenware, as that was their first official culinary masterpiece.
Who is Staub?
Known as the competition to Le Creuset, Staub was founded in 1974 in Turckheim, Alsace, France by creator, Francis Staub, who personally designed the first Dutch oven.
Their designs are masterfully created from cast iron and double-glazed enamel, demonstrating their dedication to higher-quality products. Today, Staub is known as the “restaurant’s brand”, as many different chefs have chosen to use Staub in their restaurant kitchens.
Who is Lodge?
Lodge Manufacturing Company is another competition Dutch Oven manufacturer that was founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge. To date, LMC is known as one of the oldest culinary brands in the United States of America.
Joseph Lodge founded the company in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, where the majority of the company’s products are still created and sold. On top of this, the Lodge company is still overseen by descendants of the founder’s family.
What is a Dutch Oven?
If you want to be considered a serious chef in your own home, it’s time to consider introducing a Dutch oven into your cooking routine. These are heavy-duty cooking pots designed from cast-iron that are perfect for either stovetop or oven cooking.
What makes these products such valuable cooking products is their ability to distribute heat evenly, insuring the best tasting meals every single time. Whether you are cooking a stew, soup, or braising meat, a Dutch oven is the only cookware to use!
The Weigh-Off
Now that we have a greater understanding of the three brands that we are taking into consideration and what the products are, it’s time to begin weighing each brand literally and metaphorically.
Let’s take a glimpse at some of the highlights of each company and their products.
Le Creuset Cast iron Dutch ovens
- When it comes to Le Creuset Products, they are most notable for their unique and vibrant designs. With a wide array of colors, the brand has made enough products to match anyone’s personal preferences, accent walls, or cabinet wallpaper.
- Their products feature heat-resistant phenolic knobs; however, if you are not a fan of plastic, you can simply swap these out for some stainless-steel ones.
- Each Dutch oven manufactured by this company comes with the Le Creuset designed enameled cast-iron, which allows for maximum heat retention and distribution. So, if you need to cook something in the oven, your Le Creuset Dutch oven can do the job up to 500 degrees.
- Each of Le Creuset products come with a lifetime warranty, which is definitely worth mentioning.
- The company offers Dutch ovens in sizes from under 3 quarts to over 8 quarts, giving consumers a wealth of options. One can anticipate spending well over $200 to purchase one of Le Creuset’s Dutch ovens for the smallest size.
Staub Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
- Staub, like that of Le Creuset, offers numerous unique and vibrant colored design products, making it appeal to the same audience of Le Creuset chefs. In that, Staub’s products can also be a perfect fit for kitchen décor.
- Since Staub’s products are all manufactured in France, one can guarantee that the price of the product will match the quality of the product. If there is ever a problem with a Staub product, the company ensures the customer with a lifetime warranty.
- This brand is known for their heavyweight products that come with tight-fitting lids, helping with heat retention and distribution. The knob on the top of the Dutch Oven is made of nickel-steel.
- Like that of Le Creuset, the best products made from Staub are built to withstand extreme temperatures up to 500 degrees.
- The Staub company offers consumers a wide variety of Dutch oven sizes ranging from 3 quarts to 8+ quarts. The prices of a regular Dutch oven made by Staub can run around $150-$400, depending upon the quality, features, and size.
Lodge Cast Dutch Ovens
- The majority of Lodge products are relatively cheaper than both Staub and Le Creuset, making it an affordable alternative Dutch oven.
- Each Lodge Dutch oven comes pre-seasoned, ensuring that, with each use, the food cooked in their product will taste better and better, encouraging continual use.
- Lodge utilizes a porcelain enamel with the cast iron, which enables their Dutch ovens to be used on either gas, electric or induction cooktops, on top of inside the oven. The use of porcelain was intended to reduce or even eliminate the time spent seasoning food or pots.
- Lodge touts the heat retention capabilities of their products, which help with reducing energy costs, ultimately saving the consumer more money.
- Lodge offers Dutch ovens ranging in size from 3 quarts to 8+ quarts, all of which cost under $100.
Becoming an Owner
If you have never purchased or owned a Dutch oven or cast iron before, there are a few things that are worth mentioning with these brands and products.
First and foremost, before you assume to purchase the largest size, most at-home chefs have found that a 5-quart Dutch oven suits most needs. This is the perfect size to cook family meals, and the easiest to maneuver with.
Furthermore, we definitely encourage you to take the time to learn how to clean a cast iron Dutch oven before purchasing and how to season cast iron Dutch oven as many owners have ruined or destroyed their Dutch ovens from such mistakes.
The Verdict! Le Creuset vs Staub Vs Lodge
After taking a look at these three impressive super-star brands, it’s clear that picking the best Dutch Oven Brand can be quite difficult. However, on further analysis of the quality of the material, products, and brand, Le Creuset slightly takes the edge ahead against its competitors.
There is a reason why this brand has continually lead the culinary industry in excellence and once you cook with one of their products, you will know why.
Granted, cooking is, without question, a personal preference, if you are debating between these three brands, try a Le Creuset first before trying anything else. Just a small little warning, once you cook with Le Creuset, you will never switch again!