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HOW DO
OTHER
DUTCH OVENS
STACK UP?
These three pots
also did well in
our tests.GOOD ALL-AROUND,
BUT ONLY FAIR AT
BROWNING
Ayesha Curry
Covered
Dutch Oven
$0
OVERALL
SCORE63
GREAT AT
BROWNING,
BUT PRICEY
Staub Cocotte
$0
OVERALL
SCORE73
BARGAIN FOR
BREAD MAKING, BUT
1-YR. WARRANTY
Vremi Dutch
Oven $0
OVERALL
SCORE76
Insights
Product recommendations and practical advice
In the Know
A Dutch Oven Cook-Off
DUTCH OVENS, also known
as cocottes, are typically a
thick-walled cast-iron pot with
a dome-shaped lid used for
braised meats, stews, sauces,
and bread baking.
For many chefs, this versatile
pot has become synonymous
with the Le Creuset brand,
which has been making them
since 1925. Our tests show that
its Signature Dutch Oven
(above, left) off ers excellent
cooking performance for
browning meats and can
transition into the oven (up to
550° F, the highest of the potswe tested). For its hefty price,
Le Creuset also off ers a lifetime
warranty and a wide variety of
appealing enamel colors.
But a few other brands of
Dutch ovens on the market—
particularly Lodge—now off er
similar-looking pots that
promise comparable perfor-
mance for less money. So our
test engineers put eight Dutch
ovens through their paces,
boiling water, browning meat,
caramelizing scallops, simmer-
ing tomato sauce, and baking
bread. Staff ers weighed in on
the moistness and tenderness ofbraised briskets, and the taste
and texture of bread.
Though no model could
knock the Signature Le Creuset
from the top spot in our ratings,
the Lodge Dutch Oven came the
closest in overall performance,
with strong loop handles and
a larger 6-quart capacity. It
even turned out better bread.
But it doesn’t simmer sauce or
brown meat quite as well as
the Le Creuset, and the limited
lifetime warranty isn’t quite as
generous. For less than a fi fth of
the price, though, the Lodge is a
solid choice.! 0 Lodge,
6 quarts $0
OVERALL
80 SCORE0 !Le Creuset,
5.5 quarts $0
OVERALL
83 SCOREFor more ratings, All-Access and Digital members can go to CR.org/cookware0919. SEPTEMBER 2019 CR.ORG 13