Lodge 7.5 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid – Dual Handles – Oven Safe up to 500° F or on Stovetop - Use to Marinate, Cook, Bake, Refrigerate and Serve – Island Spice Red

Ok first I must disclosed that I purchased this for my husband with the goal of getting him to cook more often. That said, we totally love this Dutch Oven. I provided the Dutch Oven, a recipe subscription, and showered him with praise, but the jokes is now on me. In this magical pot he has produced restaurant quality meals repeatedly and he love it. As far as the pot, it large enough to make meals and leftovers, it’s easy to clean, and looks great even when it’s just sitting it the cabinet and now I know what it’s like to have a wife.

This Lodge cast iron pot is a kitchen essential. It heats evenly, retains heat beautifully, and is perfect for everything from stews to baking bread. The build quality is outstanding, and with proper care, it’ll last a lifetime. A bit heavy, but that’s the trade-off for such durability. Great value for the price—highly recommend!

1 pot cooking. Learn it. Love it. Embrace it. Has held up very well to countless cooks. Would definitely recommend. Cleans up super easy.

I have been thinking about getting this oven for several years now and was always worried about the questionable quality that has been described in the review section. After contemplating it for that time, I decided that at less than $80 I would take a chance, especially considering the only other option in the enameled cast iron market that doesn't have a good amount of bad reviews is the LeCrusset and I wasn't going to spend $350 on that one.I received it double boxed; the original box inside an Amazon box. I carefully took the box apart and inspected it for any signs of bad enamel, whether it be from manufacturing to poor shipping and after looking at it found it free of any discernible defects. The enamel was perfect, the stainless steel handle tight, and everything looked perfect.The main reason I got this because I cannot used acidic foods in my cast iron as it tends to strip the carbon thereby ruining the very purpose for having cast iron in the first place. I also prefer cast iron dutch ovens over their aluminum or steel counterparts as they heat more evenly and tend to be less prone to burning the food at the bottom of the pot and therefore have easier clean up. The size is also a bonus; there aren't any recipes that I use that can't be swallowed up by this 7.5 QT pot.The first meal I cooked in this bad boy is a great goulash recipe that is a big hit with the family. Super rich and hearty and bursting with beef and tomato flavors; it puts a smile on everyone's face and is an easy weeknight recipe that is big enough to feed a family of four and still have leftovers. Every other pot I ever used was bursting it's edges as this is a big recipe, but the 7.5 Lodge swallowed it up with room to spare. After putting the leftovers away for another night I used my Lodge plastic scraper to get the small amount of food that was stuck to the bottom and then scrubbed it with soap and checked it for cleanliness. It still had a very light residue on the bottom that could barely be seen, so I took some baking soda and used that with a sponge and it came out perfectly clean just as if it had never been used. Since then I have cooked a few other dishes in it including homemade marinara and baked beans. Both dishes worked perfectly and it still looks brand new.I have high hopes that I won't run into issues with the enamel breaking down and will update at a later if and when it does, but assume this; if you don't hear back from me, then it's working perfectly. If you want a good, cheap alternative to the more expensive European enameled cast iron, this is your best bet.EDIT: Six months in and I'm still loving this thing. I have used it at least a a half dozen times for goulash, bean and ham soup, jambalaya, and more and it performs flawlessly and cleans up like new. Assuming you get it to your house without any shipping damage, you will be glad you got this thing.

Lodge is always a good product and so nice to find the color and size that looks so nice and works for Italian beef so well.

One review for 3 Lodge pieces. I have the 7.5 qt., 6 qt., and 3qt. Dutch Ovens. I totally have fallen in love with cast iron. I spent many hours reading reviews for enameled cast iron on various sites and almost decided not to buy. I finally took the plunge and decided I would try Lodge because of the lesser price tag, and figured if all the negative reviews were true I wouldn't have spent to much. I feel if you use the product as recommended it will perform fantastic for you. These are my go to pans these days, especially the 3qt, it doubles for a large skillet for me. The sides are 2-1/2" tall and the diameter is just under 12", perfect as a large skillet. The 7.5 and 6qt. Dutch Ovens are perfect for braising and for stews, go from stove top, to oven, to stove top. I find myself looking for things to cook in them. Very even heating.I have used these pots so many times now, and nothing has happened to them. No cracks, I believe this comes from too high a heat. Only use low to med- low heat. Never heat an empty pot, put oil, or butter. Most of all be patient, the pots take a little longer to get hot but when they do, soups will boil, food will simmer beautifully. My spaghetti sauce will simmer for 2 hours and not boil and splatter all over on the very lowest heat. Don't use metal utensils, they will scratch the enamel. Don't drag them over the stove top, yes they are heavy, but the bottoms will scratch. Don't tap utensils on the side of the pans, this could cause the enamel to chip. Bottom line is if you take care of them they will give you a lifetime. They clean up easily. If they become a little discolored from foods, use a little baking soda with a soft cloth to clean and voila, like new.

I have used it many times, and I mainly like it. It hasn’t chipped or discolored. It is very heavy, even for a fairly strong guy like me. The heaviness is a problem mainly when I am washing it. I have to be careful not to hurt my wrist as I spin it around by the handle, which is barely big enough for my hand. Also, it is heavy enough when half-filled that I feel the need to concentrate on a wide, solid stance while moving it in or out of the oven. I probably should have bought the 6-quart, as far as volume and weight go, but I do like the extra surface area for browning. Mixed feelings about the tradeoff. Color is as shown, maybe a little darker around the edge of the lid.