Calphalon Enamel Cast Iron 8 Quart Dutch Oven, Cabernet Red Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Recently received and used the product. This is my second Calphalon dutch oven. I have a number of other Calphalon cookware products and have had generally good to excellent experience with the products after several
years of use. Purchased this one because of design and reasonable price compared to the very high cost of the product from the major, and most famous, French manufacturer. The 8 qt dutch oven is quite large and heavy, but this is necessary for cookware of this type. The design is fits well in all settings , but I think is particularly sharp in a contemporary style kitchen. It does its' job well. The finish is rich and it cleans up well with a non-abrasive scrubber pad or Bartender's Friend. I have made a large batch of chili twice, several Indian casserole type dishes, and oven baked a chicken. All turned out very well. I have no complaints to date. Would definitely purchase again and recommend to others who are seeking a good product at the 'sweet spot' price. There are cheaper acceptable choices (see Cook's Illustrated review 2007) and much more expensive good choices if you wish to spare no expense.

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Whether you're hosting an intimate dinner party or a grand buffet, Calphalon Enamel Cast Iron cookware's rich enamel color and sleek, modern silhouettes make elegant entertaining easy. Ideal for stovetop or oven use and for both savory and sweet recipes, Calphalon Enamel Cast Iron cookware offers tremendous versatility. It creates the perfect environment for slowly simmering meats and potatoes. The cookware's domed cover design features a dimpled interior to collect and redistribute moisture to foods as they cook. Chicken soup, beef stew and other homey favorites cook up tender and flavorful. The cookware is also perfectly suited to casseroles, cobblers and baked pasta dishes. Calphalon Enamel Cast Iron cookware is as durable as it is beautiful. All pans feature a porcelain enamel exterior surface that resists chipping and scratching. Fry pans and grill pans feature a black satin enamel interior that requires no pre-seasoning. The perfect choice for soups, stews and pot roasted meats and poultry. Wide flat bottom is ideal for browning ingredients prior to adding liquids and seasonings. Large, oval handles make it easy to move pans from stovetop to oven to table. Heavy-gauge cast iron keeps helps keep foods warmer longer, too.

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Tramontina Gourmet Cast Iron Covered Casseroles Review

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(More customer reviews)The price can't be beat! $45 with free shipping is a great value regardless of what I write in this review. I was excited to open the box, and loved the color immediately! I continued to be impressed by the weight of the pot. But after completely un packing, I placed the lid on the pot, and looked at my wife and said, this is why a Le Creuset is $245, and this was only $45. The lid does not seal tightly, and you need to rotate the lid to find the position where it seals best, though it's still not 100%, closer to 90%.
Would I buy it again? Probably. Would I have bought it in a store, where the faults were clear before making the decision to purchase? Probably not. I just cannot justify the $200+ dollars for the "real deal".
I hope this helpful.
UPDATE: After using this dutch oven many times for a variety of dishes, I would increase my rating to 4 stars. The initial dissappointment of the ill fitting lid has faded, and what remains is a pot that does its job well and even out on my bakers rack, next to a Le Creuset, holds its own in terms of looks.

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Friends and family will quickly gravitate to the dining-room table with this beautiful casserole as the centerpiece. Measuring 14 by 11-2/7 by 7-4/5 inches, the covered pot holds 6-1/2 quarts, making it perfectly suited for slow cooking homemade soups and stews, sauteing vegetables, braising meats, roasting poultry, baking, and even frying. It also works well for one-dish meals: start by sauteing onions and browning meat, then add liquid and other ingredients to finish on the stovetop or in the oven. The vessel's interior features a light-beige, smooth, porcelain-enamel finish that requires no seasoning, so it's ready to use right out of the box, while its exterior sports a gleaming, vibrant red porcelain-enamel finish that adds a splash of color to any cookware collection.
Constructed from heavy-gauge cast iron, the vessel not only retains and distributes heat evenly (no hot spots to worry about), but it also resists scratches, stains, and the damaging effects of regular household use. Use it on any stovetop, including induction, electric, gas, and ceramic; it can also withstand an oven's heat up to 450 degrees F. Two integrated side handles flank the casserole, helping to ensure safe transport from the kitchen to the tabletop or buffet for use as serveware. The vessel's heavy, secure-fitting lid keeps heat, moisture, and nutrients contained, and its round stay-cool lid knob makes it easy to remove the lid when it's time to give contents a stir or serve up dinner. The covered casserole carries a limited lifetime warranty and cleans up easily by hand with hot, soapy water.

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Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron 3-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me begin by stating that I am the proud owner of over one dozen pieces of Le Creuset, and they are fabulous. My in-laws asked me to purchase a few Lodge Enamel pieces for them, and after an initial inspection, I was blown away by their quality and value. Simply gorgeous. To the untrained eye it would be difficult to differentiate between the two brands.
As for performance, I conducted a side-by-side evaluation. Simultaneous preparations of cassoulet, one in a 3 QT Lodge Dutch oven and another in a 3.5 QT Le Creuset French oven. The results - indistinguishable. Clean-up was identical.
Bottom line; I could have purchased the same performance for 1/4 of the price.


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This 3 Qt enamel Dutch oven is great for cooking, marinating, refrigeration and freezing.The color porcelain enamel on cast iron can be used on gas, electric, ceramic and induction cooktops, as well as in the oven.Not recommended for use on outdoor grills or over open outdoor flames.Not for use in microwaves. Lodge Color Porcelain Enamel on Cast Iron cookware is cast from molten iron in individual sand molds. The porcelain surface eliminates the need to season cast iron.The cast iron vessel has superior heat distribution and retention, evenly heating bottom sidewalls and even the lid.Tightly fitting lid seals in moisture.The excellent heat retention reduces the amount of energy needed for cooking.Two layers of very hard, glossy porcelain enamel are chip resistant and easy to clean.Lid knob is oven safe to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.The black rim on the pot is matte porcelain, not exposed cast iron.Hygienic porcelain enamel is non-reactive with food.Although dishwasher safe, hand washing with warm soapy water is recommended to preserve the cookware's original appearance.9 3/4" diameter, 3" deep. Island Spice

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