This Martha Stewart Dutch oven review will help you choose the best heavy-duty cookware to make your favorite table-to-table meals.
My Dutch oven is a favorite tool for both mom and wife. It’s used to prepare delicious, special occasion and weekend meals. The Dutch oven is a reliable kitchen tool that can deliver delicious roast chicken meals, tasty soups and rustic desserts.
This Martha Stewart Dutch oven review found that this product was a good piece of cookware. But, I found two other options I prefer: The Tramontina Dutch Oven should be cheaper, and the Le Creuset Dutch Oven should be better quality.
Before we get into the review, let me help you to understand what to look out for in a Dutch oven. We’ll also be discussing the pros and cons of Martha Stewart pots in comparison to other great options.
This Martha Stewart Dutch oven review will help you make an informed decision about the Dutch oven that is right for you.
What to look for in Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
A Dutch oven is essential for any cook who loves to braise meats, simmer stews, or make kimchi. Are you looking to make pasta that is restaurant-quality at home? Bon Appetit suggests using a Dutch oven for combining your pasta and starchy water to make the sauce.
Dutch ovens can be used to brown meat and make delicious meals. Dutch ovens truly help you deliver delicious dinners at home like a professional.
Dutch ovens can be used as a versatile piece of cookware. These ovens are made from cast iron and therefore very heavy. If you have difficulty lifting 15 pounds, consider looking for another product. Dutch ovens are only heavier when they’re filled!
We have some things to consider before you invest in a Dutch oven. This is heavy-duty cookware so you will spend more than on a nonstick frying pan.
Size
There are many sizes of cast-iron Dutch ovens. To determine the right size Dutch oven for you, think about how you plan to use it. You can choose from a one-quart size (0.9 liters) or a nine-quart size (8.5 liters) Dutch oven.
The seven-quart (6.6-liter) size is perfect for my family. This size can feed at least six people. That means you have plenty of leftovers for your favorite thing, the leftovers!
Lid
Your Dutch oven will be more efficient if it has a secure lid. All the Dutch oven magic will be lost if heat escapes the Dutch oven. To get the best results, you need to use a slow and even cooking process with a consistent temperature.
Safety is also essential with a well-fitting lid. The top of the Dutch oven is also made from heavy cast iron. Children and their toes are at risk if the lid is not secure or slips around. A lid is essential to prevent hot liquids from escaping.
Handles
Similar to concerns over a loose lid, you should be able to trust the Dutch oven’s handles. Check for cracks and other signs of weakness in the Dutch oven’s handles if they are molded into its sides.
Cast-iron Dutch ovens larger than a standard size have a handle made of metal that is placed against the Dutch oven’s side and can be lifted up for easy use. Check that the handle is free from rust and other signs of wear. Be sure to pay attention to the location where the handle attaches.
Material
Enamel cast iron is now available for many popular Dutch ovens such as the Martha Stewart pots. Cast iron is given additional material on the outside to prevent it from being seasoned and allows for a deeper cleaning.
Martha Stewart’s cast-iron Dutch ovens are available in twelve beautiful colors.
Martha Stewart Dutch Oven Review – Product Overview
Online reviews have rated the Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch oven highly. Customers love that it is easy-to-clean. Others have mentioned the ease with which Martha Stewart pots can be moved from stovetop to oven and then into the refrigerator for leftovers.
What are you going to get?
Martha Stewart provides two Dutch ovens: one for 7 quarts and one for 4 quarts. Other brands may also supply one.
You will need to pay an additional charge for the Dutch oven.
These are the ones I am reviewing, and they are gray in color. But there are many other colors available such as red or white.
The price is one of the main criticisms of Martha Stewart’s cast-iron Dutch ovens. These pots aren’t as expensive as luxury brands but critics, including The New York Times, said that the Martha Stewart pots were too costly to include in their comparison.
Marth Stewart Dutch Oven Recall
Nearly one million Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch ovens were recalled in 2011. This Martha Stewart Dutch Oven Recall was caused by the enamel on Martha Stewart pots that could cause damage to others, or even injure them with hot liquids or flying enamel.
Weight
The Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch oven is noticeably lighter than others, and about one-third more than the Le Creuset.
Remember that this weight refers to empty. It only gets heavier if you add things inside.
Like the rest of your pot, the Dutch oven’s lid is also heavy. This is important to remember if you have gripping or weakness.
Easy Clean-Up
Cast-iron Dutch ovens have straight sides. This is a departure form other brands. Dutch ovens are more like bowls with sloped sides.
Customers love this feature and say the Martha Stewart Dutch oven’s cleanability is a big plus. Some reviewers say that the enamel surface is easy to clean, but it does not remove the need to season cast iron.
Others were disappointed by the design’s straight-sided layout. Other Dutch ovens have sloped sides, which reviewers found made cleaning up easier. Straight sides are more difficult to clean and can make it harder for the person who is doing dishes to get up in the morning.
Clean-up is easy because the Martha Stewart Dutch oven has been rated dishwasher safe. Cast-iron Dutch ovens made from non-enameled cast iron would not be able to go in a dishwasher.
The Martha Stewart Dutch oven recall may make you reconsider using your dishwasher. We recommend that you soak these dishes before hand-washing them in order to protect the enamel coating.
Distribution and Heat Resistance
These pieces of cookware, which are cast-iron Dutch ovens by Martha Stewart, conduct heat well because of their extra thickness. The inside of the oven will cook food evenly every time.
Amazon reviewers raved about the Dutch ovens’ excellent results in preparing stews, roasts and chicken dishes.
It is possible to think that once the Dutch oven has been placed on the stove for some time, it will become too hot to touch.
These Martha Stewart pots are heat-resistant and have a knob and lid. You can touch the knob on the top to open the lid and inspect the recipe.
Home cooks will also find the handles of Martha Stewart’s cast-iron Dutch ovens to be friendly. Because they are heat-resistant, you can touch them.
Oven mitts are also safe. You can slip your fingers in the handles while wearing oven mitts because they are large enough.
Alternatives
This Tramontina alternative is more affordable if you prefer the straight-sided Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch ovens. Amazon reviews give this Dutch oven high marks, with many saying that they use it multiple times per week.
The Tramontina Dutch Oven is lighter than other Dutch ovens and is often more affordable than the Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch oven. One commenter called the Tramontina Dutch Oven “the only pot that I use .”
Le Creuset
The premium Le Creuset Dutch oven is the best investment you can make. These pots are masters at Dutch oven baking and can be found in an array of delicious colors.
Le Creuset is an expert in enameled cast iron cookware.
Customers review it as “cooks just like a dream”, and they plan to keep this cookware for the rest of their lives.
Le Creuset will probably cost more than the Martha Stewart Dutch oven or Tramontina.
This investment allows you to enjoy restaurant-quality food in your own home.
Conclusion
Cast-iron Dutch ovens from Martha Stewart are heavy and expensive pieces of cookware. However, they will still deliver great results when used in Dutch oven recipes. We are considering alternatives due to its high price and history with recalls.
The Tramontina Dutch Oven is an excellent option for a reasonable price.
The Le Creuset Dutch Oven is the best luxury option if you are looking to spend a lot.
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