Martha Stewart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven Review
If you're a fan of dull cooking, a decent dutch oven is a vital tool in your arsenal of kitchen equipment.
In my Martha Stewart dutch oven review, I'thou going to look at the pros and cons of this popular selection.
Can it really offer the functioning of a Staub or Le Creuset without breaking the bank?
(Want to learn more about cookware? Have a look through my archive for more guides and reviews.)
Quick Verdict
If you've not got time to read the whole review, what'south the quick verdict?
"The Martha Stewart dutch oven provides excellent cooking functioning on a par with more expensive brands. The trade-off is that information technology'south unlikely to terminal every bit long, and then at that place's a trade-off betwixt affordability and durability. If you apply it weekly, say, then I don't think that'due south a huge trouble. Otherwise consider the Staub or Le Creuset options I've included towards the lesser of this review!"
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What To Look For In Dutch Ovens
Before moving onto the meat of my Martha Stewart Dutch Oven review, I thought information technology would be helpful to highlight some of the key features you should expect for in any dutch oven.
Whether you choose the Martha Stewart or a competitor, these are the qualities that really matter with this kind of cookware.
Size & Volume
What size dutch oven should yous purchase?
Every decent dutch oven brand offers a multitude of sizes to choose from.
If you're non certain of the correct size for your own kitchen, programme for effectually one quart chapters per person. A family of four, then, would need a 4 quart pot.
I'd recommend going slightly over the number you make it at, so you have extra chapters for entertaining guests.
A Tight Lid
Unless you desire to spend a huge amount of fourth dimension basting your food, look for a dutch oven that has a tight-fitting lid.
This will keep the moisture where yous desire it ie in the dutch oven and around the food.
The lid should also take a heat resistant knob, so it can withstand the temperature of your oven.
Solid & Sturdy Handles
These things get extremely hot, and so virtually dutch ovens feature sturdy, durable handles.
I like a dutch oven to have generous, rounded handles as this gives plenty of room for a secure grip when I'thou wearing oven mitts.
Material
A cast iron dutch oven is by far the most common blazon. It'southward durable enough to take a huge amount of rut punishment, only exist enlightened that these thing are heavy.
Should you buy an enamel layered dutch oven though?
So-called "raw bandage fe" has no protective layering. It tends to be cheaper equally a result, but will crave seasoning to maintain its natural non-stick surface.
(Blank cast iron is oft supplied pre-seasoned, but you can't rely on this initial surface treatment forever.)
Many dutch ovens now characteristic an enamel layer on top of the bandage iron. This protects the surface and makes clean-up much easier. You'll typically pay a premium for this extra convenience, withal.
About The Martha Stewart Dutch Oven
The Martha Stewart dutch oven is designed to offering the same cooking performance as higher-end products, but at a more than affordable toll betoken.
It's solidly constructed, features well rounded handles, and has a lid pattern which redistributes moisture around the interior.
An light colored enamel layer makes checking on the nutrient progress dainty and easy, and it's oven safe too.
Who's It For?
If y'all'd like to buy a dutch oven made past the likes of Staub or Le Creuset only don't have the budget, the Martha Stewart dutch oven is a worthy alternative.
Information technology offers like cooking performance, but typically sells for considerably less than either of those two leading brands.
Who's It Non For?
If yous want the famous durability of a Staub or Le Creuset, it's a different story unfortunately.
Don't expect the Martha Stewart to final nigh as long, with the enamel layering proving especially fragile.
Pros
- An affordable dutch oven that nevertheless provides like cooking operation to the more expensive brands.
- A smart design that will brighten up any kitchen thanks to a number of color options.
- Thick, heavy construction provides even heat distribution and great heat retention.
- Moisture is redistributed via chapeau condensation rings to keep your food nice and juicy.
- Although not dishwasher prophylactic, the enamel layering makes clean upwards easier.
Cons
- Enameled cookware apace dulls in the dishwasher, and and then manual cleaning is highly recommended.
- A heavy piece of cookware compared to the competition – even without any nutrient in information technology. The 7 quart version weighs in at more than xiv lbs before y'all add a thing.
- Not as durable every bit the more expensive options. The enamel layer in particular is prone to chipping over fourth dimension.
Near The Martha Stewart Dutch Oven
In the rest of my Martha Stewart dutch oven review, I'g going to look at how this particular piece of cookware stacks upward against those key features.
I've also included some alternatives to explore, so you accept all the options you need for choosing the best dutch oven for your own dwelling house.
Colors & Design
As a standard round dutch oven, there'southward not a lot to say most the basic design of the Martha Stewart. It looks very much equally you'd expect, albeit with notably direct sides.
There are a few unlike colour options to choose from, just don't expect as many every bit you'll notice in the Le Creuset range.
Overall I retrieve information technology's an attractive, professional-looking cookware item that will smarten upwards any kitchen.
Performance
Because of its heavy, thick construction the Martha Stewart dutch oven performs impressively well confronting the more premium brands.
Heat distribution is even, and the thickness helps preserve the heat besides. That means yous won't have to worry about dinner going cold while it's sitting on the table gear up for serving.
It'due south also uniform with consecration stovetops, and can withstand 500F of oven heat.
You won't be able to put it under a braiser as these typically hit effectually 600F and even higher. For the average home kitchen though you tin can consider this entirely oven safe.
Thick & Sturdy Structure
The overall construction of the Martha Stewart dutch oven is thick and sturdy – just what y'all want and demand in a pot of this type.
The general consensus from owners is that it provides surprisingly skilful performance for the investment involved.
Heavyweight Cookware
That unusually thick construction comes with one – potential – drawback.
The Martha Stewart dutch oven is noticeably heavier than other comparable brands – around a 3rd more Le Creuset, as a useful comparing.
That's not necessarily a bad affair to see in a dutch oven though. The extra heft in the build provides very even heat distribution, and great oestrus retentivity too.
Every bit always it'south a balancing act between weight and performance. If you're comfortable conveying a heavy dish, you'll capeesh the benefits more than.
Cleaning & Care
It's important to annotation that enameled cast fe does not play nicely with dishwashers.
Information technology volition dull over fourth dimension, and you gamble scratching the surface given all the utensils and other items about of united states accept rattling effectually within.
Although the Martha Stewart dutch oven is ofttimes sold every bit dishwasher safe, I really think yous should commit to washing it by hand.
The good news is that the enamel layering makes clean up a trivial easier. As long as you don't heed making extra time for washing up, you shouldn't detect it besides tough a chore.
Big & Solid Handles
The handles on the Martha Stewart dutch oven are decently-sized for comfy carrying.
Even unfilled though this is quite a heavy piece of cookware, and so it might not be suitable if you have any kind of force issues in your hands.
Those handles are also oestrus resistant, but if you do want to make use of oven mitts you lot'll have enough space to hold it securely.
Lid Design
The lid on the Martha Stewart dutch oven features a heat resistant knob. You won't have to worry about burned fingers when you lift the lid to check on progress, and it's safe to go in the oven too.
Like the classic Staub dutch oven, the Martha Stewart also features a collection of condensation rings on the underside of the lid.
These assemble the moisture that's naturally released during cooking, and then shower it back over the nutrient as it cooks.
It'southward a sort of "self-basting" effect that ensures your food doesn't lose its juiciness. This is particularly handy when y'all're working on long cooking jobs, and don't want to have to constantly re-drip the contents.
Enameled Cast Atomic number 26 Interior
The Martha Stewart dutch oven makes use of a smooth, light-colored enamel layer.
Unlike raw cast iron, this means you don't accept to worry near the cloth reacting badly with acidic foods in item.
It as well means you don't have to go to the effort of seasoning and re-seasoning your bandage fe cookware over fourth dimension.
1 final advantage is that this light coloring makes it easier to see at a glance how close to washed your food is. It'south handy in item when you desire to brown meat earlier transferring information technology to the oven.
Size Options
You don't have a huge range of sizes to play with here, simply the Martha Stewart dutch oven is commonly available in four and 7 quart sizes. Not all models are available at all times though, and then you might demand to compromise.
I wrote at the start of this review well-nigh choosing the right size for your own kitchen – don't forget to leave a petty extra room for those tasty leftovers!
Durability
By their nature, dutch ovens take quite a lot of punishment in the kitchen, and so they need to be able to withstand the test of time.
Unfortunately, this is one area where the Martha Stewart dutch oven has attracted some controversy.
Wait around online and you'll discover mixed opinions about the longevity of the enamel layering in detail.
Some owners have had years of practiced use out of this cookware, while others accept reported bug with chipped enamel after a curt amount of time.
If you want a dutch oven that's going to last a lifetime, you'd be better off looking at the Staub or Le Creuset pieces I've included as alternatives.
The affair is, this is an particular of cookware that performs well-nigh also every bit the premium brands, just at a significantly lower price.
If upkeep is a more than pressing business right now, you lot might be happy to enjoy high-end performance for a shorter period of fourth dimension.
Actually, this is i of those balancing acts that yous need to weight upward confronting your own circumstances.
But don't expect to be handing this one downwardly to the grandchildren…
Alternatives To The Martha Stewart Dutch Oven
Two names dominate in the world of Dutch ovens and provide the gold standard: Staub and Le Creuset. If you lot want a direct comparing of these two brands, caput over to that comparison article.
They both provide outstanding functioning, and they're similarly priced They both also need a relatively hefty investment.
Hither'due south what y'all should know about each one.
Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Alongside making loftier quality cookware, Le Creuset's large claim to fame is the bold and broad range of colors it offers.
Many of you will opt for that classic "volcano orange" way, but if you want to brighten upwardly your kitchen you certainly aren't short of options here.
Something I noted in my Staub vs Le Creuset comparing is the difference the white enameled layering of the Le Creuset makes.
It'southward much easier to run across the progress of your cooking at a glance with this kind of surface, although clothing and tear shows upwards much more easily.
Staub Dutch Oven
Although there'south still a generous selection of colors to cull from, in that location aren't quite as many as there are in the Le Creuset product line.
They practice tend to exist supported for longer though, whereas Le Creuset likes to shake things upwardly a petty more and burn through its inventory. That might be a problem if you're slowly but surely building out a collection of Le Creuset cookware.
Staub Cast Iron 4-qt Round Cocotte - Ruddy,...
- Fabricated in France
- Heavy weight tight fitting lid retains moisture spikes on the lid create a pelting forest upshot evenly...
- Oven safe upwards to 900F/482C without hat Lids are oven prophylactic up to 500F/260C
One other significant advantage of Staub is the tightness of the lids and a clever little design touch on the underside of the lid.
Like the Martha Stewart piece, moisture is captured, and and so showered back over the food for that self-basting outcome. That'due south very helpful if you lot want to set things up and so movement onto some other part of your repast.
Yous'll oft find Staub cookware on auction a fiddling more frequently than Le Creuset. Information technology'southward worth checking the latest prices to see how things currently stand.
Concluding Verdict
All in all I retrieve the Martha Stewart dutch oven represents skilful value. Merely don't expect it to concluding anything like equally long as a Staub or a Le Creuset.
Based on the opinions of people who take owned this cookware for a long period of fourth dimension, it's a scrap of a dice whorl on how long you lot'll go out of the enameled cast iron in use.
Click here to browse the Martha Stewart dutch oven collection, and see how its owners have been getting on with it.
John's a lifelong food fanatic and spent ten years working equally an entertainment journalist. He now combines his love of food, beverage and writing as the founder and editor of Viva Flavor. Read more
Source: https://vivaflavor.com/martha-stewart-dutch-oven-review/