Non-Toxic Dutch Ovens: Enameled vs. Bare Cast Iron, Bread Picks
A Dutch oven is one of the most useful uncoated pots you can own: soups, stews, braises, chili and crusty bread all come out of the same pot. Here's how enameled and bare cast iron compare, the pots we'd pick, and what to check before baking bread at high heat.
Dutch ovens are almost always uncoated cast iron, with or without enamel, so this is an easy swap to get right. The questions that actually matter are enamel vs. bare iron, size, and whether the lid knob can handle a hot oven.
What to look for
- Enameled or bare. Enamel is glass fused to iron, with no seasoning to maintain. Bare cast iron is just iron with baked-on oil (seasoning).
- Oven rating, including the knob. Lodge lists its 6-quart enameled Dutch oven as oven safe to 500°F. Le Creuset says knob temperature ratings vary by knob type, so check yours before bread baking.
- Size. 5 to 6 quarts for most households. A round pot fits a round loaf; an oval suits a whole chicken.
- Weight. A full 6-quart cast iron pot is heavy. Two sturdy side handles help.
Enameled cast iron
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Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 Quart
Enameled cast iron is glass-like enamel fused to iron, so there's no seasoning to maintain and it's fine with tomato sauces and soups.
Why we picked these
- Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 Quart Best enameled pot Enameled cast iron is glass-like enamel fused to iron, so there's no seasoning to maintain and it's fine with tomato sauces and soups. Six quarts covers soups, stews, chili and no-knead bread for a family. Worth knowing: Avoid metal scrubbers and sudden temperature changes, which can chip enamel. Retire any pot with chipped enamel on the cooking surface.
- Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt Splurge Dutch oven Enameled cast iron with a light, smooth interior that makes it easy to see browning. The listing says the stainless steel knob is safe at any oven temperature, which matters for bread baking. Worth knowing: Le Creuset knobs vary in their oven ratings. If you have an older pot with a different knob, check its rating before baking bread in a very hot oven.
- STAUB Cast Iron Round Cocotte, 5.5 qt, Black Matte Dark-enamel Dutch oven Enameled cast iron made in France, with a textured black matte enamel interior and a metal lid knob. The dark interior hides staining that shows on light enamel.
- Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt Made In option An enameled cast iron Dutch oven listed as crafted in France, with a dimpled lid that drips condensation back onto braises. Worth knowing: The listing calls the enamel "non-stick." That's enamel, not a PTFE coating.
Lodge's enamel care guide says to use wooden, silicone or nylon utensils, not to heat the pot empty on the stovetop, and to oil the rim now and then to prevent rust. Some staining of light enamel is normal.
Bare cast iron
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Lodge 5-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Iron Lid
Plain pre-seasoned cast iron with a cast iron lid.
Why we picked these
- Lodge 5-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Iron Lid Bare cast iron, budget Plain pre-seasoned cast iron with a cast iron lid. No enamel and no coating, just iron and seasoning. It costs far less than enameled pots and handles very hot ovens for bread. Worth knowing: Bare cast iron needs seasoning care, and long simmers of acidic sauces like tomato can strip seasoning. For tomato-heavy stews, enameled iron is easier.
- Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart Pot & 10.25 Inch Skillet Lid Bread bakers' favorite A pre-seasoned cast iron pot whose lid doubles as a skillet. Bread bakers like it because you can load dough onto the shallow skillet half and drop the deep half over it like a cover, with no reaching into a hot pot.
Lodge's combo cooker is a favorite with bread bakers because the shallow skillet half becomes the base. You lower the dough onto it and cover it with the deep half, instead of dropping dough into a hot, deep pot.
Baking bread in a Dutch oven
- Use parchment to lower the dough into the hot pot. Unbleached parchment is in our baking sheet guide.
- Preheat in the oven, not on the stove. Lodge says an empty enameled pot can preheat in the oven, but shouldn't be heated empty on a burner.
- Skip ice cubes in enamel. Lodge warns against adding ice to a hot enameled pot for steam, because the sudden temperature change can damage the enamel.
- Mind the temperature. Many bread recipes call for 450°F to 500°F. Stay within your pot's and knob's rating.
Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
If You Care Unbleached Parchment Paper Roll (2-Pack)
Unbleached, chlorine-free parchment that makes any pan easy to clean and keeps acidic foods off uncoated aluminum.
Check #1 pick on Amazon →
Why we picked it
- If You Care Unbleached Parchment Paper Roll (2-Pack) Parchment liner Unbleached, chlorine-free parchment that makes any pan easy to clean and keeps acidic foods off uncoated aluminum. Worth knowing: Parchment is coated with silicone to make it nonstick. That's typical, and it's generally used at normal baking temperatures (check the box for the max temp).
Enameled vs. bare: quick comparison
| Enameled cast iron | Bare cast iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Seasoning | None needed | Needs seasoning care |
| Tomato and wine braises | Fine | Long acidic simmers can strip seasoning |
| Bread baking | Yes, within the oven rating | Yes |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Watch out for | Chips in the enamel, thermal shock | Rust if left wet |
Making big batches of stock instead? A lighter stainless pot is easier to lift when it's full; see our stock pot guide. For the rest of your pans, start with our non-toxic cookware guide.
FAQ
Is enameled cast iron non-toxic?
Enamel is a glass coating fused to the iron. It isn't a PTFE (Teflon-type) nonstick coating. For example, Lodge says its enameled Dutch oven is made without PFAS. Retire a pot if the enamel on the cooking surface chips.
Enameled or bare cast iron: which should I get?
Enameled cast iron needs no seasoning and is fine with tomato sauces and long, acidic braises. Bare cast iron costs much less and can take very high heat, but it needs seasoning care and long acidic simmers can strip that seasoning.
Can I bake sourdough in an enameled Dutch oven?
Yes, within the pot's limits. Lodge rates its enameled Dutch oven to 500°F and says preheating it empty in the oven is fine, but not on the stovetop. Check your knob, too: Le Creuset says knob ratings vary by type.
What size Dutch oven do I need?
Five to six quarts covers most family soups, stews and a standard loaf of bread. Go bigger if you often double recipes.
Do you list prices?
No. Prices on Amazon change often, so we link to each listing where you can check the current price.
