Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles

Review by B. Davenport for Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles
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When I saw the price,free shipping, and factory pre-seasoning, this dutch oven proved irresistable. The size is great and the black color was attractive.Sadly, the factory pre-seasoning did not meet expectations! I learned to cook using cast iron, and I still own several “original finish” cast iron skillets, griddles and specialty pans (tri-ply stainless steel is wonderful, but some things just cook more evenly with cast iron). While cast iron is not difficult to season,it was just an added bonus to order a dutch oven that I thought would have an even, well applied finish to begin the seasoning process (properly seasoned cast iron pans only get better over the years). When the dutch oven arrived, I was surprised by what seemed to be a discoloration under the finish on the inner surface of the pot lid. I used the dutch oven for the first time to make chili. The steam from the chili caused the “pre-seasoning” on the inner surface of the lid to mottle badly, and the area that had initially appeared discolored was revealed to be covered with rust. A tell-tale metallic smell was also present (usually a sign that your pan might need to be seasoned again). Needless to say, I was disapointed. This pan proved to be MORE effort than the original finish pans since I had to scrub down the lid to remove the remaining mottled pre-seasoning, and to remove the rust. I then just seasoned the lid properly the old-fashion way in my oven. All in all, the Dutch oven is well worth $25 (and the saved $12.66 in shipping charges is also appreciated), but the Lodge Cast Iron Manufacturing Co. has a reputation for quality that this finish did not meet. I contacted the company to express my concerns (ie, did I need to take additional steps to remove all of the factory applied finish) and to ask if this problem was evident in other pans in the pre-seasoned line.The Lodge Co. has not responded to my email. Bottom line, before paying full price plus shipping, for anything in the pre-seasoned line, I would compare the cost to the original finish, or to the beautiful new Lodge enamel cast iron items.

Review by Randall J. Donner for Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles
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First off I enjoy quality kitchen tools. I never minded paying for a quality tool. But when you get prenium quality at a rock bottom price, well it just doesn’t get any better than that. Also any of the cast iron products from Lodge will easily last a lifetime or two, with minimal care. I previously owned a 7 quart duch oven and loved it. But my daughter finally has moved out, and it’s just the wife and I at home now, so I downsized to a 5 quart dutch oven. I was happy to see Lodge offer a dutch oven with side handles instead of a wire bail, because we do most of our cooking at home in our oven, not at a campfire. The 5 quart dutch oven and 10 inch skillet would be a perfect gift for someone just starting out in life. They probably would not realize the value of what they recieved, until they are cooking a pot roast or a pot of chili for their grandchildren thirty years later.

Review by Peter for Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles
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Short review. This will become one of the most important pieces in your kitchen. I like the handles better than the other lodges, and NOTHING compares to cast iron.

Alton Brown raves about this thing and for good reason. He also writes of a casserole pot, don’t get it unless you are a chef. This works everywhere that one does. An excellent buy.

My only word of caution. I love the loop handles, but IF you are one of the rare people who still cook with a campfire, get the other 5qt lodge.

Review by Martha W. Bonney for Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles
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The dutch overn itself is just what I expected: sturdy and indestructible cast iron. The pre-seasoning was blotchy. I removed it with detergent and water, then re-seasoned using the directions in the old Joy of Cooking: coat generously with grease/oil, place in 450 degree F. oven for 30 minutes. Much better.

Review by A Reviewer for Lodge Logic L8DOL3 Pre-Seasoned 5-Quart Dutch Oven with Loop Handles
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I purchased the Lodge Logic 5 quart Dutch oven along with the 12″ skillet and lid, and have found cast iron cooking to be a revelation. These pots and pans are naturally no stick, heat evenly, and cook beautifully every time. With a minimal amount of care they will last a lifetime and beyond. I am a student of traditional regional American cooking, and was always frustrated when rice dishes such as Louisiana Jambalaya and Low Country Pilau didn’t turn out as well as expected. The rice often burned on the bottom and was too crunchy on top. Not anymore. With cast iron, you can produce authentic and delicious results every time, due to the even conduction of heat in these pots. They are also fantastic for frying, and work great for slow cooked stews and roasts. They are highly versatile: You can use them on top of the stove or in the oven. These pots have taken over our kitchen: we now use them for most of our cooking needs. I have come to the conclusion that cast iron is the best kept secret in cooking. Why other, often more expensive and less effective kinds of pots have replaced this traditional American cookware is beyond me.

Review by Laurie Hamilton for Lodge Logic EC6D43 Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
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I called Lodge Mfg. They e-mailed me a report showing the testing that they have had done on their enamel coated cookware. All of their non enamel cookware is made here in the U.S. The enamel coated cookware is made in China but has been tested for lead content. That set my mind at ease and thought this review would help others too.

Review by stacy for Lodge Logic EC6D43 Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
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This Dutch oven is absolutely gorgeous! An incredible value in the world of enameled cast iron these days, I have a Le Creuset dutch oven that I love, but wanted another piece that was smaller and to be completely honest, wanted to to test one of Lodge’s new enameled cast iron pieces that are more price friendly. I have other lodge pieces which I love and thought it was worth a try. I have to admit I was lured by the beautiful red color. Now that I have received it and see it, the picture does not do it justice! It is so pretty, but it cooks superbly like my other lodge pieces, but clean up is so much easier and I don’t have to oil each time. I can also cook dishes that are acidic that I can’t in the regular cast iron. You also can cook at almost half the normal temps in the oven because it retains the heat so well, which is great with the price of electricity and gas right now! I really think these are going to take off with their affordable prices on these. They have the Lodge name security backing them and hopefully they have not sold their name to produce these like a lot of other companies these days, but I doubt it. But for under $50 for a 6 quart dutch oven, it is worth a try! I am very happy and showing all my friends and family. Do give these a try!

Review by Beth M. Chastant for Lodge Logic EC6D43 Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
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I have been looking at enameled cast iron cookware and have not purchased one due to their prices. When I saw this one I was excited. I own a non-enamel lodge cast iron dutch oven and a frying pan and have been impressed with their quality. I have had them for several of my rookie cooking years and have not taken care of them in the way that cast iron cookware should be taken care of…cleaning pots immediately and not letting them “soak” and caring to oil them after being cleaned. I am from cajun country so buying a cast iron pot with an enamel coating seems like cheating, since you are supposed to be seasoning them with every meal and the pot should be better and better every time you use it, but I must have gone wrong somewhere along the way. The pots quality is excellent and it’s finish is flawless. I have been very impressed with the meals that have come out of it so far. It is easier to clean up than regular cast iron and also the flavors don’t seep into the pot. I cook a lot of different ethnicities of food so I don’t want my thai food to have a slight cajun roux flavor just as I wouldn’t want a gumbo or stew to have curried or ginger flavors. I love this pot my husband laughs at me because every meal, big or small, that I have cooked since I got this in the mail has come out of this pot. But I want to use it as much as I can, and the pretty red color is nice to look at as well. This has been a great purchase.

Review by J. G. Pavlovich for Lodge Logic EC6D43 Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
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This is a terrific value. The quality and performance match my Le Creuset pieces at a fraction of the price. The only slight design flaw I have found is that the rounded bottom makes browning large pieces of meat awkward. Other than that I have no complaints. Even heating. Easy clean up. I use it several times a week.

UPDATE: I found a second minor problem. The inside rim of the lid has a couple of raised spots which prevent the lid from seating tightly. This causes steam to escape much faster than I would like during a long braise or stew.

Update 2: Three years in I am dropping my rating to three stars. It’s still a decent pot at a bargain price, but it will not be an heirloom piece like my Le Creuset. The loose fitting lid turns out to be a manufacturing shortcut. The lids and pot rims on the Le Creuset are machined flat so the lid fits tightly. The lid on this (and other inexpensive enameled cast iron pieces I have looked at) is cast with three raised spots which allow the lid to sit “flat” (like a tripod) on the pot without the extra machining step. This shortcut, unfortunately, makes it impossible for the lid to seal tightly. This makes the pot unsuitable for some tasks unless I make a foil gasket for a tight seal. Secondly, I now have several small chips in the enamel (on the lid and outside) on this pot. My Le Creuset pieces, which I have had much longer and use just as often, have no chipping.

Bottom line: the quality you get is the quality you pay for.

Review by B. Wilkinson for Lodge Logic EC6D43 Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
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I, too, own Le Creuset (2 pieces). They are very expensive. Thought I would try the Lodge. Beautiful blue color that matches the Le Creuset. And did I mention the price. For two pieces I paid less than the price on one of the other ones. And it cooks beautifully! What more can one say?