Lodge Dutch ovens are very, very popular. In fact, if you want a Dutch oven, you definitely want to buy the Lodge brand. Lodge is a company located in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and they are one of the few American manufacturers of cast iron cookware remaining. I live just about an hour and half from South Pittsburgh, and the Lodge brand is a great reflection of the small, hard-working, Southern town where they are made.
What I want to do is show you the highest rated Lodge Dutch ovens on Amazon.com. It is going to be hard to choose because you rarely see a Lodge product rated less than 4 stars. But today, I am going to focus only on the 5-star Lodge Dutch ovens.
The first is the Lodge Logic 5-Quart Pre-Seasoned Dutch Oven. It is ready for cooking right out of the box although you won’t hurt anything by greasing it lightly before use. Its proprietary vegetable oil formula really makes cooking a whole lot easier because the food doesn’t stick to the pan. It also allows for the heat to radiate more evenly instead of focusing on one area.
This Dutch oven is more than 10” in diameter and 4” deep. You can cook beans, roast, chili, chicken – just about anything you need because it is such a large size. It really works great for slow-cooking recipes like flavored meats because of its great heat retention capabilities. And basically these Lodge Dutch ovens will last a lifetime if you take care of them properly. This includes cleaning it immediately after cooking with water only and not running it through the dishwasher.
Another great Lodge Dutch oven is the 8-quart Camping Dutch oven. If you love to cook outdoors, you definitely need to buy this. It has small legs so that you can cook directly on a campfire, or it has the handle which allows you to hang it over the fire. Either way, you are guaranteed delicious tasting food that only comes with a combination of Lodge cookware and outdoor cooking. You can also use this cookware for indoor cooking as it is oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, this product is very easy to clean. A stiff brush will remove any charred or sticking food, and some warm, soapy water will take care of the rest. I have personally used one of these Lodge pans for cooking, and let me tell you something, it is one less thing to worry about while camping.
Ok…I am going to cheat here. I told you I was going to review only 5-star Lodge Dutch Ovens, but this 6-Quart Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven is too beautiful to pass up. Not sure why it is rated so “low” at 4.5 stars, but it is. But take a look at the handiwork of this Lodge cookware. The bright blue enamel really adds brightness to any kitchen setting, and it could in fact be the centerpiece of the kitchen. I love the color and look of this particular Dutch oven, and since it is made by Lodge, you can be guaranteed that it cooks great too!