If you’re looking for a Dutch oven that gets the job done and costs under $100, Lodge and Amazon Basics are two brands worth looking at. But is one better than the other?
To find out, the BestReviews Testing Lab cooked with the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven and the Amazon Basics 7-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven. We spent hours in the kitchen putting these Dutch ovens through heat-retention tests, cooking-performance tests and maintenance tests. We made soups, stews and bread from scratch and tested durability through drop and scratch tests.
By the end, we found Lodge and Amazon Basics to be similar when it comes to performance and design. Though the Lodge Dutch oven appeared a bit more durable and likely to last longer, the Amazon Basics model costs about half the price and performed just as well. Let’s take a closer look at both to see how they compared.
Lodge and Amazon Basics Dutch ovens are highly versatile. They’re great for deep frying, slow simmering, and oven baking. If you’re just starting out in the kitchen or not ready to drop hundreds of dollars on brands like Le Creuset or Staub, there’s a lot to love about these two brands.
While both Lodge and Amazon Basics Dutch ovens offer plenty to love, each has some downsides to consider.
Lodge is the oldest cast iron manufacturer in the United States, and its products are known for their durability. The company carries Dutch ovens in five sizes, offers more than 10 colors to choose from and has a limited lifetime warranty. We tested the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven and researched the Lodge 7-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven for comparison.
Product Specifications
Material: Cast Iron | Coating: Porcelain Enamel | Weight: 13.52 lb | Dimensions: 13.56” L x 7.31” H x 10.93" W | Oven-Safe Temperature: 500 degrees F | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (but hand-washing is recommended)
We loved simmering stew and baking bread in the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. It weighs nearly 14 pounds, which made pouring and serving from a full Dutch oven difficult for us when we tested it, but we appreciated the comfort of the handles. They were easy to grip even with oven mitts. The two-inch knob on the lid was also easy to grip.
We placed the Dutch oven on a stovetop over medium heat for 10 minutes and then used an infrared thermometer to measure temperatures at different points on the surface and witnessed steady temperature uniformity. After simmering a stew for about an hour and achieving perfect results, we gave it a score of 10 out of 10 for heat retention and evenness of cooking. As for the durability of the nonstick coating, it also got 10 out of 10 when all of our cooked vegetables released easily from the surface.
It took about an hour for this Dutch oven to cool completely. Lodge Dutch ovens can be used on any cooktop, including gas, electric and induction. Also while hand-washing is recommended, it can be washed in a dishwasher, which is rare for Dutch ovens. While cleaning the Lodge was pretty quick, there was browning from the oven that didn’t come off, reducing the score to a 7 out of 10 since it may stain easily. However, that didn’t impact the Dutch oven’s cooking performance.
Product Specifications
Material: Cast Iron | Weight: 18.1 lb | Dimensions: 14.68" L x 7.12” H x 12.81" W | Oven-Safe Temperature: 500 degrees F | Dishwasher Safe: No
Unlike the enameled model above, the 7-quart Dutch oven is a traditional model made only of cast iron. It comes pre-seasoned for an easy-release finish, so foods like eggs and vegetables slide right off. The seasoning is 100% vegetable oil baked directly onto the pan. The best way to maintain the seasoning on your pan is to use it, since it builds layers of baked-on oil to improve the natural, easy-release surface.
The 7-quart cast iron Dutch oven is one of Lodge’s heaviest models at 18.1 pounds, which is 3 pounds heavier than Amazon’s 7-quart version. And it comes in four sizes: 1, 2, 5 and 7 quarts. While you won’t find it available in multiple colors, the dark exterior does an excellent job of hiding any stains.
Overall, Lodge’s cast iron Dutch oven is ideal for slow-roasting meats, simmering hearty dishes, and baking delicious breads, and it can even be used over a campfire.
Amazon’s products look just like Lodge products, as if their design was copied. However, they don’t offer as many variations in color and size. We tested the Amazon Basics 7-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven and researched the Amazon Basics 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven.
Product Specifications
Material: Cast Iron | Weight: 15 lb | Dimensions: 11.7” L x 4.68" H x 14.25" W | Oven-Safe Temperature: 500 degrees F | Dishwasher Safe: No
The Amazon Basics Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven is designed for versatile cooking, providing even heat retention, and it’s pre-seasoned for immediate use. We think its nonstick ability performed better than expected and was comparable to more expensive Dutch ovens.
This pot weighs 15 pounds, so it was a struggle for us to pour and serve from it, especially when it was filled to the brim with stew (however, it’s still 3 pounds lighter than Lodge’s pre-seasoned 7-quart Dutch oven). In just five minutes, the base of the Dutch oven was 160 degrees, and, surprisingly, the handles did not quickly heat up, making it easier to grip and move. After we finished cooking, a simple rinse with warm water and a gentle scrub with a sponge cleaned it thanks to the pre-seasoned surface.
Overall, we were really impressed by the quality and would highly recommend this budget-friendly option to home chefs of all skill levels.
Product Specifications
Material: Cast Iron | Coating: Porcelain Enamel | Weight: 13.06 lb | Dimensions: 13.54” L x 4.72” H x 11.06” W | Oven-Safe Temperature: 500 degrees F | Dishwasher Safe: No
If you prefer a colorful enameled cast iron Dutch oven that looks great on the dinner table, this Amazon Basics model is a solid option. Excellent for soups, stews and bread, this attractive cooking essential comes in 10 colors, including red, purple and blue, and three sizes (4.3, 6 and 7.3 quarts).
It weighs 13 pounds, which is the same as Lodge’s enameled Dutch oven, but it’s easy to grip thanks to its wide loop handles. The tight-fitting lid has a metal knob on top and little bumps called drip points on the underside so that the moisture from condensation is evenly redistributed over the food to keep it moist.
To keep it looking its best, hand-washing is recommended, and you should avoid using metal utensils and citrus-based cleaners with the pot. Though the enamel is prone to stains and chipping if you’re not careful, customers reported that this sturdy piece holds up fairly well to regular use and cooks food evenly for delicious results every time.
Lodge and Amazon Basics are impressive when it comes to cooking performance, heat distribution and durability. Our kitchen experts determined the nitty-gritty details that set them apart.
Both Lodge and Amazon Basics Dutch ovens scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for cooking performance, including heat retention and evenness of cooking. The Lodge was a little slow to heat up compared to the Amazon model, but once it did, the handles became too hot to touch. The Amazon’s handles remained room temperature for about 30 minutes longer before we needed oven mitts to grip them.
We cooked the same vegetable stew in both and experienced no difference in taste, texture and doneness — everything was delicious, moist and full of flavor. The Lodge Dutch oven we tested had no issues with food sticking to its enameled surface, while we noticed our vegetables stuck a bit to the interior of the Amazon model. Once the Dutch ovens were removed from the heat, both brands took about an hour to return to room temperature.
Dutch ovens made from cast iron are heavier than pots made of other materials like stainless steel. However, the weight of the ovens we tested varied, which affected how easy they were to handle. Lodge Dutch ovens are quite heavy, which could be challenging for some users to handle when serving and pouring. We tested the 13-pound Lodge 6-quart Dutch oven and struggled to handle it without some assistance. Also Lodge’s 7-quart Dutch Oven weighs 18 pounds, which is 3 pounds heavier than Amazon’s 7-quart Dutch oven.
We found that the Lodge 6-quart Dutch oven was slow to heat but amazing when it came to heat-retention testing, so we scored it a 10 out of 10. We cooked stew, and the handles and knob became too hot to touch after 30 minutes on medium heat.
We ranked Amazon’s durability lower than Lodge’s due to customer reports that the Amazon Dutch ovens had a tendency to show wear and tear more quickly if not handled properly.
While each Dutch oven was durable, the Lodge acquired brown stains on the outside of the oven after the first and second use, and we weren’t able to remove them.
The Amazon Basics Dutch oven ranked higher in ease of cleaning. A simple rinse with warm water and a gentle scrub with a sponge cleaned it perfectly thanks to the seasoned surface.
The Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven retails for $70 to $90, depending on the color, and the Lodge 7-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven retails for $90 to $112. Lodge products can be purchased on Amazon or the Lodge website.
The Amazon Basics 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven retails for $56, and the Amazon Basics 7-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven retails for $56.90.
While both brands offer similar products, we suggest choosing Amazon Basics over Lodge Dutch ovens. The models are nearly identical when it comes to cooking performance and heat retention. And while our testing showed the Lodge Dutch oven may be slightly more durable than the one from Amazon Basics, it wasn’t significant enough that you should spend twice as much.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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