Compare Dutch Ovens
Lodge Enameled 6 Qt Dutch Oven scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
Lodge XRF-tests their enamel for lead and documents this on their California Disclosure page. This is the same verification standard that independent clean-cookware researchers cite as meaningful. For lead, Lodge is as well-documented as the premium brands.
Lodge says their enamel is cadmium-free and cites FDA testing procedures. That's more than most brands, but they don't explicitly state Prop 65 cadmium compliance the way they do for lead. It's a promise with supporting testing language, not a named certification.
Lodge claims PFAS-free enamel, and vitreous enamel chemistry makes this almost certainly accurate -- glass fired onto iron cannot contain PFAS. But no independent lab has formally verified it for this product line.
Lodge backs the enamel with a limited lifetime warranty -- the same tier as Le Creuset and Staub, at a fraction of the price.
Our Place says they test for lead and publishes results — that is better than a bare claim. But they do not cite Prop 65 or name an independent certifying lab, which is the standard the other top-rated dutch ovens in this comparison meet.
Cadmium-free claim with published data, but without Prop 65 citation or an independent third-party lab confirmation. Same verification gap as the lead claim.
Our Place claims PFAS-free, and unlike their lead/cadmium claims, the PFAS claim is common and widely marketed. The important nuance: ceramic coatings are not automatically PFAS-free the way traditional enamel is — this needs an explicit test, which Our Place says they do but without independent verification.
A 2-year warranty on a $150 pot is on the short side. If the ceramic coating chips or degrades after two years, you are buying a replacement.
Safe to 500F in the oven -- covers bread baking, high-heat roasting, and all standard braising temperatures.
At 450°F, the Perfect Pot handles the full range of typical home cooking — soups, braises, roasts, and bread baking at most standard temperatures.
Cast iron always holds heat well, and Lodge is no exception. Consumer Reports rates this good -- solid and reliable for everyday cooking. If you're baking serious sourdough or running a home supper club, the difference from excellent might matter. For weeknight soup and Sunday braises, it won't.
Consumer Reports tested this against a wide field of dutch ovens and ranked it first for overall performance. Heat retention is good and consistent, if not quite at the level of true cast iron.
At 13.52 lbs empty, this is a genuinely heavy pot. Moving it from stovetop to oven to table requires strength and care. For families where lifting is a concern, consider the Le Creuset options at 11-11.5 lbs.
At 7.2 lbs, this is the easiest of the three dutch ovens to lift and handle — particularly when moving from stovetop to oven with a full pot of stew.
At $70, you get XRF-verified lead-safe enameled cast iron and a limited lifetime warranty. The next step up for stronger dual safety documentation is $299+ (Staub) or $368+ (Le Creuset). That's a big gap for families on a budget.
At around $150, Our Place is the most accessible of the three options reviewed. You get Consumer Reports' top pick for performance at a price well below Caraway or Vermicular.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want XRF-verified Prop 65 lead-safe enamel without paying premium brand prices.
Your family makes soups, stews, and braises and doesn't need restaurant-level heat retention.
You're comfortable with a manufacturer's cadmium assurance backed by FDA testing procedures, even without explicit Prop 65 cadmium certification.
A limited lifetime warranty matters to you but budget is a genuine constraint.
You trust manufacturer-published safety data and do not require Prop 65 or independent third-party verification.
You want Consumer Reports' top-rated dutch oven and prioritize real-world cooking performance.
Lightweight cookware matters to you — at 7.2 lbs this is the easiest of the three to handle daily.
You are working with a tighter budget and want good safety claims with strong performance at $165.
The main thing to know
Lodge XRF-screens their enamel for lead and documents it on their California Disclosure page -- one of the strongest lead-safety claims a budget brand can make. The cadmium story is weaker: FDA ASTM-C738 testing is cited but explicit Prop 65 cadmium certification is not stated. If lead safety is your primary concern, this is an excellent budget pick. If you need both lead AND cadmium backed by a named regulatory standard, compare with lodge-enameled-dutch-oven which has nearly identical specs and slightly stronger cadmium language.
Our Place publishes their own test results and claims PFAS/PTFE/PFOA/lead/cadmium-free — but without Prop 65 citation or independent third-party lab verification from R3's primary sources. Since safety drives 87% of the R3 score, unverified claims create a meaningful gap even when the brand is transparent. The cooking performance is genuinely excellent — Consumer Reports ranked it first.
Skip this if you...
You want both lead AND cadmium backed by an explicit named regulatory standard -- the seed lodge-enameled-dutch-oven has stronger cadmium language.
The 13.52 lb weight is a concern -- Le Creuset at $380 is 2 lbs lighter and has stronger dual safety documentation.
You're a serious bread baker or precision braiser -- heat retention is good here, not excellent.
You require independently verified lead-free and cadmium-free certification before purchasing cookware for your family.
You want independent third-party PFAS testing — ceramic coatings are not inherently PFAS-free and need explicit verification.
Long-term warranty matters — the 2-year coverage is the shortest of the three options reviewed.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Dutch Ovens options at every price pointEvery Dutch Ovens in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Lodge and Our Place across 3 independent criteria: Safety (87%), Efficacy (12%), Usability (1%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Lodge Lodge Enameled 6 Qt Dutch Oven - it scored 7.4/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Dutch Ovens across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
