Compare Dutch Ovens
Vermicular Oven Pot Round 22cm 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.
Vermicular explicitly tests to California's Prop 65 lead standard — the strictest in the US. Their three-layer enamel process is designed for precision, and their compliance documentation backs it up.
Cadmium-free under Prop 65 testing. Cadmium was historically used in vivid colored enamel glazes — having it explicitly covered in their compliance documentation matters.
Traditional vitreous enamel is made by fusing glass to cast iron — PFAS simply cannot exist in this material. It does not need a PFAS test panel because the chemistry makes it impossible. This is different from a ceramic coating, where an explicit test is necessary.
A 30-year warranty is not quite lifetime, but it is longer than almost any other dutch oven on the market outside of Le Creuset and Staub. Vermicular stands behind their manufacturing quality.
Safe to 500F in the oven -- covers bread baking, high-heat roasting, and all standard braising temperatures.
At 450°F, Vermicular handles braises, roasts, soups, and most bread baking. If you regularly bake artisan bread at 500°F+, check your specific recipe requirements before buying.
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.
The 0.01mm precision lid seal is Vermicular's signature feature — it creates a near-airtight environment that holds heat and moisture exceptionally well. Reviewers consistently rate it on par with Le Creuset and Staub for braising performance.
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 9.3 lbs empty, Vermicular is heavier than Caraway but lighter than many comparable cast iron options. The weight reflects the cast iron body that makes it cook so well.
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 $450, Vermicular is a significant investment. This is a pot you buy once and keep for decades — the 30-year warranty and Japanese manufacturing quality are part of the value equation.
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 want the single best non-toxic dutch oven available and are willing to invest accordingly.
Long, slow braises and soups that benefit from exceptional, consistent heat retention are central to how you cook.
You value Japanese manufacturing precision and want a pot designed to last decades.
You want a 30-year warranty as an assurance of long-term quality.
PFAS-free status based on inherent material chemistry (vitreous enamel) rather than a test claim feels more trustworthy to you.
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.
The Vermicular earns the highest R3 score in the dutch oven category by combining Prop 65-compliant safety credentials, inherently PFAS-free vitreous enamel, exceptional heat retention from Japanese precision manufacturing, and a 30-year warranty. The tradeoff is price — at $380-$450 it is the most expensive option in this comparison, and it is oven-safe to 450°F rather than 500°F+.
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.
Your budget is under $250 — Caraway delivers strong safety credentials at less than half the price.
You regularly bake bread at 500°F+ and need an oven-safe rating above 450°F.
You need a lightweight pot — at 9.3 lbs it is manageable but heavier than Caraway.
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 Vermicular 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 Vermicular Vermicular Oven Pot Round 22cm - it scored 9.6/10 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.
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