/

#14 of 18

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 6 Qt

Key Specs

Price

$70

Oven-Safe Temp

500°F

Weight

13.52 lbs

Lead Compliance

Prop 65 Compliant (XRF verified)

Lodge

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 6 Qt

#14 of 18 dutch ovens tested

7.4R3 Score / 10

RecommendedGood, with trade-offs worth knowing.

Safety

7.587% weight

Efficacy

7.312% weight

Usability

31% weight

The bottom line

What the product listing won't tell you

Know before you buy

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.

Buy it if

$70.00

Buy on Amazon

We may earn a commission. It doesn't affect our scores.

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.

Skip if

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.

What's inside

Specs the product listing doesn't explain

Safety & Materials

What your food and family come into contact with every use

PFAS-FreeManufacturer claim

Efficacy

What determines how well this performs its core job

Oven-Safe Temp500°F

Usability

Ease of use, maintenance, and longevity

Price$70

Weight13.52 lbs

Lead ComplianceProp 65 Compliant (XRF verified)

Cadmium ComplianceManufacturer claim (FDA ASTM-C738 cited, no Prop 65)

WarrantyLimited Lifetime

Heat RetentionGood

How we scored it

3 criteria - open any layer to see exactly what we found

7.5

Safety

Below Average

7.3

Efficacy

Good

3

Usability

Below Average

SafetyCritical

“Is the enamel my family's food touches actually free of lead, cadmium, and PFAS -- and has anyone independent verified that?”

87%

5.8▾

R3 Verdict

Lead story is strong: Lodge XRF-screens their enamel and the California Disclosure page documents this explicitly. Cadmium is weaker: FDA ASTM-C738 testing is cited but Prop 65 cadmium compliance is not explicitly stated -- manufacturer-claim-only tier.

PFAS-free is a brand claim without independent verification. Limited lifetime warranty.

Safety score.

Bottom line

Best lead safety at this price point. Cadmium documentation gap is a real weakness families should note.

Moderate confidence

Criteria

Enamel Lead Compliance

10/10

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.

EfficacyImportant

“Will this Dutch oven actually perform well for braises, soups, and bread baking?”

12%

7.3▾

R3 Verdict

Oven safe to 500F with stainless steel knob. Heat retention is good -- solid cast iron performance but below the excellent tier of Le Creuset and Staub. Efficacy score.

Bottom line

Fully capable for everyday family cooking. Not the pick for serious bread baking or precision braising where the excellent-vs-good difference shows.

Moderate confidence

Criteria

UsabilityNice to have

“Is this easy to move around, lift, and live with in a family kitchen?”

1%

3▾

R3 Verdict

At 13.52 lbs, this is the heaviest Dutch oven in this comparison. Crosses into the >13 lb band which scores. This is a meaningful consideration for everyday use.

Bottom line

Factor the weight into your decision. If you or your partner have wrist or shoulder limitations, this pot may be challenging to use daily.

Moderate confidence

Criteria

Safety research

Safety standards and ingredients related to Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 6 Qt

ingredients

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene / Teflon)- A synthetic fluoropolymer used as the nonstick coating on most cookware and air fryer baskets. PTFE is classified as a PFAS compound. It's chemically inert at normal temperatures, but begins releasing toxic fumes above 500 degrees F - a real concern with high-heat cooking, overheated pans, and families who own pet birds.

Every term is independently researched and sourced.

Full Safety Dictionary

Where to buy

Verified retailer - current pricing

Starting price

$70

R3 approved retailer Score unaffected by purchase

Buy on Amazon

We earn a small commission on purchases. It never influences our scores - R3 is funded by readers, not brands.

Other Options to Consider

Alternatives that address specific trade-offs

Why this matters: At 13.52 lbs, this is the heaviest Dutch oven in this comparison. Crosses into the >13 lb band which scores. This is a meaningful consideration for ev

Better usability

Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven

Le Creuset

9.8$380

Scores 5.0/10 on usability vs 3.0 here

Better usability

Vermicular Oven Pot Round 22cm

Vermicular

9.6$450

Scores 8.0/10 on usability vs 3.0 here

Better usability

Staub Round Cocotte 5.5 Qt

Staub

9.5$299

Scores 5.0/10 on usability vs 3.0 here

Better usability

Staub Cocotte 5.5 Qt Round

Staub

9.5$300

Scores 5.0/10 on usability vs 3.0 here

Didn't find the dutch oven you need?

See all dutch ovens we reviewed

#14 of 18 dutch ovens reviewed

Enamel Cadmium Compliance

5/10

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.

PFAS-Free Verification

7/10

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.

Enamel Chip Warranty

8/10

Lodge backs the enamel with a limited lifetime warranty -- the same tier as Le Creuset and Staub, at a fraction of the price.

Maximum Oven-Safe Temperature

10/10

Safe to 500F in the oven -- covers bread baking, high-heat roasting, and all standard braising temperatures.

Heat Retention Quality

7/10

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.

Product Weight

3/10

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.