Signature Round Dutch Oven vs Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven: which is safer?

Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven is the clear pick. Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven

Le Creuset

Signature Round Dutch Oven

PFAS grade

Excellent 80/100

Overall grade

Excellent 76/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

enameled cast iron (enamel coating over cast iron base)

Confidence

88%

PossibleEnamel coating degradation and flaking

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Lodge

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 59/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

enameled cast iron (vitreous enamel coating over cast iron base)

Confidence

85%

PossibleEnamel coating degradation and exposure of raw cast iron

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Enamel coating degradation and flaking on the Le Creuset and not on the Lodge.
  • We flag Enamel coating degradation and exposure of raw cast iron on the Lodge and not on the Le Creuset.
  • The Le Creuset is enameled cast iron (enamel coating over cast iron base) where the Lodge is enameled cast iron (vitreous enamel coating over cast iron base), which is most of the difference in these two grades.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More dutch ovens: see the full ranking