Signature Round Dutch Oven vs Enameled Cast Iron Deep Oven 3-Qt.: which is safer?

Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven is the clear pick. Staub Enameled Cast Iron Deep Oven 3-Qt. 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

Staub Enameled Cast Iron Deep Oven 3-Qt.

Staub

Enameled Cast Iron Deep Oven 3-Qt.

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 47/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Enameled cast iron (cast iron base + enamel coating)

Confidence

85%

PossibleEnamel coating degradation and chipping

PossibleIron leaching from exposed cast iron

ReportedThermal shock and thermal stress

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Enamel coating degradation and flaking on the Le Creuset and not on the Staub.
  • We flag Enamel coating degradation and chipping, Iron leaching from exposed cast iron and Thermal shock and thermal stress on the Staub and not on the Le Creuset.
  • The Le Creuset is enameled cast iron (enamel coating over cast iron base) where the Staub is Enameled cast iron (cast iron base + enamel coating), 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