Tramontina 6.5-Quart Cast-Iron Dutch Oven $35 FSTS or $1.97 s/home ~ Walmart

The inside is enameled?

Quote from adamant : The inside is enameled?

Sure is!

Quote from Artemas : Hi. For those of you that own and use this: how is the lid connected to the handle? Is it screwed on? Thanks.

I own this enamel dutch oven and recommend it highly. It is a great deal for the price.

You can replace the hard plastic top handle very easily. I found a metal LeCreuset handle in a TJ Maxx. Just twist off the plastic top and its screw and put on a metal one. Very simple.

Bought this along with other Tramontina cast iron items when they were on sale and returned all of them.

Reasons:
Quality is so-so (lid doesn't fit well on larger 6.5 qt oven and 3.5 qt braiser, cast iron thickness is uneven, holes in porcelain coating),
Side loop handles too small for heavy 6.5 qt oven and braiser - hard to use with mitt,
Braiser lid is way to heavy, heavier than braiser itself,
Small 3 qt oven seems to have pretty thin bottom, and burned food (I use cast iron items exclusively, so it was not me),

In the end, I bought 3.5 qt Lodge Logic dutch oven, and couldn't be happier. Yes, it is more expensive, but it does come with steel handle ($10 by itself), loop handles are much larger and very easy to use, bottom is thicker and never burned food unlike Tramontina, and Lodge porcelain quality seems better. Also porcelain in Tramontina is yellowish, while in Lodge almost white (off-white) but that's just cosmetic. And Lodge oven has more rounded shape which made stirring food a pleasure.

Just my 2 cents...

Quote from flysully : I bought this dutch oven when it was last on sale, quite awhile ago, and this is a great pot with very good reviews. It is very heavy and when properly seasoned according to their directions, nothing sticks to the interior. this is a very good deal!

Do you happen to remember what you have to do? I have this but I don't think I ever read "directions for a pot"

Quote from cisach : Do you happen to remember what you have to do? I have this but I don't think I ever read "directions for a pot"

Very simple to season. You put oil on the exposed metal rim of both lid and top of pot, put in oven according to directions enclosed and heat it for an hour or so and let it cool. This prevents the exposed iron from rusting. After using, I dry the pot and put oil on a paper towel and rub it all over those areas just to be sure it's coated although you don't have to do that.

if you want to upgrade the top handle ( higher oven temps or asthetics )

http://www.amazon.com/Le-Creuset-...set+handle


*Remains cool to the touch on the stovetop; oven-safe at any temperature

Remember, SS adds 10 horsepower!

The poster above who had negative things to say about her purchase most likely got a defective or "blemished" dutch oven. Mine, purchased from Walmart, was perfect with no blemishes or "holes" in the enamel. My lid fits tightly.

My daughter who also purchased the 6.5 qt. dutch oven also received a perfect pot so if you're looking for something like this without wanting to spend what you'd spend for a LeCreuset, I'd go for it. Sure, it's not a LeCreuset but I, for one, don't care

Quote from flysully : Very simple to season. You put oil on the exposed metal rim of both lid and top of pot, put in oven according to directions enclosed and heat it for an hour or so and let it cool. This prevents the exposed iron from rusting. After using, I dry the pot and put oil on a paper towel and rub it all over those areas just to be sure it's coated although you don't have to do that.

ok thanks! I'm prettu sure I took the pot out of the box and threw everything else away. - your OP made it sound like something required to season in interior enamal for non-stick.

I've had this dutch oven for a couple years and it is a great piece of cookware. It's a great size and has held up well. In the winter I use it 1-2 times a week. Definitely a great deal!

BTW, if you scroll down to the bottom of this page under "Similar Threads", you will be able to read all the comments and questions regarding this dutch oven when it was previously on sale. I found it very helpful when deciding whether or not to purchase this item.

Costco sells a Dutch Oven I believe - saw one on the end cap the other day. Anyone recall the price and brand?

This is a no brainer at this price unless you have money to burn. I have a Chinese-made 5 quart from Cost Plus World Market and it is going strong after 5 years.

The ONLY differences between these types and Staub/LeCreuset is the huge whole in your pocket the name brands leave and:

1) quality of craftsmanship: check this Tramontina and pull it out of the box before you buy. The finishing can be inconsistent. Can you get one just as well made as the expensive brands' with a perfectly fitting lid and no imperfections? Absolutely.
2) It follows that since the enamel isn't as well done, you have to be a bit more careful with these. Yes, they will chip a bit if you drop them hard enough. Do chips on the outside really matter? No way.
3) I don't think they are oven safe to as high of a temperature, but I rarely go beyond 400. If you're cooking steaks inside, you're searing them on the stovetop and finishing them below that anyways. Buy the replaceable handle for the lid if you have to go beyond 400.
2) Prestige. If you want to impress your friends (real friends don't need impressing), go ahead and blow $250 on your Le Creuset. I'll grow my saved money.

Purchase what you want for your own reasons, but I have not come away believing in the more expensive enameled cast iron brands after using both their products and the Chinese cheapos. Might you have to replace this sooner? Sure. But who cares? You're still saving $180 at that point.

***

I also believe this type of product represents a good way a lot of materialistic, envy-laden and brand driven American consumers get into debt. We are faced with alternative choices every day and decide which branded items are worth spending additional money on (when they actually cost more money). The principle remains, however, that saved money is saved money, and over time, making smart and informed choices leads to much more wealth over a lifetime once people understand basic financial tenets. If a good part of the country had a better hold on saving rather than spending, if we actually educated our children about money more than we do on the whole, we would all be in better shape. But people covet material things, none of which show up at your death bead or funeral. It also follows that one must make decisions about whether or not savings are worth his or her time - people make the distance/gas arguments here everyday and damn well they should.

Quote from AreWeThereYet : Costco sells a Dutch Oven I believe - saw one on the end cap the other day. Anyone recall the price and brand?

Not sure. Likely Kirkland Signature, and I think the current model is French-made and not really all that cheap, and there's nothing on the website.

My husband has been wanting one of these CAST Iron Ovens! Score THANKS EVERYONE

Order Summary
$35.00
Subtotal ( 1 item )
$2.89
Tax
$37.89
Order Total
-$10.00

$27.89 total paid!