Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Both enamel and bare cast iron are good for a stew, but they don't require the same care. When in doubt, we recommend enamel in our shop, as it requires the least work before and after your stew.

What do you do differently with a bare casserole than with an enamel casserole?

A bare pan has only the oil that you burn in it as protection. Such a seasoned layer seals the iron, so it rusts less quickly. In an enamel casserole, a type of glass on the cast iron does that work, and you don't have to apply that layer yourself. Seasoning bare cast iron is on the agenda for your first stew, and again if the seasoned layer gets damaged.

For stews with wine or tomato, you prefer an enamel pan over a bare one. The product page of the BK Casserole Bourgogne Chili Red Cast Iron ø 24 cm states it clearly: it is "suitable for acidic ingredients such as tomatoes and wine".

BK Casserole Bourgogne Chili Red Cast Iron ø 24 cm

After a long evening at the table, cleaning a bare casserole takes some time: wash by hand and place on the heat until dry. With the bare Blackwell Casserole Cast Iron ø 20 cm, you stew for one or two persons, and it is among the most affordable casseroles here.

Blackwell Casserole with lid Cast Iron ø 20 cm - without non-stick layer

Blackwell Casserole Cast Iron ø 20 cm

Is an enamel casserole really maintenance-free?

Not entirely, as enamel is also a layer that can be damaged. On the product pages of the casseroles with enamel, you will read these habits:

First, add fat or moisture to the pan before heating it, so the inside is protected.
After stewing, first place the pan on a trivet to cool: cold water in a hot pan is bad for the enamel.
Use wooden or nylon utensils and a soft sponge, as metal utensils and abrasive cleaners or steel wool can damage the enamel.
Preferably wash the pan by hand, even if there is a dishwasher symbol: this way, the enamel lasts longer.
Also, dry the rim well: part of the Cosy & Trendy pans is not enamelled, and bare cast iron can rust.

With or without enamel, you can generally use a cast iron casserole for a lifetime. Just don't drop it on a tiled floor, as it can break from such a fall.

Do you get more stew in a heavier casserole?

Not always, and bare cast iron is not automatically lighter than enamel. Casseroles of ø 24 and 25 cm side by side, in order of capacity:

The Sola Casserole Cast Iron Green ø 24 cm with enamel has a capacity of 3.2 litres, weighs 4.94 kg when empty, and can go in the oven up to 240 °C.
The Keij Kamado Dutch Oven Blue ø 24 cm with enamel has a capacity of 3.5 litres, weighs 4.7 kg when empty, and can go in the oven up to 260 °C.
The bare Blackwell Dutch Oven Cast Iron ø 25 cm has a capacity of 4 litres and weighs 3.5 kg when empty. It can go in the oven, but there is no maximum temperature listed.
The BK Casserole Bourgogne Jet Black ø 24 cm with enamel has a capacity of 4.2 litres, weighs 5.02 kg when empty, and can go in the oven up to 230 °C.
The bare Blackwell Casserole Cast Iron ø 24 cm has a capacity of 4.5 litres, weighs 5.4 kg when empty, and can only go in the oven without a lid.

Both the lightest and the heaviest casserole on this list is a bare pan from Blackwell. Per litre of stew, you lift the least with the lightest, the Dutch oven from Blackwell. For a stew with a lid in the oven, the Blackwell of ø 24 cm is not suitable: it can only go in the oven without a lid.

Of these pans with enamel, the BK is the lightest per litre. It is large enough for four or five eaters.

BK Casserole Bourgogne Jet Black Cast Iron ø 24 cm / 4.2 litres - enamelled non-stick layer

BK Casserole Bourgogne Jet Black ø 24 cm

For a large stew, the Cosy & Trendy Casserole Fontestic Black ø 28 cm has the most capacity of the round pans here: 6.8 litres. Unlike the pans from BK, it can also go on the barbecue, and its limit in the oven is 200 °C. Its specifications do not mention the weight.

Cosy & Trendy Casserole with lid Fontestic Cast Iron Black ø 28 cm / 6.8 Litres

Cosy & Trendy Casserole Fontestic Black ø 28 cm

The Combekk Casserole Cast Iron Holly Green ø 28 cm, which is also available in pink, can also go on the barbecue, and it can go in the oven up to 260 °C. It weighs 6.75 kg when empty, the heaviest of the pans for which we mention the weight here. However, it holds 5.3 litres, which is less than the Cosy & Trendy. Combekk makes it from recycled cast iron and advises against using the dishwasher.