The Great Bake 
If you are in the market for a cast iron dutch oven but do not know how to determine which is the best, you have come to the right place. There are just two brands that really deserve our attention; Staub dutch ovens vs Le Creuset. Cheaper options are out there, but they will not perform to the level you need from a nice dutch oven.
So, in the Staub vs Le Creuset dutch oven debate, which one is better? The answer to this depends on what you hope to get out of your dutch oven. If you do not know where to start, follow along with this examination of the two best cast iron dutch ovens to determine your winner.
Le Creuset Cast Iron Casserole Dutch Oven
- Many color choices
- Lighter than the Staub
- Large size variety
- Light interior to view cooking progress
- Pricey (but they both are)
- Lid handles are plastic (on some models)
- Light interior scratches easily
Le Creuset appeals to the classic side of things. This dutch oven features a light-colored interior to allow for easy cooking and eyeballing the completion of your meal. The lids on Le Creuset’s fit snugly in an attempt to keep as much moisture inside the pot as possible.
A feature that seems to appeal to many people is the range of color options. Le Creuset currently offers about twenty different colored dutch ovens to choose from. When it comes to sizing, the various measurements and options can be slightly tricky to interpret, but you can find tools online to help with that.
Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Lid self bastes
- Interior prevents sticking
- Metal handles
- Very tight-fitting lid
- Fewer color choices
- The dark interior makes monitoring food more difficult
- More difficult to clean
Like Le Creuset, Staub is a French company that creates impressive enamel cast iron dutch ovens. The inside of a Staub dutch oven is black to help prevent food from sticking to the sides and bottoms. Lids on Staubs work to concentrate condensation back onto the food instead of running down the sides to avoid moisture loss.
All of the handles on these dutch ovens are metal so that they can withstand higher temperatures. The color options are not as vast as with the Le Creuset, but Staub is known for producing beautiful earth-toned pieces to choose from to make your cooking experience feel more authentic.
Staub vs Le Creuset Dutch Ovens
Though the two options are pretty neck-in-neck, there are some differences that may make determining your best fit a little easier.
Handles
Le Creuset dutch ovens’ handles are easier to hold onto because they have a rounder shape and are wider. You can easily hold the ovens with thick oven mitts, which makes it easier to carry and move around.
The handles on Staub’s are also large, but they do not offer as much space. If you carry it with oven mitts on, you may have to do some finessing to get a comfortable and sturdy hold on the pot.
Enamel
Both of these companies coat their cast irons with enamel, but they are very different. The interior of Le Creuset’s is white, while Staub uses black. There are benefits and downsides to both options.
The black interior in a Staub dutch oven hides scratches and marks, which look nicer, much longer. It cooks food evenly and at a slow pace because of its dark interior. However, the black makes it harder to tell exactly how done your food is when you check by sight.
The white interior in Le Creuset is easier to clean because it is much smoother. Though the black enamel cooks slightly better, they are harder to clean and eyeball your food. With the white interior of Le Creuset, you can watch your food well and have a good grasp on how done it is.
Lids
Le Creuset features a classic lid that fits snugly on top of the dutch oven to trap moisture during the cooking process. It does, however, allow some moisture to escape on the sides, so you will have to watch for that and re-baste if necessary.
The lids on Staub fit a lot better. They are very tight. This is not always a better feature because it is harder to cook off extra moisture. You have to maneuver the lid a bit to allow some air in at times.
Conclusion
No matter which option you choose, both would be a sound investment. If you spend a lot of time working with dutch ovens and creating one-pot meals, either one of these choices would be a great addition to your life. You simply have to determine which features are more important to you. Whichever you choose to buy, your experience in the kitchen is going to change.
