7 Best Non-Toxic Dutch Ovens
You may be surprised to learn that some Dutch ovens are toxic. Unfortunately, as people try to improve and cut costs, that’s what happens.
Comparison Table
| Rank | Product | Key Feature | Review |
| 1. | Lodge 7.5 Quart Round Dutch Oven | Perfect traditional Dutch oven that comes in a variety of sizes and colors. It’s affordable and allows versatility in cooking, ease of cleaning, and a durable lifetime product. | Full Review |
| 2. | Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 6.75 Quart Oval Dutch Oven | The best feature is the beautiful color range and variety of designs. The price is high, but the quality of the vessel is still exceptional. | Full Review |
| 3. | Crock Pot Artisan 5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven | High-quality traditional Dutch oven at an attractive price. Offers a lighter color range. | Full Review |
| 4. | Bruntmor Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven | Can use this Dutch oven directly on the open fire or hot coals. | Full Review |
| 5. | Amazon Basics 7.3 Quart Dutch Oven | High-quality traditional Dutch oven that comes in a unique set of colors. | Full Review |
| 6. | Michelangelo 4 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven | Small Dutch oven suitable for beginners and small kitchens. Comes at a very affordable price. | Full Review |
| 7. | Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Outdoor Dutch Oven | A highly functional outdoor Dutch oven that is easy to use. | Full Review |
But today, we will look at the best non-toxic Dutch ovens and exactly what that means. First, non-toxic generally means staying away from non-stick coatings. These can have a detrimental effect on your health and the environment.
Next, you should also stick to traditional materials and designs. They have been tried and tested over decades, and despite “new and improved” models hitting the market, still work better than any other! These are usually enamel-coated cast iron vessels.
In this article, we will explore the best types of non-toxic Dutch ovens on the market to date and what to look out for when buying one.
What Is a Dutch Oven?
A Dutch oven is one of those cooking vessels that not many people are familiar with. However, once you start using one, you won’t be able to stop! It’s a game-changer!
A Dutch oven is a cooking vessel made from enamel-coated cast iron. The materials used to create these vessels are really what makes them special.
The combination allows the vessel to slowly and very evenly heat, which will also help you cook your food more evenly. It’s an excellent retainer of heat and can keep food warm for hours! And best of all, it’s super durable and can handle very high heat.
There are many different designs of Dutch ovens for different uses. They come in different shapes, different sizes, and even a wide variety of colors.
No matter the design, all of them are intended for slow cooking techniques. Anything that requires prolonged exposure to high heat. These can include techniques like braising, roasting, simmering, stewing, or poaching.
You can also use a Dutch oven for deep-frying, and baking breads, on the stove-top, or on an open fire. As we’ve said, it’s durable and extremely versatile!
What Makes a Dutch Oven Toxic?
There are many brands out there that try to re-create these incredible cooking vessels. And while many of them have made improvements to the traditional design, others arguably made it worse!
How? Two main issues come to mind.
The first is that they try to use non-stick coatings for “convenience” and “ease of use.” As we know today, many of these once-revolutionary coatings have been exposed as highly toxic to human health.
They can cause a variety of cancers, have a massive impact on reproductive health, is a big cause of various liver diseases, and can lead to increased cholesterol levels. These are only a few, and as you can see for yourself, they’re nothing to joke around about.
The second problem is that they use sub-par materials (that are toxic and not eco-friendly) to save costs on THEIR end.
This leads to the exact same issues as mentioned above. However, not only are these cheap materials toxic to human health, but they are often devastating to the environment.
Furthermore, they also reduce the quality of the Dutch oven itself. This causes the vessel to break down a lot easier and a lot more quickly as compared to the traditional design and materials used.
Buyer’s Guide For Non-Toxic Dutch Ovens
Now, how do you avoid any potentially toxic cooking vessels, not only Dutch ovens?
Stay Away From Non-Stick Coatings
We cannot stress this enough! While there are many coatings out there that are “safe,” you will never truly know.
First, manufacturers use misleading marketing that may make you think the coating is safe. They will say “safe for food,” “PFTA-free,” “PFOA-free,” “FDA-approved,” or “PFOS-free.”
But here’s the kicker. None of that means ANYTHING! Just because it’s free of one toxin doesn’t mean it’s free of another. Just because it’s “safe for food” doesn’t mean it has no negative impact on your health.
The second issue is that even if the coating is considered to be safe now, it doesn’t mean we won’t find out in 10 years that it’s not. That’s exactly what happened with Teflon products!
They were all anyone could talk about! Of course, until it was found that the materials they used for their coatings had some massive health impacts over the long run.
To be on the safe side, stay away from non-stick coatings.
Choose Ceramic or Enamel Coatings
If you still want something relatively non-stick, choose a Dutch oven with a ceramic or enamel coating.
Both of these coatings are somewhat non-stick already. Sure, not nearly as good as “non-stick” ones, but better than uncoated cast iron.
Just be mindful of how you handle these types of vessels. The coating is easy to chip and can also easily be scratched off by metal cooking utensils. So, if you are making something in a coated Dutch oven, only use wooden or silicone utensils.
Another benefit of buying a coated Dutch oven is that they come in a variety of colors and even patterns. This makes it easy to find a vessel that suits the aesthetic of your kitchen.
It also makes it a lot easier to serve your food directly from your beautiful Dutch oven. This means fewer dishes and less time you need to clean everything!
Avoid Blended Materials
Some blends work. But others could end up being harmful to your health or producing a lower-quality vessel that won’t last nearly as long as it should.
What do we mean by blends?
Cast aluminum or aluminum steel are two popular examples of blended materials used for cooking vessels. While they aren’t necessarily toxic, they do lower the quality of the vessel to save some cost.
The fact of the matter is: a Dutch oven is quite expensive. But it’s a lifetime investment, and you only ever need to buy one or two. These vessels can last decades. And if you buy a traditional one with high-quality materials, you will never have to replace it. Or worry about it shattering while you’re cooking on the stovetop!
Stick to the Traditional Design
For the safest and arguably best Dutch ovens, you always want to look for something that’s only made of cast iron and an enamel coating.
It doesn’t matter what the design is really. The materials make up the best features of these vessels.
If we look at functionality, you want something that can offer you versatility for its size, is easy to maneuver, has comfortable handles, and that has a tight-fitting lid.
7 Best Non-Toxic Dutch Ovens
So, now that we have looked at what to stay away from, let’s take a look at the best non-toxic and eco-friendly Dutch ovens currently available on the market.
As always, we tried to include a variety of products so that you can easily find one that works perfectly for you. And if you think we left out a great option, feel free to let us know!
1. Lodge 7.5 Quart Round Dutch Oven
We’ll start with one of the best indoor Dutch ovens of all time – and it’s not just us that says it! This model alone has been sold hundreds of thousands of times! Want to know why?
It’s because the design is simple, they don’t use any strange materials or blends, the size allows you versatility in cooking, and they offer a massive range of colors and even gradients! And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, these Dutch ovens are surprisingly affordable!
So, let’s start at the beginning. The vessel itself is made from 100% cast iron. It has a porcelain enamel coating over it which is extremely heat tolerant and non-porous. The coating is also naturally non-stick, so your food won’t burn as quickly as on plain cast iron.
You can also use this vessel inside the oven or on the stovetop (including induction).
Next, the design. This 7.5 quart (7 liters) size allows you to make anything your heart desires. You can roast a small turkey or chicken, make a massive stew, soup, or broth, and braise some delicious legs of lamb too.
You also have two sturdy handles that will likely never break and a tight-fitting lid with a heat-resistant knob as well.
This is a cooking vessel that will truly last you a lifetime and can be passed down to your grandchildren. You don’t have to season it at all, it is super easy to clean, and you can even put it inside the dishwasher.
2. Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 6.75 Quart Oval Dutch Oven
First, we want to address the cost of these vessels. They are extremely expensive, and it’s all because of the brand name attached to them.
You can find an equally good Dutch oven at a much lower price. So are Le Creuset cooking vessels worth it?
Ultimately, it depends. We can say that they are one of the leading manufacturers of Dutch ovens for a reason. They use the best materials possible, offer a wide variety of designs (shapes and sizes), and offer their products in breath-taking colors that few other manufacturers sell.
No one can argue the quality factor and benefit of having such a beautiful vessel in your kitchen. But when it comes to paying the piper, that’s for you to decide.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look at this specific model.
So, as we’ve mentioned, Le Creuset truly uses the best materials you can find. This Dutch oven is made from 100% cast iron and has a durable enamel coating. This vessel is easy to clean and won’t rust, stain, or lose its color over the decades.
When it comes to the design, we chose a more classic oval shape instead of their round one. This makes it easier to fit large meat cuts like whole chicken, legs of lamb, or ham.
The pot has two ergonomic handles, and a tight-fitting lid with a stainless steel knob, and can be used in an oven or on the stovetop.
3. Crock Pot Artisan 5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Next up, we have a more affordable option again made by Crock Pot.
This beautiful round 5-quart Dutch oven is made from cast iron and coated in enamel. Their color range is on the softer side and can make beautiful additions to retro or country-style kitchens.
This model has the same benefits as all the other traditional ones. It’s naturally non-stick, easy to clean, durable, cooks evenly and efficiently, can be used in an oven or on a stovetop, and has ergonomic handles and a well-fitted lid.
4. Bruntmor Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Let’s move on to some outdoor Dutch ovens. Now, these are still perfectly suitable for indoor stove tops or oven cooking. But, where these differ from enamel-coated Dutch ovens is that they can be used directly on hot coals or a fire.
This cast iron Dutch oven doesn’t have any coating. But this also means you will need to season it often.
It has all of the benefits of well-made traditional Dutch ovens. The big difference (other than the outdoor use) is the design.
This is a 2-in-1 vessel. You can remove the lid, flip it oven, and use it as a shallow pan. You essentially get two vessels for the price of one!
5. Amazon Basics 7.3 Quart Dutch Oven
This one may surprise you. Amazon Basics offer a ton of different cookware and kitchen tools. And their quality is shockingly good at an even more shockingly attractive price.
But what makes this model special?
To be honest, nothing. It’s simply an extremely high-quality cast iron enamel-coated Dutch oven. Again, you have all the same benefits that all the other traditional models offer you.
We would say the biggest difference between this model and others is its popularity. More people seem to buy this model online, and many people have excellent (albeit generic) feedback about the vessel.
Nevertheless, it’s a good option to consider. And they offer different colors than their competitors, which may ultimately be the deciding factor for many.
6. Michelangelo 4 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven
This smaller (and more affordable) model is perfect for anyone just starting out with Dutch oven cooking. This is another basic, yet still, a high-quality vessel that can last you a lifetime.
What makes it unique, and the reason we put it on our list is that it has a slightly different design than most. Where traditional Dutch ovens have a slightly more curved side, this model has straight ones. This is a look that some people may find more appealing.
The smaller size also makes it suitable for small ovens and small kitchens. It won’t take up a lot of space and is perfect for cooking for two.
And finally, this model comes with heat-proof silicone handles (for handling) and a silicone mat.
7. Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Outdoor Dutch Oven
Finally, we’ve decided to end with a bang! This Dutch oven is similar to the previously covered outdoor one. It’s made from uncoated cast iron, which is super durable, a fantastic conductor and retainer of heat, and resistant to direct flames.
We’ve included this specific model for one reason only: the design.
First, it has three peg legs that allow you to easily control the amount of heat you use. You can place the vessel directly onto large hot coals for direct high heat. But, for colder heat, you can use the legs to give you some distance. They also provide a more level surface for even heat distribution.
Next, you have a tight-fitting lid. This one cannot be used as a pan, unfortunately, but it still works well.
And finally, to make it easier to work with, you have a metal bucket handle that allows you to effortlessly move around the hot heavy vessel without burning your hands.
