The finish on this is a bit rougher than expected at this price point. The upper edge where the lid touches feels a bit too grindy for something that is enameled. Even my Lodge doesn't have that kind of grind to it. I would have gone with the other big name but it was just way over the top too much for what it is, even this on sale was a stretch. Then there is the lid. Everyone said the lid had a tight seal. It doesn't, it slides around a pretty good ways on top of the pot. In fact, I don't see how this thing is going to keep any moisture in it with that kind of slop in the lid.I do like the lid design with the basting bumps on it, the bottom of the pot being less rounded and more right angled at the edges, the handles provide a bigger loop than my old one, and ... MoreThe finish on this is a bit rougher than expected at this price point. The upper edge where the lid touches feels a bit too grindy for something that is enameled. Even my Lodge doesn't have that kind of grind to it. I would have gone with the other big name but it was just way over the top too much for what it is, even this on sale was a stretch. Then there is the lid. Everyone said the lid had a tight seal. It doesn't, it slides around a pretty good ways on top of the pot. In fact, I don't see how this thing is going to keep any moisture in it with that kind of slop in the lid.I do like the lid design with the basting bumps on it, the bottom of the pot being less rounded and more right angled at the edges, the handles provide a bigger loop than my old one, and finally it is much lighter than my old 7 1/2 quart.Would I buy it again? No. The finish on it is simply not up to any standard that would match the price point and the lid is a loose, sloppy mess that grinds on the rim which is sure to wear the enamel off in short order and make this a total loss instead of a buy it for life pot. Complete pass.

I bought this 4qt cocotte in French blue during the Black Friday sale. I already owned a Le Creuset 5.5qt and 7.25qt Dutch oven but the price for Staub was so good here at Sur la table that I just couldn't resist. This size is perfect when cooking smaller batches. I usually end up with about 3 generous portions of food which is great because I eat one immediately, have another portion for the next day and end up freezing the third for those days when I don't feel like cooking. If I compare it to Le Creuset I honestly can't say a single negative thing about either. Both are of the highest quality cookware that is out there. The main difference is the interior color and the lid and knob design. With Le Creuset the light interior helps caramelizing food and not burning ... MoreI bought this 4qt cocotte in French blue during the Black Friday sale. I already owned a Le Creuset 5.5qt and 7.25qt Dutch oven but the price for Staub was so good here at Sur la table that I just couldn't resist. This size is perfect when cooking smaller batches. I usually end up with about 3 generous portions of food which is great because I eat one immediately, have another portion for the next day and end up freezing the third for those days when I don't feel like cooking. If I compare it to Le Creuset I honestly can't say a single negative thing about either. Both are of the highest quality cookware that is out there. The main difference is the interior color and the lid and knob design. With Le Creuset the light interior helps caramelizing food and not burning it and with Staub the little "pointy" things on the lid help hold in the moisture slightly better for baking crusty bread. Also the metal lid knob can withstand the higher heat while in the oven. But with that being said you can buy a Le Creuset knob replacement. I make soups, stews, curries, rice, dried beans, bread, you name it. There is nothing more satisfying than having a tough cut of meat fall apart with a fork after it has been slowly braised in a cast iron pot. It's really a joy for me to use. I love both equally and I would highly recommend it especially if you can het it on sale.

Awesome, luxurious pan for a great price

Imperfections are visible, but that is reflected in the very low price. A couple bubbles on top, couple on the bottom, a small divet inside and the color on the bottom has a slight circular pattern. It's on the bottom so I don't care. The grey color is very nice. I was unsure about oval shape on my regular gas burners. It heated quite evenly. I carmelized a large batch of chopped onions on medium heat and watched them closely to see if there was uneven heat across the large oval shape. It worked wonderfully. For scalloped potatoes, I then simmered them in a mixture of heavy cream and whole milk. I was very happy with it. I did take 5 min to slowly start heating on med low, using my higher power burner. I chose a large size b/c I braise pork shoulder in a tomato ... MoreImperfections are visible, but that is reflected in the very low price. A couple bubbles on top, couple on the bottom, a small divet inside and the color on the bottom has a slight circular pattern. It's on the bottom so I don't care. The grey color is very nice. I was unsure about oval shape on my regular gas burners. It heated quite evenly. I carmelized a large batch of chopped onions on medium heat and watched them closely to see if there was uneven heat across the large oval shape. It worked wonderfully. For scalloped potatoes, I then simmered them in a mixture of heavy cream and whole milk. I was very happy with it. I did take 5 min to slowly start heating on med low, using my higher power burner. I chose a large size b/c I braise pork shoulder in a tomato sauce that has become a family favorite. I can sear a 9-10 lb Boston Butt in this and then braise it in the oven. The enamel coating can handle tomatoes. I cook other large roasts, etc and make chilli, so 8.5 qt oval is great. It is heavy, but I can handle it fine. The extra weight makes you more deliberate in moving it, so I find that I am less likely to slide it around. I guess if Texas loses power again, I can even use it on my propane grill, on low, since they can take 900 degrees w/o the lid or 500 with it. That seems to be a year round threat in Houston now, from tropical storms or deep freezes.

Happy Lucky

I decided to take a chance in buying a 7 qt. oval Black matte cocotte with visual imperfections. I imagined it would have slight cosmetic imperfections, not easy to see. I pulled the trigger because the price was so good. I would have never bought it at a higher price. Upon arrival, I inspected it and could feel the inside of the handles slightly rough, and could see a dimple the size of a head pin on the inside bottom of the pot and two tinier than that. However, they are not deep and are not chips, only little indentions. Had I read the one star reviews of people getting a big chip or a cracked pot, and no answer from customer service to their emails or phone calls, I would have never taken a chance. I hope Staub improves their customer service and posts what the ... MoreI decided to take a chance in buying a 7 qt. oval Black matte cocotte with visual imperfections. I imagined it would have slight cosmetic imperfections, not easy to see. I pulled the trigger because the price was so good. I would have never bought it at a higher price. Upon arrival, I inspected it and could feel the inside of the handles slightly rough, and could see a dimple the size of a head pin on the inside bottom of the pot and two tinier than that. However, they are not deep and are not chips, only little indentions. Had I read the one star reviews of people getting a big chip or a cracked pot, and no answer from customer service to their emails or phone calls, I would have never taken a chance. I hope Staub improves their customer service and posts what the imperfections are instead of being surprised. Luckily for me, I got a very nice pot, I would say perfect. I have had it for less than a month and cooked a pot roast and chicken soup twice. I brush it with avocado oil and start heating it on the lowest setting until it gets hot, following recommendations. After washing it, if I see a little discoloration from minerals or food film, I pour vinegar and let the pot soak for 20 to 40 min instead of using Bar Keeper's friend I use Arm and Hammer baking soda with a dishcloth or paper towel to scrub the bottom of the pot. And it's like new again. It is 15 pounds, too heavy for me, I wish it was less heavy. I do like cooking with it.

Makes cooking more enjoyable

My first experiences were cooking with the cast iron cocotte that I received as a gift. I’ve since expanded with various pieces of cast iron and ceramic. My favorite piece is the large grill pan for grilling steaks, artisan sausages and many types of vegetables. The even cooking that the Staub pieces produce makes cooking unique comfort food an immersive experience rather than just a task. The cocottes go from stovetop to oven to serving on the table. Cooking with Staub gives me such confidence that I regularly explore new recipes knowing that my cookware will help produce chef quality results.

Quality is not consistent

It is a good pot but food is easy to get stuck on the surface and difficult to be removed. It is not improved even though I season it with vegetable oil after each use. Also, I washed it withsoft cloth and warm water. The emerald is getting off gradually and the surface is becoming thinner and thinner as using the pot to cook. It is so thin right now that the I can see some small white iron spots at the bottom. It seems like the emerald is worn out and that happened within one year of usage. I am not sure if it is because I got the pot at discount but not with visual imperfection or a quality degradation in general.

Seems near perfect, great reduction in price

I was hesitant to get this, but I wanted an oval cocotte to match the round one I already had. Huge Memorial Day sale was offered so I pulled the trigger. It is very hard to find imperfections, but there are a few. Luckily, they are all on the rims of the lid and the cocotte. Very difficult to take a well focused photo of the rims, but they basically appear to be little scuffs and not even full chips or anything bad. The inside enamel looks fine, the outside looks great, basically just seems like small flaws in the enamel covering the rims. It's still enamel and not like bare iron, so I'm not that concerned overall.Maybe I got lucky, but this came out better than expected. Very happy with purchase.

The best

New addition to my my staub collection. So far performs as expected. Minor imperfections under the handle, little rough, but the interior is perfect. Quite expressive compared to most other enameled cookware, but the quality is better. Too costly to buy a full set so I bought slowly over the years. The braiser was my first and I used it for everything. Really like the black interior finish, personally find it better than others on the market that I have tried. I feel it browns food better, doesn’t stain as easy, in fact I’ve had mine for 5 years and no permanent stains. Just follow the cleaning, storing, and heating guidelines.

The easiness of cooking cream-based soups

After having searched for non-toxic cook ware that is also durable, I've finally come across this cocotte. The first dish that I've cooked in it is Minnesota Wild Rice and Mushroom soup , and the result was more than I had expected. The cooking quality that stood out was that there was no burning of the ingredients at the very bottom of the pot, which usually happens with milk-based dishes. I used a wooden spoon for mixing as had been instructed in the manual. The heat retention was superb as well, as compared to my experience with other cast iron pans I have. I used noticeably less gas, and the cocotte had to remain in room temperature for some time before I could put it into the fridge. Aesthetically, I look forward to featuring this piece on a dining table when ... MoreAfter having searched for non-toxic cook ware that is also durable, I've finally come across this cocotte. The first dish that I've cooked in it is Minnesota Wild Rice and Mushroom soup , and the result was more than I had expected. The cooking quality that stood out was that there was no burning of the ingredients at the very bottom of the pot, which usually happens with milk-based dishes. I used a wooden spoon for mixing as had been instructed in the manual. The heat retention was superb as well, as compared to my experience with other cast iron pans I have. I used noticeably less gas, and the cocotte had to remain in room temperature for some time before I could put it into the fridge. Aesthetically, I look forward to featuring this piece on a dining table when we invite guests. The ultra-marine color looks unique and goes well with other colors, such as shades of black and red. Most importantly, I appreciate the idea of washing fewer dishes as the food does not need to be transferred into new pots to look good while serving. In sum, main features that stand out are: heat retention, size, ability to perform multiple functions (boiling, baking, caramelizing), aesthetic appearance, and longevity. In addition, mainly glass coating over cast iron core is what had sold this product to me.

This cocotte is the perfect size!

I've had this piece in sesame for three years, it's my go to when I want to cook something large or have company and need to make enough for a small army. I've often wished I had another, now I do. The imperfection seems to be that the insides of the handles are a little rough, fine for me, easier to handle. Or maybe the color wasn't quite right for the customer they manufactured it for. Bordeaux is a bright cranberry red, beautiful!The oval shape accommodates almost anything you want to put in it.Staub skillets and cocottes are the best cookware available. They maybe heavy, but they are nearly non-stick with a very light coat of oil and let them heat up slowly on low to medium heat, everything you cook or bake will be amazing. They clean up the same as your ... MoreI've had this piece in sesame for three years, it's my go to when I want to cook something large or have company and need to make enough for a small army. I've often wished I had another, now I do. The imperfection seems to be that the insides of the handles are a little rough, fine for me, easier to handle. Or maybe the color wasn't quite right for the customer they manufactured it for. Bordeaux is a bright cranberry red, beautiful!The oval shape accommodates almost anything you want to put in it.Staub skillets and cocottes are the best cookware available. They maybe heavy, but they are nearly non-stick with a very light coat of oil and let them heat up slowly on low to medium heat, everything you cook or bake will be amazing. They clean up the same as your glass or ceramic.Oh, and the colors are gorgeous! Grenadine is my favorite, but I also have pieces in graphite gray, sesame and matte black because they were on sale. Believe it or not they all get used, some once a month, some several times a day.When they are on sale grab them, don't be afraid of visual imperfections, most of my pieces were clearance items and the imperfections are so minor you never really know why they were deemed imperfect. I have bought upwards of 30 pieces, it is my favorite gift to give, there has been only one piece that had a very visible scratch on the enameled lid, the rest of them I'm still guessing as to why.You can never have too many pieces of Staub.