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.

A must have for every kitchenI had been given a couple of Staub items as gifts so I knew the quality was excellent. I bought the 3.8l round cocotte recently. It performs just like it is advertised. The design of the lid keeps the moisture in the pot so you do not have to constantly be checking it. The heavy weight prevents hot spots or burning. It can be used on the burner or in the oven. If you have a recipe that requires long slow cooking this is perfect. The two handles are large enough so you can grip them with pot holders to safely remove the cocotte from the oven or stovetop. It is well proportioned in terms of depth to the diameter so can accommodate whole duck legs/thighs without having to cut them up to fit. Clean up is a breeze as food does not stick to ... MoreA must have for every kitchenI had been given a couple of Staub items as gifts so I knew the quality was excellent. I bought the 3.8l round cocotte recently. It performs just like it is advertised. The design of the lid keeps the moisture in the pot so you do not have to constantly be checking it. The heavy weight prevents hot spots or burning. It can be used on the burner or in the oven. If you have a recipe that requires long slow cooking this is perfect. The two handles are large enough so you can grip them with pot holders to safely remove the cocotte from the oven or stovetop. It is well proportioned in terms of depth to the diameter so can accommodate whole duck legs/thighs without having to cut them up to fit. Clean up is a breeze as food does not stick to the black interior as you do not need high heat to cook and the high gloss exterior just wipes clean. The quality means you will get years and years of enjoyment from this and you will wonder how you didn't discover it sooner.

Fabulous!

Being a family of 2 I didn't think I needed this 7-Qt Cocotte, but the Labor Day sale price was just too good. I can't believe how useful this is! I genuinely love it in the matte black too. I have multiple smaller pieces in assorted beautiful colors and this complements beautifully. We cook on induction, and cast iron is the absolute best. I can't find any blemish on it to speak of. This is probably the 8th 'visual imperfection' piece I have purchased, and only received any blemish I would consider slightly annoying once. They are a great value.

Great Dutch Oven! Truffle White Color Inaccurate.

This is a great dutch oven! The 5.5 quart size is perfect for a family of 2-4, but I would recommend a larger size for anyone who is planning to host or has a large family. Taking off one star due to inaccurate color depiction. We purchased the "Truffle White" color, which appears to be off white on the website but is more of a light grey in person, with a significant number of brown "flecks" (which pull out significantly more when heat is on the dutch oven). Other than the color discrepancy, I would highly recommend this dutch oven for amateur and seasoned cooks alike!

Imperfections?? I See None!!

Amazing, amazing find…almost felt like I “stole” this Staub piece for the price I paid!! It was sold with “slight imperfections”, but after scouring over the pot and lid, both inside and out….well, you got me!! Can’t find a blemish!This is my introduction into the world of Staub cooking. It took this great price to get started but I’ll be back for more pieces again.I was getting tired of wasting money on “non-stick” cookware and decided it was time to buy my last set - a set that will follow me to my grave (hopefully not anytime soon)!! No better way than to start my collection with Staub!

LOVE LOVE LOVE! But be careful w the finish

This beauty has become my go-to pot for EVERYTHING. So far, I’ve made bread in it, au gratin potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, bread pudding, numerous soups, stews, and sauces, I even cook my pasta in them. Caramelizing onions is an absolute dream. The pan heats up quickly, boils water quickly, holds heat (and moisture) evenly. The only fault is that the red one (my fav!) now has two chips in the finish from normal use over the past year. I also have a gray one which has seen just as much use, but hasn’t suffered any chips thank god.

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.

Pure joy 🧡

This is my 3rd STAUB but 1st pot. It seems a lot to spend on a pot but it worths every penny!Excellent heat & moisture retention. Hard to burn food in it. Shorter heating time means less energy cost.I cook caramelised onions, soup, stew, rice, risotto, etc. so many uses, I use it regularly.On size:31cm is pretty big & heavy. If you don't have strong wrists & muscle, you might struggle lifting/washing. It can cook up to 8-12 portions of rice/soup so great for batch cooking.It gives me joy every time I use it.

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.