The 9 Best Pieces of Enameled Cast Iron Cookware

What is the best material for cookware? Well, the answer depends. If the thought of scrubbing a pan makes you immediately pull up a food delivery app, then nonstick cookware is probably for you. If the only thing that matters in the kitchen is a good sear on a steak, then cast iron skillets are likely more your speed. However, there’s one material that will tick most boxes for most cooks: enameled cast iron. 

Cast iron is excellent at retaining heat, but it’s reactive with acidic foods, and if you don’t keep up with the pesky seasoning, food can stick in a major way. Nonstick and ceramic cookware don’t have issues with sticking, but their coatings can be delicate, and they can’t withstand high temperatures. Enameled cast iron solves all of these problems. It has the heat retention of cast iron, so it can get ripping hot, but the enamel coating seals the metal, preventing sticking and reactivity. (It also doesn’t need to be seasoned.) Plus, the enamel is more durable than nonstick, so it’s less likely to chip and can handle high heat. 

Best Enameled Cast Iron Overall

Lodge 11-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

When we tested enameled cast iron skillets, we were surprised by how well this $60 Lodge pan performed compared to skillets that cost almost five times as much. Like the uncoated Lodge cast iron skillet we love, this skillet impressed us with its even heating and superior heat retention. The generous 11-inch diameter is the perfect match for big families or those who like to batch-cook. 

Staub 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte

Going into our Dutch oven tests, we were skeptical about whether this very expensive pot was actually worth the steep price. After several rounds of testing, we can confirm it absolutely is. It blew every other Dutch oven out of the water in our performance tests; the chicken skin was perfectly golden brown and crispy, and our rice was evenly cooked — something many others struggled with. But what we were most astounded by was that it barely showed any wear after our durability tests, when we literally beat the interior and exterior with metal utensils. 

Le Creuset 5-Piece Enameled Cast Iron Signature Cookware Set

If you’re already a lover of enameled cast iron, it might be time to entirely replace your cookware with this versatile set. Le Creuset is known for its unmatched enameled cast iron, and it’s for good reason: The construction and design are unrivaled — these are heirloom-quality pieces. This set includes a skillet, the famous Dutch oven, and a lidded saucepan to cover the bases of almost any recipe.

Lodge 3.6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Covered Casserole with Lid

Partway between a Dutch oven and an enameled cast iron skillet, this covered casserole is a winter cooking must-have. The shallow design and dramatically sloped walls will make it your go-to for braises and one-pot meals that start on the stovetop and finish in the oven — this reduces dishes to clean up, too.  

Cuisinart 5-Quart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron Round Covered Casserole

If you’re not quite ready to spend $400 or more on a single pot, this Cuisinart version is on sale for less than ⅙ of the price of the most expensive Dutch oven we tested. It has the same durable cast iron and enamel construction you expect from a high-end Dutch oven. 

Caraway 10.5-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

This enameled cast iron skillet is a new addition to Caraway’s lineup and is earning its place next to the brand’s hugely popular ceramic cookware. Caraway uses three layers of enamel for a durable coating that is oven safe up to 500°F, so this pan can stand up to almost anything you throw at it. 

Edging Casting Enameled Cast Iron Bread Oven

If you’re ready to level up your sourdough game, you need the Edging Casting Enameled Cast Iron Bread Oven. Dutch ovens are fantastic for bread baking, but any avid baker can tell you that lifting a steaming-hot loaf out of a deep cast iron pot is a recipe for a forearm burn or two. This pan solves that problem by inverting the traditional dimensions; the bottom is a shallow pan you can easily slide your loaf on and off, while the lid is a large cloche for all the benefits of Dutch oven baking without the risk. 

Bruntmor 2-in-1 Square Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven Baking Pan and Griddle Lid

This pan is a great value at $73, but it’s even better when you consider it’s actually two pieces of cookware in one. The bottom is a traditional casserole dish, perfect for bubbly lasagna or a crispy-skinned roast chicken. But instead of a regular lid, the top doubles as a grill pan for even more meal possibilities. 

Le Creuset 10.5-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Signature Square Grill Pan

Sometimes the craving for a grilled burger hits in the dead of winter. When that happens, you’ll be glad to have the Le Creuset 10.5-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Signature Square Grill Pan in your collection. In our grill pan tests, we didn’t find anything we didn’t love about this pan. The design and construction were superior to all the other pans we tested; it gave us the best grill marks, no food stuck, and it was nearly effortless to clean.