Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT vs Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black)
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT
The short answer
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT comes out ahead overall with 7.8/10 against 7.6/10 for the Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black). Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT is stronger on cooking performance, enamel durability and value. Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black) is stronger on lead & cadmium safety evidence and health & materials.
- Choose the Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT if: For cooks who want a light interior for judging fond, and who accept a manufacturer-reported leach-test pass.
- Choose the Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black) if: For one to three people or small bread loaves, under Staub's explicit lead-free claim.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT | Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Performance | 8.5TechGearLab #3, and recommended by Food Network, Reviewed and ATK. | 7.8Inferred from the tested 5.5 qt sibling; small capacity. |
| Lead & Cadmium Safety Evidence | 7.2A manufacturer pass/fail statement with a stated method but no report. | 8.3Brand-wide explicit claim, with no size-specific screen. |
| Enamel Durability | 8.6No chipping in TechGearLab's lid drops. | 8.0Same enamel as the larger sizes. |
| Ease of Use | 7.2Light interior and 580°F rating. It weighs 13.69 lb and is hand-wash only. | 7.0Lighter and easier to handle; the dark interior hides fond. |
| Health & Materials | 8.2Reported PFAS/BPA passes; made in France. | 8.8PFAS-free, made in France, lifetime warranty. |
| Value | 7.0About $298, roughly Staub's price with weaker paperwork. | 5.8About $370 at list for 4 qt is poor per quart. |
Specifications
| Spec | Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT | Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 qt | 4 qt |
| Weight (with lid) | 13.69 lb | — |
| Max Oven Temp (with lid) | 580 °F | 500 °F |
| Interior Enamel | Light-colored enamel | Black matte enamel |
| Manufacturer Says Lead-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Lead/Cadmium Claim Wording | Made In blog: enameled cast iron passed 4/4 heavy-metal leach tests (Light Labs, Sept 14, 2025; 4% acetic acid). The 'made without Lead, Cadmium' wording is seen only in search snippets of product pages. | Staub brand-wide lead-free, cadmium-free, PFAS-free claim; third-party tested |
| Manufacturer Says Cadmium-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturer Says PFAS-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Third-Party Tested (claimed) | Yes | Yes |
| Country of Manufacture | France | France |
| Induction Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Dishwasher Safe (per maker) | No | — |
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT
Pros
- Light interior makes fond easy to judge
- 580°F oven rating, the highest in this group
- TechGearLab saw no chipping in lid drops
- Recommended by four independent reviewers
- Made in France; induction compatible
Cons
- Safety evidence is an unpublished manufacturer pass/fail statement
- Hand wash only
- Heavy at about 13.7 lb
- Lid spikes are hard to clean
A strong cooker with reasonable safety evidence. Choose it if a light interior matters to you, and pick a neutral color from the maker's own site.
Full Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT review →Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black)
Pros
- Same explicit Staub claim as the 5.5 qt
- Easier to handle than larger sizes
- Good for one to three people or small loaves
- Made in France; induction compatible
Cons
- Expensive per quart
- No independent test of this size
- Not listed on Amazon
- Dark interior hides fond
A good fit for small kitchens that want the Staub claim. Most buyers will get more use from the 5.5 qt.
Full Staub 1102425 (4 qt Round Cocotte, Matte Black) review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Lead-Free Enameled Dutch Ovens of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.