Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT vs Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black)
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT
The short answer
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT and Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black) finish almost level in our scoring (7.8 vs 7.8 out of 10), so the right pick depends on what you value most. Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT is stronger on cooking performance, enamel durability and ease of use. Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black) is stronger on lead & cadmium safety evidence, health & materials and value.
- 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 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black) if: For families of 6–8 and batch cooks who want the Staub claim in a bigger pot.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT | Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Performance | 8.5TechGearLab #3, and recommended by Food Network, Reviewed and ATK. | 8.2ATK recommends it for large-batch braising. |
| Lead & Cadmium Safety Evidence | 7.2A manufacturer pass/fail statement with a stated method but no report. | 8.0Brand-wide explicit claim, with no size-specific screen. |
| Enamel Durability | 8.6No chipping in TechGearLab's lid drops. | 8.0ATK called it 'very durable'. Single source. |
| Ease of Use | 7.2Light interior and 580°F rating. It weighs 13.69 lb and is hand-wash only. | 5.8Very heavy, and the dark interior hides fond. |
| Health & Materials | 8.2Reported PFAS/BPA passes; made in France. | 8.8PFAS-free, lifetime warranty, made in France. |
| Value | 7.0About $298, roughly Staub's price with weaker paperwork. | 7.8About $300 for 7 qt is good value in the premium tier. |
Specifications
| Spec | Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 QT | Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 qt | 7 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: "Cadmium Free, Lead-Free, PFOA Free, PTFE Free, and PFAS Free"; 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 7 qt Round Cocotte (Black)
Pros
- Same explicit Staub lead- and cadmium-free claim
- Serves seven to eight
- Recommended by America's Test Kitchen as very durable
- Rated to 500°F with the lid
- Much less than the large Le Creuset
Cons
- Very heavy at this size
- Dark interior hides fond
- A CNN tester reported a Staub handle breaking (5.5 qt)
- Evidence comes from the brand-wide claim, not this size
The right Staub for large households and batch cooks. If you do not need the capacity, the 5.5 qt is the better all-round buy.
Full Staub 7 qt Round Cocotte (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.