Want a Dutch Oven We Like as Much as Le Creuset for 50% Less ...

There is no arguing with the fact that Le Creuset Dutch ovens are the kind of forever, statement cookware that many cooks want out on permanent display on their stovetop. And those Dutch ovens are, in fact, on sale for Black Friday (check this one out at Williams Sonoma for 37% off). But, two things about Le Creuset sales: First, even on a discount, they’re still fairly expensive, and second, they come in a million colors and every shade of pot is not sale. But, if you want a heavy-duty Dutch oven we like for a lot of the same reasons we like the French brand and you want it for hundreds of dollars less, we offer up to you this one from Made In.

We tested it side-by-side with Le Creuset and Staub and found quite a bit to like in comparison to those stalwarts. Its light enamel was rugged enough to scrape up browned bits off the bottom of a pot after deglazing and the color (like Le Creuset’s) makes it easy to see if something is getting too brown. The most notable difference, which my colleague, senior writer (and uber product tester) Emily Farris really enjoyed was the shape of the Made In’s handles. Compared to the round ones on a Le Creuset, Made In’s are wide and flat, making it easy to lift a full, heavy pot out of the oven.

And heavy is the operative word. The Made In Dutch oven is actually a smidge heavier than a Le Creuset Dutch oven. The knob on top is also quite grippable, with a wider diameter but narrower post than a Le Creuset (very grippable if you’re using something like an Ove Glove). One more nice feature? The lid has divots like a Staub lid, which, theoretically, help contain moisture. Truthfully, we don’t notice a huge difference having divots vs. not having divots, but they certainly don’t hurt.

The best part of the Made In Dutch oven though is the price. Ordinarily it’s $250, already less than a Le Creuset—even one of the random colors when it’s on sale. But for Black Friday it’s an extra 20% off, dropping the price all the way down to $200, and that price goes for all colors.