Made In vs. Le Creuset: Which Dutch Ovens Are Better?

Are you shopping for a Dutch oven but need help deciding between Made In and Le Creuset?

Both brands make their enameled cast iron cookware in France, but which is better? What are the main differences?

In this comparison of Made In vs. Le Creuset, you’ll learn how their Dutch ovens differ in construction, design, performance, price, and more.

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Use these links to navigate the comparison:

• Made In vs. Le Creuset: Comparison Chart
• Weight and Thickness
• Heat Retention
• Exterior Colors
• Interior Color
• Lids
• Lid Knobs
• Handles
• Shapes
• Sizes
• Where It Is Made
• Other Products
• Price
• Common Complaints
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Made In or Le Creuset Dutch Oven?

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Made In vs. Le Creuset: Comparison Chart

The following chart provides a quick comparison of Made In vs. Le Creuset enameled cast iron Dutch ovens.

	Made In	Le Creuset
Construction	Enameled cast iron	Enameled cast iron
Exterior colors	5 colors	20+ colors
Interior colors	Sand or black	Sand
Handle Opening	.75 in	1.25 in
Lid	Dimpled	Domed
Lid Knob	Stainless or antique brass	Stainless, gold-plated, copper, iridescent, or black phenolic knobs
Shapes	Round and oval	Round, oval, specialty
Round Sizes (quarts)	5.5	2, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 7.25, 9, 13.25
Oval Sizes (quarts)	7.5	1, 2.75, 3.5, 5, 6.75, 8, 9.5, 15.5
Weight	13.4 pounds (5.5-quart)	11.5 pounds (5.5-quart)
Where It’s Made	Northeast, France	Fresnoy-le-Grand, France
First Launched	2022	1925
Price	$$$ (MadeInCookware.com, Amazon)	$$$$$ (LeCreuset.com, Amazon)
Top Reason to Buy	Thicker construction; better heat retention; lower price	Variety of colors, sizes, and shapes; proven track record; lightweight
Top Reason to NOT Buy	Limited options	High Price

Weight and Thickness

Although Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens are both made of cast iron and coated with multiple layers of enamel, their construction differs.

As you can see in the picture below, Made In’s Dutch oven has thicker walls. Because of that, the Made In 5.5-quart Dutch oven is nearly 2.5 pounds heavier than Le Creuset.

The Made In 5.5-quart Dutch oven weighs in at 13.4 lb. Le Creuset’s Dutch oven of the same size weighs 11.5 lb.

The added weight in the Made In Dutch oven makes it more difficult to move around, especially when it’s full of food or liquid. However, it also increases the cookware’s heat retention.

Heat Retention

Heat retention is an important factor to consider when buying any cookware, but it’s crucial in Dutch ovens.

Since Dutch ovens are often used for low and slow cooking, such as braising and stewing, you want one that holds heat well, so you can keep the burners low.

Heat retention is also important for consistency. As you add ingredients, you want the cookware to stay hot, so the food cooks evenly.

Thin pots heat up fast, but the temperature fluctuates as you add ingredients, increasing the risk of food burning or cooking unevenly.

So how do Made In and Le Creuset stack up in terms of heat retention?

To find out, I conducted a simple experiment. First, I poured 32 ounces of water into each Dutch oven. Then I set them both on the stove and turned the burners on high. After the water came to a boil, I took both Dutch ovens off the heat and set them aside.  

After ten minutes, the water in the Made In Dutch oven was 133.7°F.

The water in the Le Creuset Dutch oven was 129.4°F.

After another 10 minutes (20 minutes total), the water in the Made In Dutch oven was 108.1°F.

The water in the Le Creuset Dutch oven was 103°F.

Both Dutch ovens retain heat well, but since the Made In Dutch oven has thicker walls, it absorbs and retains heat slightly better than Le Creuset.

I conducted this test with other top-rated Dutch ovens to see how Made In and Le Creuset compare to the wider market. Below are the results:

Dutch Oven	Water Temperature (10 minutes)	Water Temperature (20 minutes)
Staub	136.2°F	111.3°F
Tramontina	134.1°F	108.8°F
Made In	133.7°F	108.1°F
Cuisinart	128.4°F	107.2°F
Lodge	130.8°F	105.6°F
Le Creuset	129.4°F	103.5°F
Great Jones	128.6°F	102.3°F

Exterior Colors

With over 20 exterior colors and a mix of solid shades, ombre (two-tone) hues, and patterns, Le Creuset is the clear winner in color variety.

Le Creuset Dutch oven colors vary by shape and size, but the mid-range sizes (3.5-quart to 7.25-quart) feature the most choices.

Made In features four solid exterior colors: ash grey, antique white, harbour blue, and Made In red. It also offers one ombre color: blood orange.

The green Made In Dutch oven featured in this comparison is not currently available.

Interior Color

Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens feature a light, sand-colored interior.

Because the interior is light, it’s easier to keep an eye on browning and fond development — the caramelized brown bits that stick to the pan after searing meat or vegetables. But the light interior is more challenging to keep clean.

If you prefer a dark interior, Made In offers one option: the ash grey Dutch. Its black interior hides stains well but makes it more difficult to monitor browning.

Made In and Le Creuset both offer enameled cast iron skillets with black interior cooking surfaces. The black enamel on these pieces has a coarser texture (compared to the light enamel), perfect for grilling, searing, and developing a caramelized crust on food.

Lids

Another difference between Made In and Le Creuset is the lids.

All Le Creuset Dutch oven lids are domed and feature a smooth interior.

Made In’s Dutch oven lid interior is different. The exterior is smooth, but the interior features a series of small dimples.

The dimples stick out, creating a self-basting system — moisture collects on the dimples and drops evenly onto the food below.

This self-basting system distributes moisture more evenly over the food, but it won’t make a major difference in taste or tenderness.

All else equal, I’ll take the Dutch oven with the dimples. But should it be the main reason you buy one brand over the other? No.

Lid Knobs

Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens both come with interchangeable lid knobs, allowing you to change the look of your cookware.

Made In features two knob styles. Both are circular and flat on top. The Dutch oven comes with a stainless steel knob, but you can upgrade to an “antique-style” stainless steel knob with a brass finish.

Le Creuset offers multiple lid knob options, including:

• Stainless steel
• Light gold
• Signature gold
• Copper
• Black phenolic
• Iridescent

Most knobs are circular with a thick stem, but Le Creuset also features specialty-shaped knobs shaped like hearts and flowers.

The black phenolic knob is textured and offers a better grip than the metal options. All knobs have Le Creuset etched into the top.

Comparing the shape of Made In and Le Creuset knobs, the stem of Made In’s lid knobs is longer and thinner, making it easier to grip because of the extra room.

From the lid to the underside of the lid knob is 1.1 inches on Made In; with Le Creuset, the distance is 0.8 inches.

Handles

Made In has wide, flat handles. At 0.75 inches, the handle opening is narrow, with just enough space for your fingers. The Made In logo is in raised print across each handle.

Le Creuset has thinner loop-style handles. At 1.25 inches, the handles have a wider opening than Made In, making them easier to grip if you are wearing an oven mitt or heat-resistant gloves.

Shapes

Le Creuset offers round, oval, and specialty-shaped Dutch ovens. For example, they offer pumpkin-shaped Dutch ovens in the fall and heart-shaped cookware around Valentine’s Day.

They also have shallow Dutch ovens with shorter walls and wider bases. These are ideal for searing and browning because you have fit more meat on the cooking surface without overcrowding.

When Made In launched its Dutch ovens in 2022, round was the only shape offered. However, in March 2023, they released their first oval Dutch oven (7.5 quarts). Made In constantly adds new products to its lineup, so expect more shapes and sizes to become available in the coming months.

While you can cook most meals with a round Dutch oven on a stovetop or in the oven, the oval designs come in handy when cooking foods like long cuts of brisket, beef roasts, and whole carrots.

Read this comparison of round vs. oval Dutch ovens to learn more and get advice on how to choose.

Sizes

One of Le Creuset’s advantages over Made In is the number of sizes they offer.

Le Creuset offers round and oval Dutch ovens ranging from 1.5 quarts to 13+ quarts.

With Made In, you only have two options: 5.5 quarts (round) and 7.5 quarts (oval). However, these are the two most common sizes.

Where It Is Made

Made In and Le Creuset make their enameled cast iron cookware in France. Both brands work with skilled craftspeople with decades of experience in crafting cookware. But Le Creuset manufactures its own, whereas Made In outsources the task.

Made In’s business model relies on partnering with the most skilled makers of each type of cookware it offers. As a result, they work with partners around the globe in locales like Italy and France (where Made In makes its Dutch ovens).

Le Creuset is made in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France — the birthplace of the brand. Since 1925, Le Creuset has kept its manufacturing in-house and in the same foundry.

Other Products

Made In offers a variety of cookware types. It has a more diverse product offering than Le Creuset.

Le Creuset is known for its enameled cast iron cookware. It’s the brand’s specialty.

With Made In, you get a choice of the following cookware:

• Stainless steel clad
• Carbon steel
• Copper
• Non-stick
• Enameled cast iron

Made In also makes knives; knife accessories; porcelain, ceramic, or aluminum bakeware, and tabletop items like plates and flatware.

Check out the full lineup on MadeInCookware.com or read my Made In review to learn more.

Le Creuset offers a variety of enameled cast iron cookware options, from skillets and grill pans to saucepans and Dutch ovens.

However, the brand also makes:

• Stainless steel clad cookware
• Hard-anodized aluminum non-stick pans
• Stoneware for baking
• Kitchen knives and tools
• Tabletop items
• Tea kettles and other specialty cookware

Check out the full lineup on LeCreuset.com and Amazon or read my Le Creuset review to learn more.

Price

One of the most notable differences between Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens is their price.

Made In is significantly less expensive than Le Creuset. It’s about half the price for the same size (5.5-quart).

Made In can sell its cookware for less because its direct-to-consumer model doesn’t require a markup from third-party sellers like department stores.

So, if you are looking for a high-quality, mid-range-sized enameled cast iron Dutch oven, go with Made In to save some money.

Le Creuset’s pricing for its Dutch ovens varies by size. For perspective, the smaller options are more affordable, running about $300 or less. The larger pieces can exceed $500.

Compare today’s prices by clicking the links below:

• Made In Dutch ovens on MadeInCookware.com and Amazon
• Le Creuset Dutch ovens on LeCreuset.com and Amazon

Common Complaints

Both brands produce well-made cookware with few complaints about workmanship or performance.

However, neither brand is perfect. Here are the most common complaints about Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens.

Made In’s complaints include:

• The Dutch oven is too heavy.
• It only comes in one size.
• Flaws in the enamel coating
• The enamel is so thick it’s difficult to read the words on the bottom of the Dutch oven.
• The handle openings are small and difficult to grip while wearing oven mitts.

Le Creuset’s main complaint is that it is expensive, but people also complain that the enameled cast iron cookware is heavy, the exterior stains easily, and it takes a while to heat up (but that is true for any cast iron cookware).

I’ve also noticed an accumulation of tiny scratches on the interior enamel. Although these surface scratches don’t impact performance, the pot doesn’t look as flawless and pretty as it did right out of the box.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Made In or Le Creuset Dutch Oven?

Now that you know the facts about Made In and Le Creuset Dutch ovens, which brand is best for you?

Before I share my recommendation, let’s quickly recap the main differences.

• Made In Dutch ovens are heavier, but the thicker construction holds heat longer.
• Le Creuset has the most colors, sizes, and shapes of Dutch ovens.
• All Le Creuset Dutch ovens have a light-colored interior; Made In offers one with a dark interior.
• Made In Dutch oven lids have raised dimples on the interior that self-baste food, resulting in a more even moisture distribution.
• While both have interchangeable knobs, Le Creuset offers six options to Made In’s two.
• Made In’s lid knobs are easier to grip because the stems are longer and thinner.
• Le Creuset handles have wider loops, making it easier to pick up with an oven mitt or bulky oven gloves.
• Both brands make Dutch ovens in France, but Le Creuset’s are made in-house, while Made In contracts out for manufacturing.
• Le Creuset Dutch ovens are significantly more expensive.

Bottom line — Made In Dutch ovens have thicker construction, retain heat better, and come with self-basting lids. For half the price, it’s hard to beat the value of Made In.

However, there’s a certain prestige that comes with Le Creuset. It’s the gold standard of enameled cast iron cookware — they’ve been perfecting the craft since 1925. Plus, few brands offer as many colors and sizes as Le Creuset.

Ultimately, you’ll be happy with either brand. But if your primary goal is to get the best-performing Dutch oven at the best value, go with Made In.

If you have a particular color or size in mind and are okay paying a premium for the peace of mind that comes with a century-old brand, Le Creuset is a worthy investment.

Read more reviews and compare current prices at the links below:

• Made In Dutch ovens on MadeInCookware.com and Amazon
• Le Creuset Dutch ovens on LeCreuset.com and Amazon