Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole Review

Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole $89.99

6 QT

Normally $149.99

Have you been waiting to find a great sale on Le Creuset or Staub to get some of the best cookware into your kitchen for less? We’ll have a more in depth review of the piece further down in the article but I’d like to point out this item is buy worthy and works incredibly well for the money. This sale only lasts until this Sunday. If you want to add a cast iron enamel piece to your kitchen or get a great Mother’s Day gift instead of the usual fluff marketed on the weekend before the holiday, then this price makes it pretty affordable!

I own a Staub 8 QT oval, a Le Creuset 2.5 QT wide round, and now a Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole 6 QT. In initial quality I’d rate them all very similar. The Le Creuset and the Martha Stewart both brown delicate foods better than the Staub because they also have enameled interior. The Staub is just raw cast iron inside. The Staub needs to be re-seasoned often despite saying otherwise in their warranty. All of these pots are susceptible to scorching if turned up too high because of how well they conduct heat.  You can sear and cook food at lower temperatures than you would with non-stick cookware. They preform best in the oven and the Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole can go up to 500 F because of it’s stainless steel handles. I’ve seen plenty of budget pieces that won’t go as high as the nicer brands which is one reason the Martha Stewart is a real competitor. You must also take care in cleaning them because the finish is delicate and areas that aren’t enameled can rust, like the edges of the lids and pot. The packaging on the pot is great so if you can’t get to Macy’s to buy one in person, don’t worry about shipping it. I got the green apple shade because I thought it would look nice in my new kitchen and I’ve already got a purple and blue piece in my collection. I appreciate that the line comes in fun pop colors but also has classics like dark blue, white, and black for people who like to keep it classic! The piece also comes with a lifetime warranty.

You can see the raw edges. These can rust if they remain wet and sit.

The Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole cooks as well as the top dollar brands. I find this particular size is best for one pot pastas, casseroles, and soups! This makes soups taste super flavorful in a very short amount of time because you can brown your meat and veggies in the same pot! For braising, I think I’ll still use my Staub because of it’s shape which has more bottom surface area so you can fit more items in it before it crowds. The Martha Stewart piece is also great for making small batches of stock. You can roast in and transfer it to the stove top for the liquid portion without wasting any of the good browned bits.

As for the lasting quality of the piece, I can’t say how it might hold up against my other brands. I use it two to three times a week. I store in it, serve in it, and cook in it. I’ve only had it for a month and it’s looking great! Since all 3 brands are close in seeming initial quality, I’ll assume it will hold up well. The Le Creuset has a proprietary process for the enamel coating, so in total quality I think the finish on it might be more lasting than this one. The Staub is much thicker walled and heavy compared to this one, so it probably retains heat a bit better than this one. They all offer a lifetime warranty! Sure, Martha doesn’t have the same cachet as the European brands but it does offer a similar cooking experience for a much lower price point. Even at the non-sale price it’s still a bargain compared to the price of the other two for this size. I’d certainly recommend this to anyone especially those with small kitchens because it can fill multiple roles and still look good if it’s out on a counter or stays on the stove top like mine does! Overall, I give this piece an A-!

Do you have a Martha Stewart Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron Round Casserole? Do you have something to add to the review? If so feel free to leave your feedback in the comments below!