Others say...

"Mario knows his stuff"
Just received and used the M.Batali 6-quart essentials pot.This is a fine piece of cookware! Our coq-a-vin was just perfect. The pot cleaned easily and looked very professional and well built. No need to buy the expensive French brand.

"Fantastic investment"
I am so impressed with Mario Batali's enamel cast iron dutch oven. I make crusty bread in it and just love using it. Cleaning is a breeze with the enamel coat. What a joy not having to "season" the cast iron. I would encourage anyone interested in buying a dutch oven to purchase this one. Can't go wrong. It arrived in a timely manner and in perfect condition.

"Basic concept is novel, but poor design prevails"
I have owned this pot for almost 4 months. I am the one who posted pictures of the lid. This pot has performed wonders for me and has been the reason I have been able to serve up some absolutely delicious dinners. I read most of the reviews here before purchasing the pot, and decided I could live with some of the issues people were complaining about. So when I received my pot, I did notice a few small places that were pitted in the finish. Mine were in the bottom of the pot. They were very small though, and remain so. (Although, since the cast iron is exposed, or almost exposed, in these areas that appear to have been tiny bubbles that arose during the finishing process, I suspect they will get bigger as moisture gets under the enamel in these areas.)

Eager to put it to work, I brushed off the small pits as something I could live with. And also, I wasn't eager to pay what Le Creuset was asking for their pots, so I thought this was a smart purchase because I was getting the most bang for my dollar.

Since I have owned the pot (4 months remember), I have used extreme care not to set it down hard, not to let it bang into a counter or oven, to use extreme care when hand-washing it and to store it in a safe place. Shortly after I had cooked with it a few times, the enamel on one of the self-basting bumps was gone (assuming somebody probably ate it in a piece of their roast). Not long after that, another bump was missing its enamel. And, so now there are about 8 or so bumps that are missing enamel and some have started to show signs of rust.

Here's my conclusion, I think the principal of cooking with an enamel-covered cast iron pot is terrific. There probably are numerous variances between what makes a quality pot and what doesn't. Far more than I am aware of, particularly since I am no expert. However, I think the inside lid of this pot is similar to any painted surface. A flat surface more easily holds paint than a textured surface. That being said, I may have been asking for TOO much for my money when I bought this pot, because I thought I was getting an added bonus by buying one that was also "self-basting". Turns out, a plain pot would have probably lasted longer. At the rate this lid is losing its enamel, I probably have another year of use before I pitch it. Cast iron pots are supposed to last a lifetime. Adding enamel isn't supposed to make them disposable. I can see where adding enamel would pose some issues, but this pot is just poorly designed. Using Mario's name, and the lure of "self-basting" are just the manufacturer's attempt at product differentiation. It really doesn't benefit the consumer.

Additionally, I read another review that complained about the pot staining on the bottom. The same thing happened with me. I braised a roast and cooked it in the oven a few times. Had a miraculous roast as a result, but the brown staining in the bottom of the pot is impossible to get out.

I recommend getting a plain enamel-covered cast iron pot. In principal, they do perform miracles with meat. Just don't get one with any fancy bells or whistles like this one. In the end, for what I end up paying to replace this one, I could have bought a Le Creuset.



"Mario's pot rules!!!"
Best dang pot I have ever used in my whole life. Inexpensive, heavy, qualilty and easy to clean. Don't buy a higher priced unit, this one will do the job quite well.

"More than expected"
I absolutely love the Mario Batali 6 quart pot I got for my birthday. it is everything I want in a dutch oven. I am looking forward to getting more of his cookware.