I have a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, which I love! S called last night and asked me to send him one (he’s doing a lot of baking!), well, that’s not happening for something I know he will give away at the end of the year.
Any low cost, but good quality recs. would be appreciated. I found a few on Amazon, but am not sure of the quality ie Crock Pot / Lodge / Amazon Basics. Thanks in advance 
Look into Lodge. Reasonable prices on Amazon, Target. Good remarks from ATK, Consumer Reports.
Might be able to score a good deal with upcoming Amazon Prime days and I bet other retailers will be matching.
https://www.target.com/p/lodge-6qt-cast-iron-enamel-dutch-oven-blue/
ATK also recommends Cuisinart which is a little higher than Lodge.
https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/503-dutch-oven-shopping-guide
My son, who cooks a lot, has Lodge.
I have a Lodge cast iron Dutch oven, but I certainly wouldn’t toss it away at the end of the year.
I would send Lodge. Personally, I’ve used Le Creuset and Lodge and I prefer Lodge.
I don’t mean to imply he will toss it away, however, last year I bought him a very nice down comforter, a Nespresso machine, a mini fridge, very expensive text books, a jacket for the Arctic, and a few other things which didn’t come home with him when he evacuated campus, and he either gave it away before he left or doesn’t know where they are!
With the votes for Lodge, he lives a few blocks from Target, I’ll tell him to go get one there today. Much easier than sending!
I have a Crofton Dutch oven bought from Aldi that has served me well for a couple of years now. I see that they have it in stores this week for $30 if that is an option for your son to go to.
I agree with his going out and buying it, rather than your sending it-- cast iron is heavy!
Edited to add: If he wants it primarily to bake no-knead bread, then it’s best to get one on the smaller side. I initially bought a Lodge 5 Qt. (not enameled) but found it a bit larger than I liked for my bread recipe-- the dough spreads out too flat. Now I use a 3.5 qt. Masterclass ECI pot I bought at Marshall’s earlier this year.
I bought D1 a Martha Stewart dutch oven from Macy’s and she really likes it.
I bought this one for my D1 on Amazon a couple years ago - great because it shipped for free and I think I paid in the 50ish range. She uses it regularly. Check the different colors because prices really vary.
I bought one at Aldi two years ago this time of year for as @AnAsmom said for $30 and it works perfect, cleans great - there were only two color choices but at that price (and it’s a good size) fully worth it.
I bake no-knead bread in 4qt covered corning bakeware.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Corningware-French-White-4-Quart-Oval-Casserole-with-Glass-Cover/54593074?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&&adid=22222222227048250416&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=146919391679&wl4=aud-261800281660:pla-88817069817&wl5=1014570&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=54593074&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjwt4X8BRCPARIsABmcnOpY1VJl6wRkRyaH1DIwV-OukKhob4ZTRwFEAwpiArc7s1TZbzfQ2eIaAt8WEALw_wcB
I was in Costco yesterday and spotted these -
https://www.costco.com/tramontina-enameled-cast-iron-dutch-oven%2C-2-pack.product.100690152.html
Looks like they’re unavailable on costco.com but they had them in the store in red and blue.
Sending it isn’t a problem when you order it from Amazon and have it sent directly to him.
Oops forgot to link to the one I bought on Amazon a couple years ago
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N4WN08/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
@momo2x2018 , you might ask him if he wants a CAST IRON (like in post #11) or an enamel one (like mine above). I love my cast iron skillets but I prefer my dutch oven to be enamel inside.
This probably won’t impact decision for strong young lad … but I’ve picked up some VERY heavy dutch ovens at the store - almost too heavy for me even before adding food.
Lodge makes both cast iron and enameled cast iron. For a Dutch oven, like @abasket, I’d got the enameled route.`
Thank you all! I purchased the enameled Lodge, it should be there tomorrow.
I LOVE/HATE Amazon Prime!
Good choice. That’s what I have and work it hard, and it’s been great.
We love our Le Creuset Dutch ovens, but we would probably get our our daughter the Lodge or Tramontina enameled.
If the dutch oven will be used for baking bread, just make sure the lid knob is metal and not resin (not an issue with Lodge) which can warp and break the seal at very high oven temps. I’ve gotten all of mine (no brand) at Home Goods/Marshalls for under $50. They’re just as good at the two Le Creusets I inherited.
I’ve been looking for a dutch oven for myself but didn’t want to spent $350 on a le Creuset so I’ve been following the thread. Just went to amazon to put a Lodge enameled on my wishlist and it says the 7.5 qt is 18 pounds?!? Is that right?