Le Creuset Dutch ovens have nice wide handles that are easy to grip with oven mitts. They are lighter than most other enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens available today. The 5.5-quart Dutch oven from Le Creuset weighs in at a little over 11 pounds. They have a light-colored interior, which allows you to visually monitor your food as it cooks. This is most useful when using high heat or developing a fond to make sure things aren’t burning.

Staub Dutch ovens (or cocottes, as the brand prefers to call them) are slightly heavier than Le Creusets—the 5.5-quart Staub had about a pound on the Le Creuset—but are still lighter than most other similarly sized Dutch ovens.

The Staub cocottes feature a matte black enamel interior in contrast to Le Creuset’s glossy off-white. Both interiors are nonstick-ish (they’ll never be quite as nonstick as a well-seasoned, uncoated cast-iron skillet), but the Staub’s black interior hides stains and signs of wear in a way that the interior of a Le Creuset can’t. The drawback of the Staub’s black enamel is that it can be harder to tell when things are sticking to the bottom of your pan or burning. For people comfortable in the kitchen this isn’t a huge deal, but for beginners who haven’t honed their cooking instincts, a dark interior may be less user-friendly.

The underside of Staub lids have “self-basting divots” for redistributing condensation during the cooking process. Le Creuset lids do not. In our testing we’ve yet to observe any noticeable impact these divots have had on the outcome of a dish.

Both pots, though, have very high-quality enamel coatings that resist chipping and limited lifetime warranties. I’ve seen their durability up close in my own head-to-head tests over the years and in continual use of both Le Creuset and Staub in the Bon Appétit test kitchen. Many of the more affordable Dutch ovens—particularly the true budget models from Lodge Essentials and Amazon Basics— tend to chip after a couple of years.

Beyond the color of their interiors, the other big difference between Staub and Le Creuset is their lids. A Le Creuset lid has a simple sloping curve that allows condensation to circulate down the inside edges of the pot. Newer Le Creuset lids have metal knobs that can withstand temperatures up to 500°, but you may come across an older one with a phenolic resin knob (plastic, basically), which is only ovensafe up to 390°, at which point it will start to melt.

The Staub lid has a metal knob and looks sort of like a hubcap. It has a central impression surrounded by an upraised outer ridge. According to Staub, the unique design has a functional purpose. The shape of the lid, along with several “self-basting” bumps on the underside is supposed to create top-down circulation of moisture that will keep liquid from escaping between the seam of the lid and the pot itself. This design feature has been replicated by many new Dutch ovens, however we’ve yet to notice any actual impact on the outcome of a dish.

So which should I get? Staub or Le Creuset?

In terms of performance, these two brands are more similar than they are different. So the choice between Staub and Le Creuset really comes down to personal preference around look and feel. I prefer Le Creuset due to its slightly lighter weight and beginner-friendly light interior, whereas my colleague and fellow Dutch oven tester Emily Farris prefers Staub for the sear it imparts on meat. They’re expensive pieces of cookware, but they’ll never need replacing if you take good care of them (hand-washing only, please), and they’ll never disappoint.

Perennial kitchen favorite Le Creuset is almost as well known for its rainbow of colors—including Artichaut, Marseille, and Cerise—as it is for its iconic bakeware items. So when the cookware brand decides to discontinue one of its most popular hues, it’s big news.

We’re sad to say Caribbean, a bright ocean-blue shade, is being retired and will be unavailable for purchase soon. If you need more pieces of this cookware to match your collection, now’s the time to buy. Le Creuset has discounted Dutch ovens, baking dishes, mugs, and more in this specific shade, up to 41% off, with some items already selling out.

Shop some of our favorite pieces from the Caribbean collection below.

Shop Our Picks From the Le Creuset Caribbean Sale

• 5.5-Quart Signature Round Dutch Oven, $335 (orig. $420)
• 9-Inch Signature Skillet, $140 (orig. $175)
• Heritage Rectangular Casserole, $108 (orig. $135)
• 2.25-Quart Signature Saucepan, $214 (orig. $268)
• Heritage Fluted Pie Dish, $45 (orig. $56)
• Vancouver Mugs, Set of 4, $76 (orig. $96)
• Heritage Butter Dish, $28, (orig. $35)
• Demi Kettle, $67 (orig. $84)
• Rectangular Dish with Platter Lid, $100 (orig. $125)

The classic Le Creuset Dutch oven is a must-have for home cooks. Crafted from enameled cast iron, it’s designed for a multitude of tasks, from slow cooking and braising to roasting, baking, and frying. Perfect for dishes like beef stew, roast chicken, soups, and more, the 5.5-quart serves 5-6 people. Plus, its easy-to-clean, beautiful blue porcelain enamel is dishwasher safe. The Caribbean shade is still available in 4.5- and 7.25-quart sizes as well.

Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron skillet is another kitchen essential that can be used for searing, sautéing, stir-frying, and more. The black satin interior is specially formulated for higher surface temperatures. The Caribbean color also comes in 10.25- and 11.75-inch sizes, too.

This 4-quart rectangular baking dish is perfect for baking desserts and casseroles, marinating meats, broiling fish, and more. The stoneware lid locks in moisture and heat while baking and makes it easy to carry dishes to potlucks without spilling. Plus, the vivid Caribbean glaze resists stains and flavor absorption.

Ideal for making sauces, side dishes, grains, and more, this saucepan features a tight-fitting lid designed to circulate steam and keep food moist—plus it has an extended handle for added control. It’s also available in a 1.75-quart size.

Complete your collection with these other Caribbean blue pieces before they’re gone for good.