Lodge Dutch Oven - 5 Qt or 7 Qt?

grill4us

Harbor Freight let me down - That made in China 6 Qt. Dutch Oven is going back.  So I'm going with the American made Lodge brand.  But I can't decide on a 5 qt or a 7 qt.  There's only 2 of us now.  Does anyone know the weight of each size?  The one I'm returning from Harbor Freight weighed around 20 lbs.  Also, I have a large egg and use the AR rig - right now no way to get the pot closer to the fire - I haven't gotten a spider yet.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Mattman3969

My 5qt works good on my small and is plenty for the 2 of us but the 7qt works good on the large when doing bigger cuts of meat for stews and always have bunch of leftovers.

XC242

Get one of each size.

henapple

Get the seven unless it's always just the two of you. Can fit 5 in 7...not 7 in 5.

Dobie

I like my 5 quart.

SGH

Go big or go home. 7 quart for sure. I can eat almost 5 quarts by myself.

keepervodeflame

I have the lodge 5 quart that has two short handles on the sides and a lid with matching handles and a flat back so it can be used as a stand alone pan when you need one. I find it to be a kamado workhorse and have used the lid to roast chickens, foo toppings of for steak and chops, sear meats and a whole host of other tasks. Heres a pic of the lid with some tomatoes, onions, garlic and white wine. 

Mattman3969

If you decide to go 5qt this is a good buy. I bought it to work with my small
http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L5HS3-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-Cookware/dp/B004QM8SLG/ref=sr_1_12?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1414115490&sr=1-12&keywords=lodge+dutch+oven

PNWFoodie

I'd go with the 7. You can always cook less, but can't ever cook more.

bcsnave

Check out KaTom restaurant... search lodge

Skiddymarker

For two the 5 is loads big enough, for more than two you will need the 7. The 8qt camp oven was on sale awhile ago, great buy if you need a large one. 

SWVABeanCounter

Go with the 7qt is my .02.  Chili seems to get better after it ages a day or two so I always want to make more than I'll eat in one serving.

tonyled

i have this one and love it.  the cover doubles as a skillet and since it has two small handles on the side instead of one long one it works really well on the egg

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L8DD3-Casserole-Skillet-5-Quart/dp/B000LEXR0K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414094021&sr=8-2&keywords=combo+cooker

fishlessman

7.5 quart enamelled lodge. i really like the enameled ones as you can put them in the fridge full of chili and eat from it for days
i just got another one the other day from a woman clearing space in her cabinets, i think she used it just once

tarheelmatt

I have the 5qt Lodge and it works well for my wife and I with plenty of leftovers.  

bettysnephew

I have the Lodge 5 qt. with the skillet lid for me and the Mrs. It is the same as another sited above. I have found I use the lid as a skillet mote than the DO. A bit cheaper at Wally World and free delivery to store. Also American made.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lodge-Logic-5-Quart-Cast-Iron-Double-Dutch-Oven/12554407

grill4us

I'm liking the idea of the 7 qt.  but I really think the lid on the 5 qt. double dutch oven is an asset.  I'm just not convinced I could cook a roast or a chicken in the 5 qt.  I checked out the recipes on the Lodge site and they all seem to use the larger camp ovens.  So I guess I'll continue to check this out.  Thanks everyone for your great advice.

SGH

@grill4us‌
Go ahead and get the 7 quart and be done with it

Ladeback69

I say go with the 7. I believe mine is 5, but there are times I wish it was bigger. I would like a 16, but can't justify it. Like others have said, you always put 5 qts in a 7 qt, but you can't put 7 qts in a 5 qt. I do, beanes, chili and soups in it. Go for it.

bcsnave

I just ordered a Lodge P12D3 ...7 qt..

 

 

SGH

Bravo sir^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

grill4us

Now I'm leaning toward the Lodge 9 qt. L12D03 from KaTom.  That way I think I should have enough room for anything I'm interested in making.  And it should still fit on a Large Egg.  Have to sleep on it, but I'm pretty sure!  I only want to buy one of these babies.  Room for all my toys is a problem.  

SGH

Bigger is better^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JRWhitee

I went with the 7 qt, like @SGH says, bigger is better.

SGH

@JRWhitee‌
Tellem brother Whitee.

Tjcoley

Definetly get the skillet lid. Great for deep dish pizza and other cooks.

Gogogordy

Cooked these short ribs in my 12 qt "camp Dutch oven" this weekend....

bcsnave

I went with the Lodge Pro

SMITTYtheSMOKER

I love my dutch ovens.  5qt, 7qt, 9qt as well a 12qt.  Beans and chili are favorites and sometimes we serve quite a few people, so bigger quanities are needed.

Bread in a 5 qt-

EgginATL42

I just got the 5qt with the skillet lid delivered yesterday (free shipping from Amazon Prime), and I can already see that I might need a 7qt at some point. I Usually only cook for the family, but I like to have leftovers. I'll keep this one, but I might have to prove to my wife that I need a bigger one. I'm going to try to replicate my stove top chicken paprikash recipe in it, so I'll see if have enough room.

grill4us

@GOGOGORDY - Those short ribs look great - but I'm confused.  Is the lump in the very bottom of the egg?  And what type of lump is that on the lid?