Rated 5 out of 5 by CarC from Great oval oven I have both the 4.25qt and 8.5qt oval Staubs in sapphire. The 4.25qt is great as it fits in my countertop oven with the lid on (regular knob vs rooster), and it is just big enough for a 4-5lb chicken/roast. It's a great size for my 2-person household, allowing for leftovers. You can brown on stovetop with ease on a regular burner in the 4.25qt. I'll note that you can put parchment paper between the lid and the roast to make cleanup easier. The 8.5 qt can of course fits twice that amount but requires 2 burners on the stovetop to brown. This pot is more suited to the preparation made in the full-size oven. It's great for gatherings and large roasts or full rib racks.The weight of the pot is substantial; it still fits in my oversized sink. Both sit on display in my kitchen as the cookware is very attractive and cleans up with ease. My experience with the other French ovens are not as good in this regard.

Rated 3 out of 5 by Wanger1993 from Why no Brass Pineapple any more My first purchase was a 4qt with brass pineapple. The pineapple sold me over buying LeC. Pure Class look! But the other pots i just bought only have knobs or an animal. Where can I get extra pineapples? Tired emailing corp 3 times with not response. Great pots but poor customer service. Help

Rated 5 out of 5 by DianaBaylie from It's a workhorse! I've had mine for about 4 years now, complete with the rooster finial, and it gets a LOT of use in my kitchen. I use the heck out of that thing, both stove top and in the oven, and it looks as good now as when I bought it. It looks so good that I keep it on an open shelf because the color and that rooster are so darn cute. It cooks evenly, doesn't scorch the food on the bottom when full (unless you never stir, but then that's on you), cleans up pretty easily (hand wash, obviously) and looks good doing it. Yeah it's heavy, you will not be able to pour anything out of it holding with one hand, but that's not a "con," since a heavy old-fashioned cast iron cocotte is exactly what it's supposed to be. This is a good-looking workhorse that will one day go to my daughter - that's how long I think it will last.

Rated 4 out of 5 by LisaBB from Beautiful cocotte I ordered this a few days ago and it was delivered today, very well packed (in a Staub box, inside another box, and inside a third shipping box) and in perfect condition. It came with the rooster finial and a plain round one. I usually buy the other French brand of dutch ovens, but I wanted one with the black enamel interior for browning meats. I got this one on sale, the Sesame color, and it is a bit darker than it looks in the online photos, more like a taupe color, but very nice. I haven't used it yet but I look forward to using it on the stovetop to brown meats and finishing the dish in the oven. I'm very happy with this purchase! Only four stars because I just opened it, haven't used it yet! It's a bit heavy (about 15lbs), but I still have the strength to lift it when it's full of food (well, for now!). A perfect addition to my growing cast iron cookware collection!

Rated 5 out of 5 by Eri3 from Simply Excellent I researched Staub and Le Creuset and was happy to see that Staub's black enameled interior is special. When I made coq au vin last week, the chicken cooked quickly both in the oven and on the stove top. I love the blue color--so elegant. This is a treasure I will use for many dishes! Worth the money!

Rated 5 out of 5 by KBTmom from Hardworking Dutch Oven that is Gorgeous I've never owned a dutch oven, even though I have a lot of kitchen items! I cook almost all of our meals either inside or outside (gas grill and kamado grill). This is a welcome addition to my kitchen. Growing up, I remember my aunt cooking with LC. After some research, I chose Staub. I prefer the dark enamel interior which has been easy to clean. And the basting system in the lid works really well. I chose grenadine, which is stunning! All the colors are beautiful. Personally, the oval shape was the way to go for a first piece, working well with a chicken (well, our family prefers capons) or roast as well as standard recipes. The flat bottom allows you to have a large area to brown meat vs the rounded bottoms. The size is also versatile for many recipes, but larger families (6 or more) might want to consider a bigger version. This oven is fairly heavy, but all cast iron ovens will be heavy. The rooster finial is great. A whimsical touch that is also very practical! The larger uneven shape makes grabbing the lid with an oven mitt very easy and secure. It is large to store, but luckily I have plenty of cabinet storage. My favorite recipe in this dutch oven is America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated French Style Pot Roasted Pork Loin. I was surprised to find the best pork roast I have ever tasted after only 1 hour in a 225 degree oven. It was tender and juicy and flavorful - and reheated the next day to be just as good... Now to find more good recipes!

Rated 4 out of 5 by Kndred1 from Missing Rooster Finial ! Just purchased the item at a WS retail store and excited to use my Saphire Blue Coq Au Vin.... but I did not get the rooster finial with my purchase. I only found out that it was supposed to be included by reading online. IF you purchase, make sure you get both the rooster and round finial :(