Customer Reviews

Bayou Classic 16-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Dutch Oven Lid and Perforated Aluminum Basket

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Got a fantastic deal on this with FREE SHIPPING. Whoo-Hoo! (This thing weighs a ton.)
Well made and solid. It does have a tendency to list a bit (off balance) when lifted by the handle (assuming you could, in fact, lift it when full).

This works great on open fires, grill, gas and electric burners, and especially our induction cooktop. I can cook corn on the cob for a whole party (and have on numerous occasions). Its great for gobs of chili too.

Haven't used it for deep frying. Too much oil to fill it (i.e., haven't had the need yet).

We have been looking for a Dutch Oven this size for about 5 months. We really liked the Bayou Classic because the lid is actually functional. The reason we have not purchased before is the shipping was almost as much as the oven. Super Saver Shipping saved the day. Oven is of good quality, not quite like they used to make them in Grandma's day. We have been pleased so far.

This dutch oven is made well. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that the thickness on the sides is a little inconsistent. It appears to be a little thicker in some areas. This doesn't interfere with the use of the product nor the quality of items cooked.

This product is made in china to very low quality standards. I recieved two of these 16 qt cast iron dutch ovens and one has a handle that is .190" thick and the other has a .152" handle. Both were dropped shipped from the manufacturer at the same time yet different handles. The lid is a very poor fit. One lid was so badly warped that it has a 1/4" gap between the the pot and lid, I called the manufacturer and was told that this is normal. The lid is suppose to be usable as a griddle, but it is not flat, it is a dome shape. The lid also no longer has the alligator on it like the one pictured here at amazon. I also found the wax coating very difficult to remove, I ended up having to burn off the wax with a propane burner. The seasoning instructions say to use warm soapy water to remove paraffin wax coating, but that does not work very well. The finish is very rough when compaired to cast iron that was made in the USA. If you don't care about quality and want some very crude chinese cast iron to use outside then Bayou Classic is for you.

This item was very reasonably priced, delivered on time and intact (apparently others have had delivery issues) and performed as expected. Having said that, let me add it isn't designed to be pretty, it's for cooking. The fit, form and function are exactly what is needed for producing great flavored bulk cooking. This isn't one of those beautiful Le Creuset pots, and isn't supposed to be. It's one quarter (or less) the price, and is designed to be buried in embers, without damage to the finish.

I gave it a 4 star rating because I had to "season" it prior to use. If seasoned from the factory, it would definitely rate 5 stars.

DO NOT TRY TO USE IT WITHOUT DOING MULTIPLE SEASONINGS! It will rust quite easily.

This 16 quart pot will make enough Osso Bucco for a platoon!

I've read a few of the other reviews regarding shipping problems with this item. It seemed like I might have been taking a risk of having problems myself. After all I'm purchasing a 47 pound item and getting free shipping. I'm sure that Amazon... or whoever the vendor is... wasn't going to absorb the cost of providing a secure crate to ship this item as a freebie option. In some eyes that is fair.

Nevertheless, I took a chance. I got my item in a reasonable amount of time. Yes, I took the freebie shipping option and I got an undamaged product. I can't say that the negative reviewers were over reacting to their problems as I have no difficulty imagining what happened to them.

For sure, I received my product in the same box that one would find on the shelf at a local store. Yes, the cardboard is flimsy. There was no foam, paper or anything to absorb shock from any banging, dropping, etc. It had the plastic strappings (thankfully!!)... but the box surely took a beating somewhere... likely during the shipping process. It held together... barely... but all in all there were no cracks in the iron pot or lid.

I'm happy with the outcome... but I truly think that one is taking a roll of the dice here. I don't know if upgrading the shipping will provide a more secure shipping package or not... but at nearly 50 pounds for the pot... you're going to pay a pretty penny for upgraded shipping. Would be wise to make contact to confirm that you're getting a better shipping package when upgrading... or learn from others' experiences and perhaps you can demand getting better packaging with free shipping.

Depending on how bad you want the item... it might be worth it.

Hey it's great, but I do wish I had sprung for one that was pre-seasoned. If you do get this one, use your Wesson oil, DO NOT use shortning, it will smoke so badly that you have to put up with agonizing eye watering smoke for hours, plus it leaves residue on everything. Whereas, vegetable oil at about 300 degrees is much more tolerable, though it still smells. Suit Yourselves.

This would be a great product, if you can actually get one UNDAMAGED from Amazon. I received the first pot, with a small crack in the lid, so I requested a replacement from Amazon (Ohh and the first pot had been returned and re-sent to about a half dozen people, as indicated by the half dozen different UPS labels all over the box.. Beware of Amazon resending damaged goods!)

The second pot came in, RUSTED and with a HUGE crack down the entire side. OK, Amazon, get a clue. Obviously the thin cardboard box these 50lb pots come in is NOT enough padding to prevent shipping damage.

You can get these same pots for the same price from Target or Home Depot, so maybe I'll try there since all Amazon would do is refund my money after pot #2 came in damaged..

These pots are not pre-seasoned, which is a bit of a pain (and hence, my 2nd pot came in with lots of rust.)

And, Amazon, re-shipping damaged goods to other people, hoping they won't notice the "small" crack, is really unethical.. Buyer beware of Amazon :< I never realized they would do something like that, and it really dropped my opinion of Amazon.

I got this large dutch oven for a stone soup party we have every year. We make stone soup over a camp fire every fall. In previous years I had used two smaller ones. One large one works so much better for both the effect and for practical reasons.

The pot arrived in great shape. I seasoned it on my gas grill. My only concern is that the lid doesn't fit well with the handle up. When you lift up the handle, it pushes the lid off to the side. The lid could use a bigger lip that fits inside the oven and the handle could be a little wider.

All-in-all I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Heavy casted. Basket included is nice. Best c.i. oven for price I've found.