Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5-qt Tall Cocotte, Made in France, Serves 5-6, Matte Black

TL;DR SUMMARY RATING:4 ½ stars -- i.e. 5 stars for durability, uniquely useful form-factor (the higher sides really do make a difference), and Staub’s black ceramic lining’s trademark imperviousness to prolonged exposure to acidic ingredients; minus ½ star for handles that, while fully sealed against rust and liquids, are disconcertingly rough to the touch.MAIN REVIEW:Don’t let this cocotte’s unfinished-feeling handles dissuade you: The Staub 5 Quart Tall Cocotte is fully coated (no bare cast iron) and so ready to bring its unique, stockpot-like shape to non-reactive battle with your most acidic ingredients that it might benefit even folks who already own Staub cocottes of other dimensions/volumes.How do I know? Because while the Staub 5 Quart Tall Cocotte's marriage of a practical, midsized volume and a space-saving, tall, slim, stockpot-like profile has during my 14 months of ownership proven handy for myriad tasks in my small apartment's tiny kitchen -- with the cocotte's tall sides as useful for reducing spatters when roasting or frying as they are for providing extra headroom when braising leafy greens like spinach, collards, or kale -- I bought one mainly to make lemony soups in a smaller, slimmer vessel than the larger Staub cocotte I already owned.Let me explain. During long Great Lakes winters, I make a weekly mega-batch of veggie soup out of bulk-purchased, dried veggies long-simmered in stock, aromatics, olive oil, and spices over low heat for 12 to 18 hours. Critically, at several junctures during this process, I add ample lemon and/or lime juice to help tenderize the rehydrating veggies, brighten and deepen the soup's flavors, and keep my salt usage low.This penchant for long-simmered, citrus-accented soup creates specific cookware needs -- as I discovered almost 10 years ago, when I banished all Teflon-coated cookware from my kitchen for a minimalist, gradually-assembled collection of stainless steel, raw cast iron, carbon steel, and enameled cast iron. I soon learned that while stainless steel and enameled cast iron are generally non-reactive when cooking with acidic ingredients, independent cookware studies and cookware manufacturers' guidance caution that long-simmered recipes heavy on acidic ingredients can cause stainless steel vessels to pit or leach.Thus, back in 2013, I took advantage of an online cookware retailer's clearance sale to snag a ginormous, 9 Quart Staub Cocotte for my weekly mega-batches of citrus-laced veggie soup. Alas, in recent years, having left my office job to work from home, I've found myself wanting to make smaller batches of soup for which my witch's-cauldron-sized, 9 Quart Staub Cocotte -- while still chip-free, rust-free, and gorgeous after nearly a decade of regular use -- is often too capacious, too unwieldy, or too covetous of stovetop real estate when I’m using other burners simultaneously.Enter Staub's 5 Quart Tall Cocotte -- Staub’s first stockpot-shaped cocotte -- which I purchased in Matte Black in 2021 (after a 2-year wait for a sale price) because it mimics the slim, space-saving form-factor of my favorite stainless-steel stockpot (i.e. Cuisinart 6-Quart Stockpot w/Cover, Stainless Steel), sans stainless steel’s susceptibility to pit or leach when subjected to my citrus-laced soups week after week.And although I initially worried that its unfinished-feeling handles -- which are much rougher to the touch than those of my other Staub enameled cast iron products -- sported exposed cast iron (as many other online consumers have also wondered), the 5 Quart Tall Cocotte’s handles have indeed proved coated with a durable sealant as sturdy and non-reactive as those on its smooth-handled, Staub 9 Quart Cocotte big sister. No chips, rusting, or wear during the past 14 months of weekly lemony soup nirvana. Score!With the volume of Staub's 4 Quart Cocotte a little too small for my needs, and the squat dimensions of Staub's 5.5 Quart Cocotte wider and lower than the slim, high-sided profile I wanted in a midsized cocotte, Staub's 5 Quart Tall Cocotte provides a 'Goldilocks' form-factor I’ve found ‘just right.’ YMMV.TL;DR UPSHOT:IMHO after 14 months of regular use of Staub’s 5 Quart Tall Cocotte, this characteristically durable, versatile, and acidic-ingredient-impervious cocotte is unique enough -- with a form-factor found nowhere else in Staub’s enameled cast iron line -- that even folks who already own Staub cocottes of other capacities/shapes might consider adding the 5 Quart Tall to their kitchen arsenals. YMMV.

Staub is one of my favorite cookware brands. I like cast iron and have a lot of it including two enameled cast iron Dutch ovens from well known brands (but they were actually made in China). I inherited one of them from my Dad and purchased the other before I knew about French enameled cast iron cookware in general and Staub in particular. My Dad and I had the idea to compare the two brands and both seemed to be of good quality and they lasted for years, but they were far from perfect -- the enamel on one of them was easily chipped and the interior of the other one developed cracking and the surface started to flake off. In the intervening years, I discovered Staub and started building up a collection; the quality of the materials and workmanship is amazing. They are beautifully finished with several layers of gorgeous enamel (that resists chipping) and they are very heavy with a durable matte black interior. The lids are self-basting. They are pricey so I would usually purchase a different piece for the holidays each year. Sort of a gift to myself. I have two of the figural pieces (the tomato and the pumpkin -- so charming! but useful, too) the medium-sized coq-au-vin, a 3.75 quart French oven and three of the Dutch ovens (4 quart, 5.5 quart and 7 quart). I thought my collection was complete, although I wouldn't have minded if someone gifted me the cute artichoke figural piece). Anyway, I had been using my Dad's Dutch oven as a designated pot for making yogurt, cream of wheat and oatmeal when I noticed the flaking. I liked using it for this purpose because it was taller than my Staub Dutch ovens. I was so happy to see that Staub had introduced a tall version of the 5-quart Dutch oven, and I ordered it in the matte black. It looks great and It is perfect for so many things -- yogurt, of course but also soups and stews or baking bread. The size is versatile and it is just right for smaller families. The price was $199.99 when I purchased mine, and I thought that was a good deal. I have been looking for a Christmas gift for my SIL (a great cook) and I see they are now only $149.99! I also see there are great new colors available, too! This Dutch oven is definitely worth the price as Staub enameled cast iron is gorgeously finished, well-made, robust and durable + everything I make in these pots come out flavorful and delicious. It is 10 times better than the less expensive enameled cast iron I previously used. My older ones still look brand new. I know I will be passing all of my beautiful Staub pieces down to my children and grandchildren someday and I'm sure they will enjoy them using them for years, too.

This is a winter staple! I love making soups/stews in this! We've owned this for a year or so now. Such a great purchase 🥰

This cast iron works fantastic. It lost almost zero liquid in 2 2/1 hours of cooking time. It has even heat distribution, and yes, it's rust-resistant. If you want quality, then it's certainly a good value for the money.

Wow, I just purchased this Staub 5 -qt Tall Cocotte pot and I am blown away. It is substantial without taking up too much space in your kitchen and stove. I really like this pot and will probably purchase another one. Therefore, I fully recommend the purchase of this Staub 5 qt Tall Cocotte.

This is the same size as 24cm (4qt). But it's a little deeper. I bought both and the sizes are so similar that I thought about whether to return one, but they're so pretty and also another usefulness that I'm just using them both. You need more muscles to use the Staub. ;)

Because the pan is taller and less wide at the top than a usual 5 qt dutch oven, there is more room on my stove top for other pans so cooking is easier and more enjoyable.

My pot's coating has peeled off once I just washed the pot for the first time...And I throw away a box because I didn't want to return this. I really wanted to have this for my recipes, could you replace a new one for me?