Lodge Cast Iron, the fifth-generation family company in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, now makes enameled cast iron Dutch ovens in the USA. That line had been the one exception to its domestic production and had been made in Asia, the Nashville Scene reported on December 7, 2023.
The USA Enamel line
- The new enameling plant took three years to build.
- The pots come in four sizes from 3 to 7.5 quarts, with stainless-steel handles and knobs.
- There are three colors: red, white and blue.
- A 21-person team runs the plant. Each piece passes three times through a 1,400-degree, 50-meter oven.
- Making one Dutch oven takes four days after casting at the foundry down the street.
The ceramic coating is made from pulverized glass, water and pigments. Workers are protected at each step, especially in the red spray booth, since red uses cadmium. The coating is safe once fired. Lodge uses an Italian-made electric furnace, the only one of its kind in the USA, the paper reported. Enameling manager Kevin Rusch said only two pieces had come back out of the first few thousand sold.
FAQ
Where are Lodge USA Enamel Dutch ovens made?
At a new enameling plant in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
Were Lodge enameled pots made abroad before?
Yes. The enameled line had been made in Asia, while other Lodge cast iron was USA-made.
What colors are offered?
Red, white and blue.
Source & credit
Source: Nashville Scene, December 7, 2023: “Lodge Brings Its Dutch Ovens to America”.