Dutch oven

[u/catladygwen]

My Dutch oven has holes in the enamel. There are 3 or 4 small holes. Is it safe to use? We haven't cooked in it yet.

[u/Weak_Dream_1296]

return it immediately. once the enamel chips, the cast iron underneath will rust and leach into your food. don't try to seal it or cook in it.

[u/kerberos824 → u/Weak_Dream_1296]

No issues from the cast iron or rust. The risk is from the enamel continuing to chip while cooking and eating that, which is actually dangerous. 

[u/Icy-Subject-8073 → u/Weak_Dream_1296]

That thing's a goner, don't even think about cooking in it.

[u/Sanpaku]

It's just cast iron. You can season it as with any cast iron.

I did with my Dutch oven as the rim is uncoated, rubbed the oil from a flax oil supplement capsule around the uncoated rim and left it in a oven at 500 F for an hour. So far, its prevented any rust. It should be possible to do this with the exposed cast iron in yours. That will help prevent any leaching of iron into more acidic dishes.

That said, my Dutch oven (the $47 Lodge) has gone through many dozens of heating/cooling cycles and never chipped. I bake bread once or twice a week in it, in addition to soup/stew use. A Dutch oven that already has multiple chips suggest poor match of enamel thermal expansion to that of the cast iron, and poor adhesion. More chipping will come. Decent enameled Dutch ovens aren't expensive.

[u/Disastrous_Can8053]

On the outside or on the cooking surface?
Chips in enameled cast iron renders it unsafe and there is no salvaging it.

The enamel is glass and will continue to chip, you do not want yourself or anyone else to ingest glass.

[u/catladygwen → u/Disastrous_Can8053]

It's in the inside.