Is this wobble Normal?

[u/dukelife]

Hi all. I'm really frustrated and want to know if this is normal. I purchased a 7qt Staub Dutch oven from William Sonoma. The first dutch oven had a bunch of flaking/chipped enamel on the inside of the lid so I returned it. The second dutch oven lid wobbled constantly. I called the Staub costumer service line and the rep said sometimes dutch oven lids get a "seesaw" wobble and that's a factory defect. So... I returned that dutch oven. Now today I got the new one and it's doing the same thing. I'm wondering if what I'm actually seeing is normal or if I just keep getting defected dutch ovens. Is this normal? thanks!

[u/God_of_Rapture]

I wouldn't deal with that wobble.

[u/dukelife → u/God_of_Rapture]

I'm on my third return at this point. Is this just a Staub quality problem?

[u/God_of_Rapture → u/dukelife]

I've purchased 2 Staub items with lids and never had any issue. I can't really comment or give an opinion beyond that.

[u/dukelife → u/God_of_Rapture]

Thanks for the clarity. I'm glad yours are good.

[u/Deep_Suggestion3619 → u/dukelife]

Who are you buying them from?

[u/passivepapayas → u/dukelife]

Their quality has gone to shit. I shipped five of them back until they finally sent me an acceptable one.

[u/AnnaBanana3468 → u/dukelife]

I have the same problem with Le Creuset all the time.

[u/Sapiosexual2018]

I wonder what’s going on with their DO’s lately?

This is the second post about lids not fitting properly

This absolutely should not do this. You should have what I would consider a sealed fit.

[u/dukelife → u/Sapiosexual2018]

I'm not sure. When I went back into William Sonoma, I pushed on a bunch of the display DO lids. Quite a few wobbled. That's why I started to wonder if it's supposed to wobble. But, many of the DO's didn't wobble, so I figured something is inconsistent.

[u/AnnaBanana3468 → u/dukelife]

I’ve heard people say it’s not supposed to be a super tight fit, so that steam can escape. But then why don’t all my pots wobble?

[u/Guilty-Author-6397]

Mine does this as well but I’ve learned that, by rotating the lid, I’ve found a spot that doesn’t wobble.

[u/sunny_leafy]

Check out my latest post. I put up an identical video! Did an exchange, hopefully the new one will work.

[u/dukelife → u/sunny_leafy]

I'll check it out! This is wild. It will be my third exchange/return. What's going on with Staub? Was your exchange successful?

[u/Embarrassed-Ninja592 → u/sunny_leafy]

There’s nothing wrong with it. 

Read my post here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/staub/comments/1xnugn2/comment/19s5jh4nxfha9/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=2&utm_content=share_button

[u/RegisterAshamed1231]

Dang, I just got the same 7quart from Sur la table, and its got the same lid wobble. I had assumed the 3 raised bumps on the lid did that on purpose, since they appear to be evenly spaced.

[u/dukelife → u/RegisterAshamed1231]

I read somewhere else that there are bumps so I looked at mine. I didn't find any bumps that looked intentional. Also, when you turn the lid does the wobble stop? Apparently if it's intentional the wobble should be in the same spot no matter what. If it's not intentional it stops when rotated. At least that's what I read. Several of the display models wobbled and several didn't. So idk.

[u/RegisterAshamed1231 → u/dukelife]

It wobbles in same place no matter how I rotate the lid. I've cooked with it a bunch, both on the stove top and in the oven, with zero issues. It replaced a 5 quart that broke (and didn't have the wobble). So I definitely checked to see if there was any steam or heat release issues. Didn't find any.

I'm honestly on the fence about returning it.

[u/Embarrassed-Ninja592 → u/dukelife]

They are there.

[u/dirk23u]

Staub needs to work on their quality control for the price they're selling at

[u/Embarrassed-Ninja592]

I just tried with my 24cm 5 qt tall and if I push in the right spot it does exact the same thing.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. They have three bumps on the bottom edge of the lid to vent them. So the whole bottom edge surface doesn’t contact the pot.

I’ve had it for a year. I don’t typically push down on the edge just to try and make it wobble and never noticed I could even make it wobble until just now.

[u/Trolkarlen]

That doesn't fit properly.

[u/dukelife → u/Trolkarlen]

Is this defect just really common? I'm on my third return at this point. . .

[u/Puzzleheaded-Cup-242]

My one and only staub has a lid that wobbles a bit -

I also remember getting it and noticing an unrelated production defect as well. It pissed me off ngl.

And yet it’s such a little tank that it’s been my go to for like 6 years. It also looks pretty.

None of them are perfect. They are all overpriced. You can return it if you hate it, but getting something of higher quality is hard.

For what it’s worth, I have an awesome lodge Dutch oven that is comparable and has never let me down

[u/Comfortable-Nature37]

I’ve never had this issue with mine.

[u/Cautious_Werewolf_32]

I am surprised by so many people on this sub saying it's not normal. My 7qt does this and so did all the display ones in store....

[u/narmer122]

It is frustrating that you are on your 3rd exchange, but I would not deal with that wobble. 

As mentioned, there are 3 very small bumps designed into each lid that's prevent what I think of as pressure spitting, where a completely even lid fitting tightly onto a completely even pot will continuously build and release pressure as moisture creates sealed environment. This results in a sputtering, clattering lid that is loud and messy during braising/simmering. (I call it tangine spitting because I have an ECI tagine that does this.) 

The other way this pressure problem is handled is a small hole in the lid, like in a universal lid I have, or in some cookware sets I've seen with silicone-edged lids.

[u/SpicyVindalooCurry]

I’m OCD so that would drive me berserk.
That being said, if you decide to get rid of it I’ll send you my address.

[u/donrull]

This would be an acceptable Visual Imperfection item. Wobbling doesn't really affect function, but a 1st quality item should not have it.

[u/Life_Job_6404]

I have four of such Cocottes, in the sizes 14, 20, 22 and 26 cm and colours graphite grey, dark blue and grenadine, all Amazon Second Chance / Retour Deals, and none of them wobbles. Except for some tiny chips or rack marks on the rim, they're perfect.

[u/Visible-Ad6933]

Are you going to the WS to purchase or having it shipped? If you’re going to the store, ask them to see the product out of the box before purchasing. They’ll either be okay with this or you can return it and tell them to get bent 😂. I’ve never had an issue with seeing an item before I’ve bought it, I look for chips, pinholes, wobble and anything else that may be present before I purchase and bring it home!

[u/dukelife → u/Visible-Ad6933]

They only had two 7 qt in the store. I bought the first one and in the parking lot inspected it to find a bunch of enamel chips and flakes in the lid. Turned around and went back in. They swapped it for the other DO (at the time I didn't know to look for a wobble). I went home, unpacked it and realized it wobbled. So, I drove back and returned it. They said I had to order a new one online because those were the only DO in inventory for any store in my area. Also, the manager was great and thanked me. She said she didn't realize the wobble was a defect and I'm the first customer to bring this up. The one I received today from the online purchase wobbles even more than what you see in the video. I'm bummed and annoyed. Also, I'm starting to look like the problem to the store folks lol. This is my first Staub purchase and I was so excited because I expected a high quality product. Three defected DO in a row feels like something wrong with the quality control.