Exactly. I actually cook with these things, and they look like it, rather than decorative elements in my Instagram-ready farmhouse-styled kitchen 🤷‍♀️

At this point, it's looked like that for years, and it doesn't affect the use of the pot. I'm fine with it being a reminder to pay better attention when cooking with dairy 😄

I have two--a Tramontina and a World Market house brand. I've had them both for nearly 20 years, use regularly. They have some chips in the enamel and some staining. I accidentally scalded milk in the Tramontina. Once I was able to chip the burnt milk off, it looks practically black on the bottom, but still works like an enameled dutch oven. No signs of slowing down on either 🤷‍♀️

Le Creuset is pretty, and it's nice that they will replace or fix them. ALL enamel will chip if you're really using the pot. But it takes a real kitchen catastrophe to significantly and permanently harm any cast iron.

That's a great reminder for everyone on this forum who likes to buy vintage and go thrifting. They are not definitely painted with lead (especially the one from the 1980s), but they might be painted with lead. You can get lead test kits pretty cheaply from most hardware stores and you can check to see if your crocks have leachable lead.

This is a measure you should take with any vintage glazed dishes you inherit or buy second hand (particularly those from before 1971 when this began to be regulated), any glazed dishes that you buy through a venue that does not have a robust risk management program to keep them from being sued (that is, someplace like Target), or anything handmade if there is any chance they might be using older glazes.

Well, that one certainly is!