Customer Reviews

LE CREUSET Enameled Cast Iron 4-1/4 Quart Soup Pot Blue

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This pot is wide enough to roast a four pound chicken, deep enough to make a standard casserole recipe, and heavy enough to make perfect rice for five people. The rounded bottom is just right for sweating onions and peppers. The tapered sides reduce soup and sauces quickly. The enamel coating soaks clean without scrubbing - even baked on pan juices. I've even served salad in it.

Like other Le Creuset pots, this can't be used for deep fat frying (very high temperatures will trash the enamel). So you'll have to settle for it doing everything else.

I started with the 2-5/8 quart soup pot before this size was available, and it is just too small even when making soup for two. It is now relegated to sauce duty, something for which the design is not particularly well-suited. What this design is wonderfully suited for is establishing "stirring" currents in the liquid as you cook. (Obviously, it doesn't work with chili or a heavy cream-type soup.)

If you're cooking for anything less then 8 people this size should suffice. As with all LeCreuset the quality is top of the line. If you are hoping to make soup for the extended family then you'll have to up to the the 7+ quart version. A friend of mine got it for a very reasonable price, also here at Amazon. However, be warned that it is much larger and much heavier than this model. (We refer to it as the "Herniator")

I've ordered and returned the Le Creuset 4 1/2 Qt. Soup Pot with Cover, Blue twice. Both pieces had flaws in the finish. The first piece had numerous pits in the finish and the second piece had red speckles on the lid as well as several pits in the finish too.
There is definitely a problem with the finishing process at the Le Creuset factory! Must be a lack of final / quality inspection by Le Creuset.
When I bought the second piece I also received the Le Creuset Poterie 16-Ounce Covered Soup Bowls, Set of 2, Blue. They also had a problem with their finish.
I'm starting to believe that the units sent to Amazon by Le Creuset must be factory seconds. The type of product you would normally find at TJ Max, Home Goods, Marshall's, etc.
All I can say is, "Buyer beware of the poor quality of this product! At least in Blue!"

I started cooking about 7 yrs back when I had to cook to eat, started with a non-stick cookware set, and then advanced to stainless steel in a couple of years. I had my first cast iron pan - a Lodge 12" pan, about a year back and absolutely loved the way for food cooks in it and the way it tastes.

About 2 months back I got my first le creuset and was really reluctant to shell out $79 for this and the 9 1/2" grill (thought that was a good deal, with extra rebates) and since then, this pot has become my wife's and my favoirite. We use it at least twice a week,(we only cook 3-4 times a week) and there is a clear difference in the way the food cooks and tastes compared to even good quality stainless steel cookware. The best thing in my opinion is that the heavy lid somewhats seals the flavour and leaves more water in the food than when using a lighter lid. It also acts somewhat like a pressure cooker if you do not open the lid a lot. This pan has completely changed the taste of some of the Asian Indian food I cook.

I have become a firm beleiver in le cruset, and have ordered the 7 quart soup pot for cooking our main dishes.

In summary, if you are starting a family, have the means to spend, but just dont want to, or if you enjoy cooking, just spend the money and buy enameled cast iron cookware. I consider it a very good investment(and then also avoid what I had to do - progress from nonstick to stainless steel to cast iron, and save the extra money spend on anything till you get to cast iron)

I was a little apprehensive about purchasing this item (I have it in red), due to the price and being unfamiliar with this type of cookware. However, I must tell you that this is the best pot ever! It cooks the food evenly with great heat distribution. I have made stuffed cabbage, braised pot roast, soups, stews, spanish rice, and all other types of dishes. The size of the pot is perfect for everyday use and it never leaves my stovetop, because it is just gorgeous to look at! The food doesn't stick and the heavy gauge is excellent. Clean up is a breeze, even on cooked on food. It just dissolves away. I am now committed to this cookware and will slowly build my collection. It lasts forever and cooks like a breeze. The food is tender and anything looks yummy when using this pot! I swear by it!

I own 2 other Le Creuset pots and love them! I ordered two of these soup pots but have had to return both because of small pinholes in their finish that left the cast iron visible. I am concerned that these would get worse and I am very disappointed that the quality was not inspected prior to shipping.

I first purchased some LeCreuset cookware at a closeout sale when I graduated from college. I used it for years and sold it at a garage sale. I had no idea of its real value, but it disappeared quickly. I have since purchased several pieces of LeCreuset, and it is truly heirloom cookware. This soup pot is perfect for cooktop to oven cooking, soups, stews, etc.etc. But, if you want to make a great presentation, match it with the LeCreuset covered soup bowls in a matching color. French onion soup. No problem. Ladle it from the cast iron soup pot to the bowls, into the oven in the soup bowls, remove it from the oven and put the covers on to keep it warm. Buy good cookware and it will last for decades. Buy the cheap stuff, learn repeated lessons. This is the good stuff. Oh, by the way, the stoneware is equally good.

This pot's low profile makes it good for making soups, chowders, etc., but it also functions very well as a small Dutch oven. It will accommodate 4-5 lbs (depending on shape) of chicken or pot roast, for example.

Having quality tools to work with makes any job more pleasant, and that includes cooking. Other pans may do the same job for less, but Le Creuset will last a lifetime (or three).

My family has begun downsizing as the kids head for college and I have found myself with lots of large pots and lots of small meals. This soup pot is perfect for our scaled back cooking needs. It has all of the great soup, sauce, and braising qualities of the larger pots and, best of all, its round shape it cute as can be.<grin> I have the cherry red and recommend it to all.

I just purchased this Soup Pot as my first piece of Le Creuset. I had never used it before, but had adored it for a long time. It is beautiful and cooks very well. I've found it takes a little getting used to the enamel, as I've had a couple things stick a bit, however it cleans up like a dream. Enjoy!