Customer Reviews

Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 8-by-11-3/4-Inch Rectangular Baking Dish, Red

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
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First off, Le Creuset products in general are great! We must have about 10 - 15 pieces and the cast iron stuff cooks and cleans up great! The stock pot that we have is the only piece that isn't quite up to snuff and the grille pan is a bit hard to clean, but general I would highly recommend their products. Plus they look great too...

This pan, the rectangular baker is wonderful. Meats and Fish cook great! We use ours a lot for baking fish - Salmon,etc... Its uses are numerous! It works out great because it can get so hot and it can cooks so evenly. This stuff is expensive but worth it. We like the original "flame" pattern, I have a friend that has a twenty year old set that is still going strong!

This is one of my very favorite pans! I don't usually write reviews of the products that I use. However, I think that Le Creuset products in general are great and that this pan in particular is useful. It is one of the only pans that I have ever found that will let me roast meat in the oven and then move directly onto the stovetop to make sauces and gravy from the drippings. It cooks very evenly and cleans up very well. I would highly recommend this product!

I got my first Le Creuset cookware in 1978. It was my college graduation week, & I was relaxing on the lawn reading the Sunday Boston Globe. I saw an ad for a Le Creuset starter set (French oven + 2 covered saucepans + skillet) for a very low price, so I decided to go for it since I was about to be out of the dorm living on my own. That purchase turned out to be one of my best investments ever, as I still use all the pieces today. I now have 3 French ovens, 5 covered saucepans, 3 skillets, 1 oval au gratin, 1 multi 2-in-1 pan with nonstick omelette cover, 1 cheese fondue set, & this rectangular baker, all in flame. These cast iron utensils are virtually indestructible, except for a few minor dings in the outer enamel. They cook very evenly, given the cast iron, making me a possibly better than average cook (they're one of my unfair advantages). My only problem with the cookware is the heavy weight, but that comes with the territory with cast iron utensils. I guess I'll have to get someone else to lift the pots when I'm old & decrepit. I know they'll outlive me!

I use the large rectangular baker a lot. I often bake or roast large chickens, turkeys, or roasts in it, most often in a cooking bag with potatoes, onions, carrots, & celery, which makes a full meal & quick cleanup. It's also good for large quantities of Mexican food such as enchiladas or tamales. Lasagnas do well in it. It's just the thing for large Lutheran casseroles, too. It goes directly from the oven to the table or buffet for serving, given its attractiveness. It is heavy, heavy, heavy, as are all Le Creuset pieces; it is actually my heaviest piece, so you may need to buff up before getting it.

Don't be put off by the high price of Le Creuset pots & pans. In the long run, they're a bargain because of their long life. I intend to pass mine down to my sons. Bon appetit!

I purchased this piece as part of a set from Williams Sonoma. It was a great price, but when I unpacked this enormous baker I wondered what I was ever going to use it for. We are a family of two, and if I used it for something like lasagna we would be eating leftovers for a month. I found, however, that it makes the best deep dish pizza EVER! We haven't ordered delivery in at least two years, and I use the pan once a week. It's now one of my favorite le creuset items. A word of caution, though. I'm not very big, and the baker weighs at least ten pounds. I dropped it once when it was still wet and slipped out of my hands, and it cracked my kitchen floor tiles! Proceed with caution, but get ready for the best pizza you've ever had in your life!

As a classically trained chef, I have an extensive collection of kitchen items not always found in a typical home. I tend to think of kitchen products from a professional point of view, although I enjoy many items made for home use. Le Creuset is uncommon in professionally kitchens; however they manufacture quality and effective products.

Le Creuset's porcelain enameled cast iron cooking vessels are cast from molten iron formed in single use sand moulds. Covering cast iron with porcelain enamel not only looks good, but has multiple benefits. The enamel, being a solid coating, is one of the most hygienic surfaces to cook on, does not stain, absorb odors, retain flavors, and is easy to clean eliminating the need for seasoning and preventing rust issues. Limit cooking tools to plastic or wood to prevent damaging the enamel.

Cast iron is a highly efficient material which absorbs and distributes heat efficiently. For this reason, it is recommended to use on low to medium heat. There are a few exceptions like boiling water where cooking on high heat is appropriate and okay. Otherwise, cooking with high heat may cause food to stick, discolor the enamel coating, or unevenly cook the food. Cast iron also retains heat, keeping food warm while serving.

This pan holds 2 1/2 quarts of food, measures 7 3/4 x 11 1/4 x 2 inches internally, and weighs 6 pounds 10 ounces. 2 1/2 quarts will typically feed 4 - 6 people when it comes to casseroles, consider the larger roaster to feed more. Except for roasts, the roasting pan tends to do best if at least 3/4 full. Any less and you may overwhelm your food with the pan's evenly dispersed heat.

Two features people tend to complain about are the cost and weight. The cost seems steep compared to common pans made from other materials. Compare to quality cookware, and the cost may seem more reasonable. When comparing to the old cast iron pans past generations have used for cornbread and camping, Le Creuset seems expensive. However the manufacturing process requires making a mould for each and every pan produced. They then go through the enameling process before shipping these heavy pans. If you take what goes into making and distributing these high quality cast iron products, the cost tends to make sense. Then consider this pan will easily last a lifetime when taken care of. Additionally cast iron is a heavy material. The enamel doesn't add much to the weight, when comparing to a similar cast iron product, the weight is going to be comparable.

I find the many benefits of Le Creuset make this pan a worthy purchase. This pan adds a desirable crispy texture to dishes like mac-n-cheese. Add a roasting rack and this pan is perfect for roasting chickens. The enamel is attractive, while the cast iron keeps the food warm for serving. Cleaning and caring for this dishwasher safe pan is easy. When properly taken care of, this pan will last a lifetime.

Knowing the benefits and the pleasure I get from using Le Creuset, I don't hesitate to recommend this pan. If you choose to purchase this pan, and use it for its strengths you won't be disappointed.

PROS:
Efficient heat absorption and distribution
Hygienic enamel cooking surface
Does not stain, absorb odors, or retain flavors
Easy to clean when not abused or misused
Can be transferred from stove top to the oven to the table
Dishwasher safe
Can easily last a lifetime

CONS:
Its heavy, as cast iron tends to be, weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces

Fabulous roaster, and a must-have for any kitchen. There is nothing like LeCreuset's enameled cast iron for perfect roasting, brasing, casseroles. I roasted my Greek chicken recipe with potatoes and lemon in this, and it came out to perfection. Meat and vegetables nicely roasted/browned, sauce was rich, and chicken was very tender. Far better results than pyrex bakers or even a Calphalon roaster I have. And it makes such a nice presentation for serving and cleans up beyond compare.

If you do much oven roasting, or cooking from-stovetop-to-oven, LC's enameled cast iron is by far the best option available. I used have to brown meat in a separate pan, and transfer to pyrex bakers for the oven -- not any more! The durability and even-heating of the LC cast iron is outstanding. I am thrilled with this piece!

My favorite roasting pan! Yes, it's expensive, it's made to last a life time and then some.

Performs beautifully every time and cleans up very easily with just a short soak in hot water. I use it for just about all my roasting needs. It makes the best sauces and gravies too, since the meat juices carmelize nicely on the bottom. And it goes easily from stovetop to oven and back to stovetop again.

I also use it for making lasagna, roasted vegetables, tuna casserole, rice pudding and bread pudding. The even heating of the cast iron turns out a nice product every time. I even use it for a water bath for my ramikins of custard (preheat it first).

I like the low profile, cast handles too. No problem storing this pan.

One caution: Treat the finish carefully, do not use metal utensils against the enamel finish, since they can scratch and damage it. Do not use it in the broiler, which can also damage the finish. I put an old dish towel inside it when storing to protect the finish. Treated properly, this is a pan you will use for a life time and pass on to your grandkids.

It's big, it's heavy, and you'll do more with it than you did before with any other "casserole" pan. Le Creuset is the creme de-la creme of cookware - but if you aren't a fan of cast iron, you may want to look at their stoneware instead.

The enamel on this baker is thick and hard and while easy to clean, is very resistant to damage and stains. The cast iron means that heat is evenly dispersed. This baker goes from "prep" in the refrigerator (or freezer) straight into the oven and right back out again. The only thing I wish it had is a lid of some sort so that it can be used more effectively as a "take along" pan because it holds heat so well.

I use this baker to make casseroles, broil meat, bake cakes, cook poultry, etc... It can even be used on the stove top if you're in a pinch due to an already full oven or if your stove top cookware is already in use. It's one of the most versatile pieces in my kitchen and was well worth the investment as it will last a lifetime.

Although I am not a professional chef I do take my cooking seriously. Over the years I have invested in quality German and Japanese knives, French copper pans and, of course, Le Creuset cookware. Although these enameled cast iron pans are not as versatile as some of my copperware they are none the less indispensable.

Since cast iron is not as conductive as copper or aluminum it heats up and cools down much more slowly. This characteristic makes it unsuitable for sautéing or for when you need a pan that is highly responsive. However it's even heating and retention of heat makes it perfect for casseroles, roasts, mac-n-cheese, potato dishes, etc. I have been in love with Le Creuset's French ovens for years and use them for chili, stews and other dishes that benefit from long, slow cooking.

I had this item on my Amazon Wish List for quite a while. I could have bought it for myself but it's one of those things that you appreciate more when it is a gift. In France Le Creuset collections are often bequeathed to thankful children from parents that have cooked with them for decades. My oldest son bought this for me from Amazon as a Christmas present. I promised him that he could have it when I was done with it (hopefully a long time from now).

A couple of things to be aware of: at 8" x 11.75" this is smaller than the standard 9"x13" Pyrex dishes that are often used for the recipes that this pan is better suited for. Perhaps it is because Europeans generally serve smaller portion than we do in the US. Another thing to mention is that cast iron tends to be the heaviest cookware available. This roaster can top 13 - 15 lbs. or more when filled with dense food such as potatoes au gratin or a good sized cut of meat.

Yes, this is a relatively expensive product but bear in mind that you never regret having the best (at least not once you have finished paying for it). This roaster is actually a pleasure to clean (and I don't say that lightly). I will have it for the rest of my life and then it will be passed on to my children along with some very warm memories of meals past.

Having been cooking for the last 60 years I have purchased and used every type of pot or pan imaginable. Starting with, cheep light weight, aluminum to the most expensive French hammered copper pots and pans. In the end cast iron is number one and Le Creuset is the best of the lot.

Frank J. Pignataro