Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 6-3/4-Quart Oval French Oven, Flame

by Le Creuset

Product Features

• 6-3/4-quart oval-shaped French oven made of enameled cast iron
• Cast-iron loop side handles; black, phenolic, stay-cool lid knob
• Heavy, tight-fitting lid helps lock in heat, moisture, and flavor
• Washing by hand recommended; oven-safe to 350 degrees F
• Measures 15-2/7 by 10-1/5 by 7 inches; limited lifetime warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 12 x 5 inches ; 13 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00004SBHL
• Item model number: L2502-31-02
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,942 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Beautiful enough to bring to the table, yet durable enough to outlive its 101-year warranty against defects, this heavy casserole is perfect for preparing and ceremoniously serving dishes such as choucroute garni and braised lamb shanks. The oval shape handles big cuts of meat and big birds. Use it in the oven or on the stovetop for soups and chili. Made of cast-iron, which is unexcelled for its heat distribution and retention, this French oven cooks foods evenly and gently without hot spots at low temperatures and is suitable for all heat sources. This pan holds 6-3/4-quarts and its exterior and interior are clad in two coats of Le Creuset's famous enamel. The plastic knob on its heavy, tight-fitting lid is ovenproof to 450 degrees F. Loop handles facilitate carrying, and the casserole is dishwasher-safe. Like all Le Creuset cast-iron products, it is hand-cast in a one-of-a-kind sand mold and hand-finished at the Le Creuset factory in France. --Fred Brack

Product Description

Le Creuset Oval French Oven Large enough to fit longer cuts of meat or fish, Le Creuset's Oval French Oven will be popular in the kitchen! Sporting a unique finish, it is made of enameled cast iron and is oven, stove, and freezer safe. With a tight fitting lid to lock in moisture, the phenolic knob on top is oven safe to 375°F / 190°C. Sturdy handles are on each side for steady support when carrying. Features: Made of enameled cast iron Large enough to fit longer cuts of meat, poultry, or fish Sturdy handles on each side Tight fitting lid with phenolic knob oven safe to 375°F / 190°C oven/stove/freezer safe Available in a variety of sizes Available in a variety of colors

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for slow roasting roasts until the meat falls off the bone, August 20, 2006

By 

L. T. Beasimer "www.LBphoto.net" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 6-3/4-Quart Oval French Oven, Flame (Kitchen)

Le Creuset manufactures porcelain enameled cast iron cooking vessels as well as other quality products. These cooking vessels are cast from molten iron poured in sand moulds which are used only once. For this reason, one pan may look like another, but each is unique in its own way.

Cast iron is a highly efficient material which absorbs and distributes heat. Due to this efficiency, it is recommended that cooking with cast iron is done on low to medium heat. Over heating may cause foods to stick to the pan, or worse burn and can cause the enamel to appear stained. Remove cast iron from the heat and it does not cool off quickly. This helps your food stay warm while serving. The opposite holds true as well, chill the pan and it will retain its chill for a surprisingly long time. Beware; iron tends to be heavy so these cooking vessels tend to be heavier than other pans made from alternate materials.

Cast iron is an effective material for cooking so why cover it with enamel? Iron tends to rust; iron oxide (rust) doesn't add any complimentary flavors to your food. If your cast iron cooking vessel was not enameled, you would have to season and maintain its cooking surface. Adding the 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. The enamel can be damaged, so limit contact to heat resistant plastic or wood utensils to eliminate the scratching and scoring the porcelain.

The benefits of cooking with Le Creuset cast iron are many, but lets get down to the French oven, Cocotte or as it's also referred to, the Dutch oven specifically. French ovens have been manufactured by Le Creuset for over 75 years, and were developed well before then. In all this time the design has stayed constant, affirming the relevance of its cooking qualities. These ovens come in either oval or round shapes. The oval shape works well for roasting whole chickens and porkloin roasts, otherwise the differences are minimal.

This pan holds 6 3/4 quarts of food, measures 9 1/2 x 12 inches or 24 x 30 cm internal diameter, 4 3/4 inch or 11 1/2 cm deep, and weighs 13 pounds. The domed lid provides a tight seal, trapping in moisture to roll back into the dish. The lid may alternatively be used as a holding plate for chopped vegetables or meat during initial preparations. Be sure to lift the pan off of cooking surfaces to reduce damaging either the pan or the surface. French oven tends to do best if at least 3/4 full. Any less and you may overwhelm your food with heat evenly dispersed in the pot.

French ovens were developed for slow cooking by stewing, braising or boiling. Some typical dishes include roasts, and stews. Other possibilities include gumbos, chili, dirty rice, baked beans, Swedish meatballs, osso bucco, or curing ice cream to name a few.

One feature that people tend to complain about is the cost. The cost does seem steep compared to other pans made from other materials. Heck, cast iron doesn't seem like it should be expensive when comparing to the old cast iron pans past generations have used for cornbread and camping. 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 that this pan will easily last a lifetime when taken care of.

PROS:

Efficient absorption and distribution of heat

Hygienic enamel cooking surface

Does not stain, absorb odors, or retain flavors

Cleans easily when not abused or misused

Can be transferred from stove top to the oven to the table

Easily lasts a lifetime

CONS:

Its heavy, as cast iron tends to be weighing in at about 13 pounds

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utilitarian AND Gorgeous! What more could you want?, March 2, 2002

By 

elances (trapped in an artistic wasteland, SW USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 6-3/4-Quart Oval French Oven, Flame (Kitchen)

I love this pot! Like all Le Creuset products, this comes in gorgeous porcelain enamel colors (my favorite is their classic "volcanic flame"). It is also quite heavy, being a 6 1/2 Quart cast iron pot. This is actually an advantage when cooking--using only a low flame, it maintains perfect cooking temperatures, and the heavy lid ensures that you will not lose precious moisture during long simmering. It is very difficult to burn anything in this cookware when you follow the simple direction to avoid anything over a medium heat setting. If, however, you happen to burn something in the pan, cleanup is a breeze: simply fill the pan with hot, soapy water and soak for a little while. Everything then comes quickly off with minimal fuss, thanks to the very hard and smooth enamel finish.

This oval "French Oven" is the perfect size and shape for a nice beef roast, pork tenderloin, or a delectable Boeuf Bourguignon. Be sure to check out the Le Creuset website at lecreuset.com (US, UK, and France) for a large selection of delicious recipes for your cookware. The price may seem a little steep, but bear in mind the company's unparalleled 101 year warranty--this is cookware you will never have to replace!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the money and THEN some!!, February 21, 2007

By 

Diane K. Field "dianegarber" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 6-3/4-Quart Oval French Oven, Flame (Kitchen)

I have always wanted a Le Crueset pan and used to just oggle at them in the stores b/c they are so beautiful. I assumed they were also good to cook in since every great cook owns one and I have heard how wonderful from everyone who owns one. I finally bit the bullet and bought this Dutch Oven in Flame.

This pot is the "baby" of my kitchen-I LOVE THIS THING!!!!! It really is a work of art and is made so beautifully and the color is so great (I liked it so much I also bought a tea kettle in flame so I could show it off).

I haven't had ONE meal not turn out amazing. This has now replaced my slow coooker for stews and braised meat dishes. It gets hot enough to really sear, but can cook slowly like nothing else. I have yet to find a piece of meat that won't come out fall apart tender in my Le Crueset.

Once done, my pans looks like it will never come clean. Sometimes the juices bake on the sides of the dish and I think "oh boy, this is NEVER going to come clean". EVERY inch of baked on goo comes off with ease. NOTHING sticks. Nothing mars this pan...

Its a dream come true!!! I feel good knowing I bought such a high quality piece (its definitly not all hype, these things ARE that good) that I could pass down to generations to come (if I wanted to part with it, that is..which I don't!!).

If you are considering if its worth it, it is WEEEEELLL WORTH IT!!! JUST DO IT!