Customer Reviews

Le Creuset L2501-2809 7 1/4 qt. Round French Oven (Blue)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, this pan isn't cheap and it doesn't project elegance to those who want something flashy, but for serious cooks it's a must-have.

I don't know anyone who owns Le Creuset who doesn't rave about it. I agree with the reviewer who points out where this pot excels. Braised meats - Lamb shank, beef short ribs, Coq au Vin, etc... Sear meat, deglaze, yada-yada, place in oven. Heat retention is fantastic and it's very even which is important. Honestly, when you feel the weight of this thing you can guess as much.

Another person pointed out using this on the grill which I love as I've done the same thing. I don't do it often but this pan can handle serious heat. And because of the enameled surface it cleans surprisingly easily. This is where plain cast-iron pots are awful, not to mention their propensity to rust if not cared for properly.

As for durability, this is where this pan truly cannot be beaten, it's for life. I have to admit that my wife and I often abuse ours and it hasn't shown any effects (this is after six years). The enamel coating is as good as new.

One area where my kitchen differs from many is the induction range (magnetic energy transfer/heating element) which rules out non-magnetic pans. So I use this pot just about every day. With this rangetop it heats up *FAST* and seems to perform much better than the All-Clad pans (that work with induction).

I had been "lusting" after a Le Creuset Dutch Oven for a couple of years, but couldn't justify the cost to myself. I love to cook, and my specialties are soups and stews. I finally decided I was worth it, and asked for it for Christmas last year. I love it! It gets lots of use, and was well worth the price. I sear meat in it, add my other soup/stew ingredients, and once brought to temperature, I turn the burner (gas) as low as it will go and just let it simmer happily for hours, with never a scorch or hot spot. It does not allow your soups/stews to cook away through steam, as the heavy tight-fitting lid retains the moisture and redeposits it back to the food. And it's so darn pretty! As Emeril would say, it makes me "happy, happy, happy".

It's hard to find something new to say about Le Creuset that all other reviewers haven't. So I'm going to focus on clean-up and sturdiness. One of my favorite uses for this pot is polenta. That's right: nasty, sticky, constant-stirring polenta that sticks to everything and hardens to near-stone status if not cleaned immediately. I make a batch about once a week and keep it in the fridge for quick meals or snacks. Once the Le Creuset pot has cooled, I put it in the sink with a little Dawn and warm water and let it soak, then use a plain old plastic scraper for the tough bits and sponge off the rest. And that's it.

I've owned most of my Le Creuset for over twenty years now and it still looks like new. And I've cooked just about everything in it. Date bars (especially sticky), cheese dishes (ditto), everything comes off with very little effort beyond a good soak. And what's really amazing is that, for most of that time, I've used it on electric burners, which involves a lot of dragging and (one would think) scratching. The stuff still looks like new.

Yes, it's heavy. On the other hand, the weight protects it against accidents, which is a real bonus. You'll never have to worry about accidentally hitting a handle and having the whole thing end up on the floor.

In other words, this is what heirlooms are made of.

As alluded to in an earlier review, different lines of cookware are suitable for different types of cooking. When it comes to braising and slow cooking foods, this item can't be beat. I've had superb results with dishes ranging from Osso Bucco to Arroz con Pollo. It has proven to be an extremely reliable piece that performs well and cleans easily. And, unlike the Calphalon it replaced, the bottom does not warp. As such, it is rock steady on my Dacor glass cooktop.

Of course most people who enjoy cooking know of or have heard of Le Creuset and know the company has great products. I bought this pan in October and use it all the time. I make my homemade spagetti sauce, Cabbage rolls (there's a great recipe for cabbage rolls on Martha Stewarts web site) and beef stew in it and it's the perfect size for those recipes. It has the most even heat of anything I've used! If your water is boiling in the middle of the pan it's also boiling at the edge of this pan. It's a very heavy pan so clean up can be a little cumbersome but it's worth it all in the end when your enjoying your favorite recipe from this awesome pan.

The single best pots for doing rich chicken dishes and the like. Conducts heat perfectly, well-balanced and very easly to clean. So many great meals have emerged from these pots that I tend to cook more frequently, especially the more slow-cooking or complex dishes.

I inheirited one of these pots and then bought another. Since then I have excused all similar imitations from the kitchen.

If I had to equipt my kitchen with 3 cooking pots/pans, this would come right after the skillet and sauce pan.

This is one amazing 'pot'. It can sear a roast before putting into the oven (the lid and handles can take the heat up to 450degrees), but it can sear, cook and clean up like a breeze! We have always seen these wonderful LeCruset pans on ALL the cooking shows we love, and never thought we would be able to AFFORD one!! They are everything anyone has ever said positive about them...they perform remarkably, and clean up just like they promise ---like a breeze! No wonder so many famous cooks on TV use them at their work, on TV, and especially at home!! Thanks AMAZON.COM for giving us the chance to cook like a pro!!! KUDO'S! :)

I own a lot of good cookware including other Le Creuset products.
This French oven is great for stews, sauces and anything that needs a good slow simmer or a trip from the cooktop to the oven. The French Oven is a really well made product ment to last a lifetime. Anyone that really is into home cooking should own one.

Even at the great price Amazon is selling this pot for, it's still very expensive, but these pots are virtually indestructable, last a lifetime, and you'll be able to hand it down to your grandchildren. And this is a great price.. I've been keeping track for awhile now, and this price rivals used models sold on eBay.

Le Creuset pots offer all of the great qualities of cast iron (even heating, heat retention, heavy) without the downsides (no seasoning required, tolerant of acidic foods, no metallic aftertastes).

I'd be buying this one myself today if it weren't for the fact that someone would kill me if I spent this kind of money on something with my birthday coming up so soon!

For those of you that enjoy cooking and the best for your kitchen, these dutch ovens are a must! Excellent for slow cooked stews, roasts and soups. Wonderful heat retention with the cast iron core and the enamel coating keeps it a snap to clean. No sticking and no taste or metal reactions plus the colors are so attractive, they can be a really nice accent in your kitchen.