There's really not much to say in a review of a Le Creuset French oven. It's the best enameled cast-iron piece I've ever owned (I have the 5 1.2 qt./26 cm. cocotte in Cerise). Everything you've ever read about how evenly it heats, how long it holds temperature, and how amazing foods come out (even browning, amazing braising, stovetop or in the oven, etc.) is all true. I've been an every-single-day home cook for 15 years, and I was happily stunned the first couple of weeks I had mine.
What I will say is I also learned how to take care of enameled cast-iron cookware--in order not to ruin my (with tax) nearly $400 French oven. (Which I cook with almost every day--just like my older, far cheaper French ovens.) This time, I also invested in silicone utensils (spoons, turner, tongs, whisk) to make sure I don't scratch the interior enamel. I don't turn the temperature as high as I would with an aluminum pot, since you can pretty easily get your temperature out of control in cast iron.
I'm also being very careful to avoid thermal shocking the piece--no putting my hot French oven in cold water, or putting refrigerator-cold items in it while it's hot, to avoid banging utensils on the side of the piece, and to avoid the scrubber side of sponges. These aren't just good practices for Le Creuset--this is probably how, over time, I ruined the far cheaper (1/11th the price) off-brand French oven that I had used for the previous ten years. Metal utensils and thermal shock will cause micro-cracks that will destroy the interior bottom lining.
I only have two caveats, and neither is negative. The piece is heavier than it looks, and heavier than some off-brand versions (except for Lodge, I believe, which is even heavier). Be prepared and be brave. Washing it requires a good grip, as does straining out liquid (i.e. to make a sauce or gravy) while holding onto the pot and lid, and a lot of confidence.
And you will almost immediately have fond that sticks to the interior bottom and side enamel. This is TOTALLY NORMAL, so don't freak out--and DON'T scrub with anything but the soft side of a sponge. Just let the French oven come to room temperature and then soak it in the sink (I do anywhere from half an hour to overnight--it won't hurt the piece at all.) Then scrub with a soft sponge. Really stuck-on fond just requires a 10-minute simmer with a few teaspoons of baking soda in water--let it cool down and it sponges right off.
Be prepared for the weight and for how to care for your Le Creuset piece (which you should do anyway because alarmingly expensive!), and there should literally be no downsides to your purchase.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2020
What I will say is I also learned how to take care of enameled cast-iron cookware--in order not to ruin my (with tax) nearly $400 French oven. (Which I cook with almost every day--just like my older, far cheaper French ovens.) This time, I also invested in silicone utensils (spoons, turner, tongs, whisk) to make sure I don't scratch the interior enamel. I don't turn the temperature as high as I would with an aluminum pot, since you can pretty easily get your temperature out of control in cast iron.
I'm also being very careful to avoid thermal shocking the piece--no putting my hot French oven in cold water, or putting refrigerator-cold items in it while it's hot, to avoid banging utensils on the side of the piece, and to avoid the scrubber side of sponges. These aren't just good practices for Le Creuset--this is probably how, over time, I ruined the far cheaper (1/11th the price) off-brand French oven that I had used for the previous ten years. Metal utensils and thermal shock will cause micro-cracks that will destroy the interior bottom lining.
I only have two caveats, and neither is negative. The piece is heavier than it looks, and heavier than some off-brand versions (except for Lodge, I believe, which is even heavier). Be prepared and be brave. Washing it requires a good grip, as does straining out liquid (i.e. to make a sauce or gravy) while holding onto the pot and lid, and a lot of confidence.
And you will almost immediately have fond that sticks to the interior bottom and side enamel. This is TOTALLY NORMAL, so don't freak out--and DON'T scrub with anything but the soft side of a sponge. Just let the French oven come to room temperature and then soak it in the sink (I do anywhere from half an hour to overnight--it won't hurt the piece at all.) Then scrub with a soft sponge. Really stuck-on fond just requires a 10-minute simmer with a few teaspoons of baking soda in water--let it cool down and it sponges right off.
Be prepared for the weight and for how to care for your Le Creuset piece (which you should do anyway because alarmingly expensive!), and there should literally be no downsides to your purchase.
Color: CherrySize: 5.5 qtStyle: OvenVerified Purchase
Best single cookware item I've ever purchased--but be prepared to learn how to use it correctly
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2020
There's really not much to say in a review of a Le Creuset French oven. It's the best enameled cast-iron piece I've ever owned (I have the 5 1.2 qt./26 cm. cocotte in Cerise). Everything you've ever read about how evenly it heats, how long it holds temperature, and how amazing foods come out (even browning, amazing braising, stovetop or in the oven, etc.) is all true. I've been an every-single-day home cook for 15 years, and I was happily stunned the first couple of weeks I had mine.Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2020
What I will say is I also learned how to take care of enameled cast-iron cookware--in order not to ruin my (with tax) nearly $400 French oven. (Which I cook with almost every day--just like my older, far cheaper French ovens.) This time, I also invested in silicone utensils (spoons, turner, tongs, whisk) to make sure I don't scratch the interior enamel. I don't turn the temperature as high as I would with an aluminum pot, since you can pretty easily get your temperature out of control in cast iron.
I'm also being very careful to avoid thermal shocking the piece--no putting my hot French oven in cold water, or putting refrigerator-cold items in it while it's hot, to avoid banging utensils on the side of the piece, and to avoid the scrubber side of sponges. These aren't just good practices for Le Creuset--this is probably how, over time, I ruined the far cheaper (1/11th the price) off-brand French oven that I had used for the previous ten years. Metal utensils and thermal shock will cause micro-cracks that will destroy the interior bottom lining.
I only have two caveats, and neither is negative. The piece is heavier than it looks, and heavier than some off-brand versions (except for Lodge, I believe, which is even heavier). Be prepared and be brave. Washing it requires a good grip, as does straining out liquid (i.e. to make a sauce or gravy) while holding onto the pot and lid, and a lot of confidence.
And you will almost immediately have fond that sticks to the interior bottom and side enamel. This is TOTALLY NORMAL, so don't freak out--and DON'T scrub with anything but the soft side of a sponge. Just let the French oven come to room temperature and then soak it in the sink (I do anywhere from half an hour to overnight--it won't hurt the piece at all.) Then scrub with a soft sponge. Really stuck-on fond just requires a 10-minute simmer with a few teaspoons of baking soda in water--let it cool down and it sponges right off.
Be prepared for the weight and for how to care for your Le Creuset piece (which you should do anyway because alarmingly expensive!), and there should literally be no downsides to your purchase.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2014
Color: CherrySize: 5.5 qtStyle: OvenVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2022
Color: CherrySize: 5.5 qtStyle: OvenVerified Purchase
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pickanick
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