When I asked in a few cooking- and shopping-focused Facebook groups — including one including chefs, food media types, and recipe developers — just what makes Le Creuset the superior Dutch oven, dozens of perfect strangers immediately wrote back. A few people praised alternatives, saying they found their Staub, Lodge, or off-brand Dutch oven to work just as well or better. But most people shared impassioned, paragraphs-long replies detailing their personal experience with the Le Creuset pots, like how they acquired their favorites a beloved aunt, at a garage sale or how they ruined their first one 10 years of everyday use, a clumsy husband.
My inbox was so full, it might as well have been a page on LeCreuset Online reviews strike a similar tone of evangelism. Forums on sites like Serious Eats, Chowhound, Reddit, and the Food52 hotline light up with hundreds of comments sharing personal takes on the price tag , advancing opinions about which size or model to buy, and debating Staub vs.
Le Creuset the Staub camp claims superior browning , while LC devotees prefer the pale interior enamel in order to better monitor the fond. Some people literally write their LC Dutch ovens into their wills. It would seem that the adulation and loyalty is partly justified based on quality alone. With a broad, light-colored cooking surface; low, straight sides; and large looped handles, it was also exceptionally easy to use.
At the same time, its very legitimate, expert-tested quality ensures it keeps its status as The Best — even as new, lower-priced competitors continue to emerge. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
Le Creuset has more than retail stores distributed in various parts of the world. And aside from cookware, the company also produces:. Despite the high price of producing cast-iron cookware in France, Le Creuset continues to operate its foundry in Fresnoy le Grand. Instead of shifting its production to cheaper locations like China. Le Creuset has remained loyal to its community. It bears the cost of producing high-end goods in France.
With that being said, customers also pay for the higher associated costs for keeping manufacturing onshore. Because of high standards and casting expertise, Le Creuset has become the gold standard in the production of Dutch Ovens. The signature flame orange hue is still as popular with consumers today as it has ever been. Even though the design of the pot has not changed since its advent.
Le Creuset cast-iron cookware is still sought-after despite its considerable expense. One of the main benefits of using Le Creuset Dutch Ovens and casserole dishes is the thinner cast walls of the cookware. This makes the ironware lighter than other manufacturers, including cookware from Staub.
Sadly, for many customers, their first experience using Dutch Ovens is with cheaper celebrity-endorsed cookware. And I have noticed the quality can be less than desired, and the cookware tends to be weighty. Putting off so many home cooks from ever using enameled cast iron again.
If you are looking for a useable Dutch Oven for every day, then consider a Le Creuset. It rates highly on my best ovens list. But it does not come in the first place because of the high price. If you want to find a Dutch Oven suited to your needs , just click the link. The cookware is available in a range of different colors that are unique to Le Creuset products. Colors such as the signature flame orange are vibrant, and they add a decorative quality to the cookware.
Color is important because it adds an element of vibrancy to the table or kitchen. Le Creuset also makes cookware to cater to all tastes. And the company even goes as far as to introduce colors unique to different countries. Visit a Le Creuset store in Japan, and you are likely to find gentler soft colors.
While in European cities, you are likely to see a wide range of traditional colors. And you will see a lot of Enameled cast-iron brightly colored cookware in the States. This means that you will love how easy it is to use. For example, the black knobs are resistant to heat. All the features of Le Creuset cookware are incredibly sturdy.
People that prefer cooking with cast iron and stoneware understand the need for comfortable features when cooking. These pots, after all, tend to get really hot. Some Le Creuset Cocottes have black stay-cool knobs that make them easy to handle.
You can remove the lid from the pot without getting burnt. But I still recommend using an oven mitt. These phenolic knobs can withstand high temperatures as high as degrees F.
All Le Creuset cast iron cookware can be used safely on a stovetop or an oven. This feature is perfect for a mix of different cooking methods. For instance, you can braise a piece of meat on the stovetop. And then you can move the pot to the oven. Le Creuset enameled cast-iron can also tolerate high heat of up to degrees F. Ease of cleaning is a consideration customers have before deciding to purchase new cookware.
And here is where Le Creuset shines. Le Creuset cast-iron and stoneware are easy to clean and maintain. All you need is a soft cleaning sponge or dishcloth and mild soap. And gently rinse and wipe clean. If you do have stubborn baked-on food. You can simply leave your cookware to soak for a few hours in hot soapy water. The surfaces of Le Creuset cast-iron and ceramic products are more non-stick than stainless steel that tends to stick. Making the cleaning process straightforward.
The Le Creuset French oven is made from cast iron. This ensures heat is retained and distributed evenly. And is great for cooking techniques such as poaching, simmering, browning, and braising. Additionally, enameled cast-iron pots can be put into your refrigerator to store any leftovers. Since Le Creuset has been in the game for nearly years, consumers can rely on the quality. Unlike other brands, Le Creuset sources high-quality materials.
This includes selected recycled iron, steel, and pure pig iron. This means that the end product can last for years. When you start shopping for cookware, you will soon find that you will come across a broad range of prices. Some cookware may look similar and even imitating the look of Le Creuset. But depending on how much you want to spend. But there are quality differences between Le Creuset and cheaper brands. In exchange for a high price tag, Le Creuset customers get to enjoy enhanced cookware performance.
The differences between Le Creuset and other cheaper imitations may include:. The type of material used to produce cookware definitely has an impact on how much the product costs.
For example, an enameled cast-iron pot will cost more than an aluminum or stainless steel pot. This is owing to the properties and characteristics of the construction and materials.
Le Creuset is well-known for having superior thermal heat mass. That is why many professional cooks like to use the high-end brand. Unlike low-end cookware, Le Creuset provides precise heating results without the possibility of hotspots once preheated. Thinner gauge materials on inexpensive cookware do not hold heat evenly and can also dent or warp.
Another difference between Le Creuset and other cheap brands is the quality of construction. Sure, there are pots and pans available for less than dollars.
However, after using them for six months, these pots and pans might start to deteriorate. Over time, cheaper cookware may also warp as a result of sudden thermal changes.
This will reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of the cookware. Le Creuset cookware will maintain its aesthetic appeal and last much longer. Some cookware may react negatively to particular types of food. For instance, aluminum tends to react with tomato-based dishes and other acidic foods. This implies food can react with metal cookware and will taint food. However, enameled cast-iron separates food from coming in contact with the metal surface.
And your food will retain its natural flavors. Expensive cookware such as Le Creuset beats inexpensive cookware because of the quality of construction. Le Creuset conducts thorough research and is abreast of the trends and changes in the industry. This is why it incorporates different elements and production techniques that deliver optimal cooking results. Another answer to the question, Why should I buy Le Creuset cookware? Is cheaper cookware mostly made with a single thin layer of glaze or metal?
A single layer of glazing can chip easily, while a single metal layer such as stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat. And can cause hot spots in the cookware and burn your meals. Based on all the above reasons, Why buy Le Creuset cookware? Another big Le Creuset selling point is durability: These pots are heavy, built to last, and come with a lifetime warranty. The company is best known for its bare cast iron skillets — which are inexpensive, and if cared for properly, basically indestructible.
Lodge also sells enameled cast iron dutch ovens, but unlike their other products, that line is made in China, not the U. Everyone we spoke to for this story was adamant that for home cooks who have hit their stride, Le Creuset and Staub, for that matter is absolutely worth the cost. She went through several pieces of discount enameled cookware before splurging on a Le Creuset piece, and says it brought the food she already loved to cook like a one-pot chicken and rice dish she swears by to restaurant-quality level.
By Kristen Bahler May 24, Money; Courtesy of Amazon; Getty Images. Le Creuset dutch ovens tend to appeal to a certain type of person.
0コメント