As the world’s first colorful cookware, Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron has been the visionary color and quality benchmark for almost a century – an essential tool for master chefs and home cooks alike. Since 1925, every piece of the finest quality Le Creuset cast iron is crafted individually by French artisans from premium materials and is beloved for its perfected design. The exceptional heat retention and distribution properties of cast iron produce superior results by locking in flavor, keeping food moist and tender, and dishes warm from stove to oven to table.
Designed for everyday durability, the unrivaled vibrant enamel finish of Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron is exceptionally easy to use and clean. It requires no seasoning, resists sticking and staining, and is dishwasher-safe. With a limited lifetime warranty, it will become a trusted favorite for generations.
Cooking With Enameled Cast Iron
Enameled cast iron is a remarkable and robust material that performs well with modern requirements for food preparation and cooking. Whether you choose to stir-fry, slow-cook a casserole, sear a steak or bake a cake, there is a shape that is suitable. Cast iron performs well for either slow cooking or high-temperature searing.
Enameled cast iron can be used reliably on any heat source, including induction, and with any oven or grill. It has the ability to retain heat efficiently, which allows for use of lower heat settings in stovetop and oven cooking. On the table, a hot covered dish will keep food hot for second servings. Cast iron should not be used in microwave ovens.
Cast iron can also be used to keep foods cold. A chilled dish becomes an ideal cold food server on a hot summer day. It can also be placed in the freezer for food storage or advanced food preparation.
Before First Use
Remove all packaging and labels. Checking both the bottom and the sides of the product for labels. Wash the pan in hot, soapy water, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Your pan is now ready to be used and does not require any further preparation.
Heat Recommendations
Le Creuset enameled cast iron cookware can be used on all heat sources including gas, electric solid plate or radiant ring, vitro-ceramic glass, induction, and ovens fired by gas, oil, coal or wood. Enameled cast iron should not be used in microwave ovens. When using any glass-topped stove, always lift the pan when moving it; never slide it, as this may damage the stovetop or the base of the pan.
Medium or low heat will provide the best results for cooking, including frying and searing. Allow the pan to heat gradually and thoroughly for even and efficient cooking results. Once the pan is hot, almost all cooking can be continued on lower settings.
Medium-high heat temperatures should only be used for boiling water for vegetables or pasta, or for reducing the consistency of stocks or sauces. High heats should never be used to preheat a pan before lowering the heat for cooking. Cast iron retains heat so efficiently that overheating will cause food to burn or stick.
Always match the pan’s base size to the stovetop heat zone to maximize efficiency, and to prevent overheating of the pan sides or damage to the handles.
Gas flames must always be confined to the base area, and must never extend around the sidewalls of the pan. Long handles should be positioned safely where they do not hang over the front of the stove or other heat zones.
Cast iron handles, stainless steel knobs and phenolic knobs will become hot during stovetop and oven use. Always use a dry thick cloth or oven mitts when lifting.
Always place a hot pan on a wooden board, trivet or Le Creuset silicone mat—never on an unprotected surface.
Tools To Use
For stirring comfort and surface protection, Le Creuset silicone tools are recommended. Wooden or heat-resistant plastic tools may also be used. Metal tools, spoons or balloon whisks may be used, but require special care – they should not be scraped over the enamel surface. Do not knock these on the rim of the pan.
Hand-held electric or battery-operated beaters should not be used. Their blades will damage the enamel. Knives or utensils with sharp edges should not be used to cut foods inside a pan.
General Cleaning and Care
Always cool a hot pan for a few minutes before washing.
Do not plunge a hot pan into cold water. While Le Creuset’s enamel is designed to be the most durable on the market, thermal shock may still occur, resulting in cracking or loss of enamel.
If there are food residues, fill the pan with warm water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes before washing. A brush can be useful for removing small food deposits, or for cleaning between the ribs on grills. Do not use scourers or abrasive cleaners on the cooking surface. Nylon or soft abrasive pads or brushes can be used to remove stubborn residues. To avoid damaging the enamel, do not use metallic pads or harsh abrasive cleaning agents.
All pans with integral cast iron, phenolic handles or stainless steel knobs can be washed in the dishwasher. However, constant dishwashing may lead to some dulling of the enamel finish. This is not harmful and will not impair performance. When using the dishwasher always allow the cycle to finish before opening the door. This will ensure the pans are dried thoroughly.
Metallic-toned knobs are finished with an exclusive coating that is not dishwasher-safe. We recommend washing the knobs by hand to ensure the finish stays beautiful for years to come.
Pans with black satin interior can be washed in the dishwasher, but this greatly reduces the development of a patina; as a result, grills and skillets will require oiling for a longer period. Pans with wooden handles are not dishwasher-safe.
Light stains or metal marks caused by metal tools can be removed with Le Creuset cookware cleaner. An occasional cleaning with this product will also retain the new appearance of your pans. It can be purchased on this website or from your local retailer.
Never store pans while they are still damp. Store pans in a dry cupboard or airy space away from steam.
Maintain the tightness of all handles and knobs by checking and retightening them regularly.
Le Creuset enameled cast iron is extremely durable but it may be damaged if accidentally dropped or knocked against a hard surface. Please note that this is not covered by our Lifetime Warranty.