When it comes to premium quality skillets, Le Creuset cast-iron skillet should be on top of the list. Since it started production in 1925, the company hasn’t stopped producing high-quality enameled pots and pans.
From a covered casserole called cocotte as their first product to Le Creuset skillets with lid and many more, they’ve become a hit all over Europe and the US.
In this article, we’ll help you understand what the fuss is about with this line of cookware. We’ll give you more than just a bird’s eye overview of their collection. Let’s dive into this extensive review and find out what it has to offer.
The Top 4 Le Creuset Pans Reviewed
From Le Creuset frying pan to Le Creuset iron skillet, this company ensures that they satisfy their customers with premium-quality products to fit the price tag. The best thing about their products is their durability for daily use. It also comes in two types: one is called the signature skillet and the other is the enameled cast-iron skillet.
✔️ Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet
This premium brand signature skillets are made of enameled cast iron, too. The exterior is made out of colorful enamel that resists chipping and cracking and, on the inside, it’s made out of black satin enamel. The benefits of cast iron are also fundamental to their signature skillet.
Cast-iron skillets have become a preferred type of skillet and chosen over stainless-steel cookware because of the non-stick advantage that it has. Le Creuset made sure to take advantage of that fact. Although many manufacturing brands have ventured into adding enamel not just in the exterior of the product but on the inside too, Le Creuset made sure to take it up a notch.
They made sure that they win in design.
The Le Creuset iron skillet has a large size and features a helper handle for easy lifting and gripping. It has poured spots at the side that guarantees a no mess, drip-free pouring. It’s also capable of evenly distributing heat and retaining it easily and aside from all that, it has a pretty exterior appearance due to the colorful enamel it’s coated with that also resists any chipping and cracking.
Pros:
- Boasts durability and heavyweight.
- It is capable of evenly distributing heat
- Has the ability to retain heat easily.
- It can be used on any cooktops.
- It requires minimal oil during cooking which makes it great to use for low-fat cooking.
- It has a black enamel interior that renders it resistant against staining and wears and tear.
- It comes pre-seasoned.
- It’s oven safe up to 450°F.
- It has a large helper handle that makes it easier to carry and transfer around.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Though it’s nothing like stainless steel, its non-stick abilities aren’t as good as Teflon.
- Due to the large size that it has, it would take a while for the heat to be distributed around the pan.
- The heavy weight might be an issue to some who prefer lighter weight skillets.
✔️ Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet-Small
The signature skillet line of Le Creuset has been individually cast in its own sand mold and the company had French artisans hand-inspect it. Le Creuset wants to make sure that each piece is able to continue the traditional and authentic design that the company has shown over the years since they’ve began manufacturing.
With this product, it does not have that much difference with the one previously mentioned above except for their size since this one is fairly smaller and meant for smaller meals. The Le Creuset small skillet also features even heat distribution and is also capable of heat retention. Like the bigger version of it, it comes with a grip handle that allows for easy lifting and moving around of the skillet and is also easy to clean.
Pros:
- It is durable.
- It is capable of evenly distributing heat.
- Has the ability to retain heat easily.
- It can be used on any cooktop.
- It requires minimal oil during cooking which makes it great to use for low-fat cooking.
- It has a black enamel interior that renders it resistant against staining and wears and tear.
- It comes pre-seasoned.
- It’s oven safe up to 450°F.
- It has a helper handle that makes it easier to carry and transfer around.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Though it’s nothing like stainless steel, its non-stick abilities aren’t as good as Teflon.
- Due to the large size that it has, it would take a while for the heat to be distributed around the pan.
- The heavy weight might be an issue for some who prefer lighter weight skillets.
✔️ Le Creuset Signature Square Enameled Cast-Iron Skillet Grill
Grilling has never become easier for those who don’t have an outdoor grill in their backyard, or even a backyard for that matter. If you live in a studio apartment or a small place that doesn’t allow you to grill outside, then don’t fret because Le Creuset has a cast-iron skillet grill that you can purchase.
Like most grill pans, this product is made with grill marks that will give your steak the trademark grill marks, allowing you the illusion that it came off an actual grill. Like most products of Le Creuset, the skillet grill is also capable of distributing heat evenly throughout the pan which means that you won’t have to worry about that part or if it’s going to taste like the same way it does if it was cooked on the grill.
Although you have to be informed that this pan isn’t non-stick like the others, it doesn’t exactly mean that food will easily be stuck on it because of how the pan was built. The meat doesn’t entirely lie flat on the bottom of the pan and the ridges allow for elevation.
This skillet grill pan is dishwasher safe, but if you’re worried because it’s cast-iron and every owner of cast-iron products know that dishwashers and cast-irons don’t go well together, you don’t have to worry about this one. The surface of the pan most made out of enamel which reduces the corrosion risk that you’re worried about. To be safe though, it’s better to hand-wash it if you have the time to do so.
Pros:
- Made out of enamel cast iron so it’s capable of distributing heat evenly.
- It allows fat to drain from your meat because of the raised ridges that it has.
There’s a grip/helper handle on the opposite end of the handle that allows for easy maneuvering.- Dishwasher-friendly.
- It’s already pre-seasoned because of the black enamel coating.
Cons:
- It’s not as non-stick as other products are.
- Since it’s not non-stick, it may be difficult to clean it up.
✔️ Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Skillet with Iron Handle
A skillet made out of enameled cast iron has always been a cook’s favorite. The nature of stainless steel is that it sticks but cast iron is known for its non-stick quality. With Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron skillet, you get the benefits of having cast-iron cookware and the other benefits that Le Creuset added in it too.
Cast-iron skillets have become preferred skillets for home-cooks and even professional ones because of how evenly heat can be distributed throughout the pan and how it’s great at retaining heat. It’s also very easy to clean pans that are made out of cast-irons which also gives it another edge over stainless steel and other types of skillets. Poured with enamel and with enamel benefits, a skillet made out of both sure has a lot of advantages.
Le Creuset’s enameled cast-iron comes in a variety of colors. While the outward appearance of the product is appealing to anyone’s eyes, the fact that it is also made out of cast iron makes it even better. The enamel coating allows the product to come in a variety of pretty colors and the interior is painted with black enamel. Don’t worry — it won’t react to any food.
Like most of Le Creuset’s products, this one is also capable of evenly distributing heat throughout the pan and is capable of heat resistance. If by any chance there are foods that actually stick onto the pan, don’t even worry because it’s easy to clean and you don’t need to scrap the food off using a spoon; simply submerge it in the water for a little while and then you can clean it off easily.
Pros:
- It has dual pour spots found at each side.
- The enamel coating makes it resistant to chipping and cracking.
- It has an iron handle.
- It also features an easy to grip handle at the opposite end of the iron handle.
- It’s safe to use at any oven temperature.
Cons:
- It’s heavy in weight.
- It’s not as non-stick as it meant to be and even with using butter or oil, the food still sticks on the pan.
How to Take Care of Your Le Creuset
As mentioned earlier, aside from the skillet grill pan of Le Creuset, the product that the company manufactures aren’t too hard to clean up considering that most of them are made to be non-stick products.
The key thing to remember when it comes to cleaning your skillet is to do it by hand because even if its dishwasher safe, cast-irons and dishwashers aren’t considered as the perfect match because the moisture in dishwashers can evidently corrode your skillet. Since the pan is of premium quality, you need to give it the premium care that it requires.
If Food Stuck On Your Pan
Since Le Creuset products have a non-stick feature, one would expect that food would never get stuck on it. But if there’s any chance that it does, then know that regular dishwashing liquid and warm water should do the trick. But if you want, Le Creuset also produces its own cleaner that also happens to condition the surface of your skillet rendering a 100% performance and greater look.
How To Take Care Of Your Pan
If food does manage to get stuck on your pan, then simply pour some water on it and let it be for a while. You can come back to finish cleaning it up after ten minutes and by then, the food has naturally fallen off the pan.
Never store your pan while it’s still wet or damp. Let it dry for a bit first before you store it to ensure that you fully prolong its life. This skillet pan is made to last for a long time if it’s taken care correctly and treated properly.
The pan was made to last longer than most and can even be considered as a generation heirloom that can be passed down from one generation to another. Another thing about this pan is that, since it’s considered as a heavyweight, don’t accidentally drop it on the floor or countertops since it can cause a crack on the floor or countertop. With that said, this pan is a good investment since it’s durable and can be of good and long use.
Common Questions for the Le Creuset Cookware:
Is It Oven Safe?
One of the things to consider when buying a pan or a skillet is if it is safe to use in the oven. Le Creuset guarantees just that especially with their Signature line, which is able to withstand the temperature of ovens. But do note that if your pan has black phenolic lid knobs like in the Signature and Classic line, these pans can only be able to withstand up to 480°F or 250°C.
Also, not that it’s not supposed to be placed on the floors of ovens with cast iron linings since it has the potential to damage the oven. The oven temperature can also be capable of causing a harmful effect on the food in the pan. To ensure safety, you need to put the skillet on an oven shelf when you want to bake.
Why Is It Expensive?
Since it’s considered premium cookware or a premium brand, it shouldn’t be a surprise when the price tag also screams premium. The reason why the product is a little extra is that the cast iron cookware is made in Fresnoy-le-Grand in the northern part of France.
One piece would go through a 12-step process and that means that it goes through a lot of human interaction before the final product is actually released. Le Creuset only wants to make sure that they manufacture only the best kind of cookware possible.
Is It Dishwasher Safe?
If you have the stainless-steel cookware from the Le Creuset brand, then you’re free to put in in the dishwasher as many times as you want. But it’s not the same thing when it comes to the cast-iron enamel cookware that this brand produces.
For one thing, that’s already common knowledge for professionals and even home-cooks. Dishwashers are capable of causing corrosion on cast-iron products, so it’s best to stay away from them and stick to hand-washing if you want your pan to last longer.
For prime care of your enameled cookware, let it cool a bit first rather than running cool or warm water on it right after you take it off the cooktop. Since the core of this product is cast-iron and cast-iron is known to retain heat longer, shoving it in cool water right after you pluck it from a cooktop will cause the enamel to crack and evidently ruin your pan.
If by any chance food is stuck on your pan, don’t remove it by scratching it off with other utensils. Submerge it in water or pour a bit of water on it and wait for 10-20 minutes. The food will come off naturally, so you won’t have to furiously brush on your pan and ruin it by doing so.
Does It Need Seasoning?
The cooking surface of the pans and pots of this company is already pre-seasoned, so you don’t have to worry about that. The surface is even slightly pebbled to make sure that food doesn’t get stuck on it that much and eventually, over time, it will develop a coating of seasoned oil. Make sure that you avoid any acidic soups like tomato stews because they have the ability to eat away the seasoning applied.
How To Properly Clean Your Enamel Le Creuset Product?
One of the things that you have to keep in mind is this: never use any abrasives like hard sponges or stiff brushes or steel wool. They may be the go-to things that we need when we want to clean our pans especially when there is food stuck on it, but it’s not needed when it comes to enameled pans.
The reason is that you can ruin the surface of your pan if you use abrasive products, especially if you use it with force. So if by any chance that food does get stuck on your pan, simply pour water on it and let it be for a while because the food will simply remove itself from the pan and you can go ahead and clean it under warm water.
In terms of cleaning your enamel pan, sponge with dishwashing liquid and warm water will do the trick. But Le Creuset also has its own cleaner when it comes to their products, so you may want to get your hands on that to ensure a cleaner pan that has been 100% primed back into its original state.
Is It Worth It?
Le Creuset is the kind of brand and company that really cares about their products and puts effort in manufacturing them considering that each product goes through a 12-step process before the final result. This is likely the reason why it’s more expensive than most because of how much effort they put into their product.
But if you’ve just heard about Le Creuset and you’re still unfamiliar with them, be cautious before you plunge in and commit. Don’t buy a brand-new set on the spot because you want to replace every cookware you have in your kitchen. Although Le Creuset is a famous brand, it all still comes down to if you like it or not because if you don’t, then you’re back to where you started, with cookware you no longer want.
To avoid this kind of situation, try to start small. Since most home-cooks or even professional ones most often use frying pans or skillets, try to venture on this territory first by switching the old one you have to a new one of this brand and if you like the feel of it, then maybe you can venture on the other products that the brand offers.
Conclusion
Le Creuset skillet is a great addition to your kitchen overall because of its durability and premium quality.
It’s also easy to clean and can last for a long time, longer than most skillets ever could if taken care of correctly. Besides, the fact that it comes in a variety of great colors is a bonus because it makes your kitchen look pretty. In the end though, the decision comes to you if you’re willing to make the purchase. Hopefully, we’ve been of help for you coming to a final verdict!
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