Le Creuset pioneered the world's first colorful enameled cast iron cookware. We finish each piece, both inside and out, with a porcelain enamel to make it more durable, versatile and easier to use and clean.
For nearly 100 years, our products have been consistently safe to use and comply with all federal safety regulations established by the Food & Drug Administration. Please click HERE to search specific product disclosures relative to CA AB1200 and CO HB 22-1345.
Le Creuset's coating is porcelain enamel. Through normal use, Le Creuset is difficult to chip. Le Creuset's enamel coating is fired at 1450°F.
Short answer, no. Le Creuset doesn't use Teflon in their non-stick range. All their products are PTFE and PFOA free and made using their own proprietary technology. Because the coating is 4x tougher, it also means that it doesn't peel easily, so no nasty surprises in your dinner.
Expensive — the cost for a 5 1/2-quart pot is $420 when it's not on sale. The light interior can be easily scratched by metal tools and stained by food (although you can eliminate some stains with a bit of elbow grease).
Not only is the Le Creuset Dutch oven one our Test Kitchen's official preferred pot, but it's also a personal favorite of our prep kitchen manager, Catherine Ward. Here's why. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
As evidenced by the many establishments that rely on Staub's cast iron goods, they are extremely durable while also beautiful enough to serve food from. The brand's collection is very curated with fewer pieces than Le Creuset, and pieces products tend to be slightly more affordable.
The good news is that enameled cast iron is generally considered safe for cooking. The enamel coating is made from glass and does not contain harmful chemicals like PFOA or PTFE , which are found in some non-stick coatings.
Does HexClad have Teflon in it? Teflon is a proprietary brand of PTFE made by Chemours that is not used by HexClad. Instead, the brand now uses ceramic to coat the nonstick valleys of its cookware.
Why is Le Creuset cookware so expensive? The short answer is: because you get what you pay for. Le Creuset makes some of the best cast iron cookware on the market, including the best Dutch oven money can buy.
Turn down the heat – Le Creuset skillets and pans retain heat exceptionally well. So you only need to use medium to medium-high heat for searing. One of the most common reasons that food sticks to our pans is using a heat setting that is too high.
Le Creuset enamel on steel stockpots and kettles deliver the fastest-heating performance of premium carbon steel glazed in our beautiful palette of colors. Lightweight and durable, carbon steel rapidly brings water to a boil to speed up prep and cooking and retains heat to keep food and liquids warm.
Unfortunately, toxic metals have been found in Le Creuset cookware. Lead and cadmium were found in measurable amounts in Le Creuset food contact surfaces. Additionally, three Le Creuset products discovered high levels of aluminum when used to cook acidic foods.
The company has been making cookware since 1925. It produces high-quality cast iron pieces, meaning they retain heat well, and they're coated with enamel, which makes cleanup very easy and enhances the variety of rich colors Le Creuset offers.
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
Enamel coating requires a bit more care than you may be used to. If the coating chips—from rough handling or abrasive cooking tools, for example—then the performance may be affected. Repairing enamel is doable, but it can be expensive.
Le Creuset products that are not cast-iron may be made in other countries, such as China (accessories or silicone products), Thailand (kettles and ceramics), England (enamel cleaner), Portugal (stainless steel), and Eswatini (clay pots).
They will last forever (okay, maybe not 1,000 years, but still). We stock our kitchens with Le Creuset dutch ovens, braising pans, woks and frying pans, and they take a pretty heavy beating.
As for cleaners, our Le Creuset Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner will help keep your Dutch oven looking great, and is ideal for removing metal marks caused by metal tools. Bar Keeper's Friend, or a paste of baking soda and water, also comes in handy for cleaning tough stains, oil residue and marks on your Dutch oven as well.
Chefs often rely on French cookware not only because of its performance but also because of its longevity. French brands like Le Creuset and Staub are household names, thanks to the heirloom-quality cookware they produce.
No, Staub's cast iron cookware is still made in France. While some of the brand's ceramic pieces are made in China, Staub's cast iron cookware is made in Merville, in the north of France, using traditional techniques with state-of-the-art technology.
No French kitchen is complete without a Le Creuset Dutch Oven. This big, classic pot is amazing for stews, soups, and pretty much anything you want to simmer. It can go from stovetop to oven, so it's great for braising chicken or steak before putting it in the oven.