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Cook in Style with Le Creuset Pots
Le Creuset is a French manufacturer of enameled cast iron cookware and bakeware. Since 1925 when two Belgian industrialists Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq founded the business – the company has established itself as one of the top makers of traditional cast iron cookware. It produces stylish and durable pots and other types of cookware including saucepans and wine openers. Among the wide range of Le Creuset pots, the “Dutch Oven” or the “French Oven,” is what Le Creuset is best known for.
Le Creuset’s colorful enameled cast iron pots are manufactured using a time-honored method of hand-casting molten cast iron in sand molds. The factory is located at Fresnoy-Le-Grand in Northern France. Each mold is destroyed following the casting process and the cookware is polished and sanded manually. The products undergo meticulous inspection before being declared fit for enameling. Two separate coats of enamel are applied then fired at very high temperature. The result is extremely hard enamel coating that is highly resistant to damage.
Le Creuset Colors and Designs
One endearing quality of Le Creuset pots, apart from the traditional method by which each one is produced, is the vibrant colors available. The pots may come available in interesting colors such as cherry, flame, or brick. The interior of the pots is cream-colored non-toxic enamel.
Most Le Creuset pots follow industry standard designs but the company has also introduced its own patented designer cookware. Famous designer Raymond Loewy was commissioned in the 1950′s to come up with a unique line of French/Dutch ovens. Le Creuset’s “La Mama” cookware line arrived in the market in 1973. It was the brainchild of designer Enzo Mari.
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User and expert reviews regard Le Creuset pots as the best enameled cast iron cookware there is. The pots’ heavy cast iron core, which extends to the sides for heat conductivity, has received particular attention. The base, sides, and lids of every pot have consistent thickness and quality for the effective management of heat. The cast iron material makes Le Creuset pots heavier than most cookware but it helps keep food hot for a longer period.
Tests done on Le Creuset cookware attested to the versatility and impressive heat retention of the pots. The pots are recommended by experts for preparing dishes that require cooking initially on stovetop to be finished in the oven such as with braises. Another popular feature of Le Creuset pots is their capability of keeping food warm for long periods after being removed from the fire. The porcelain enamel coating is resistant to odors and flavors and easy to clean. Le Creuset cookware may be used with gas, electric, induction, and ceramic ranges. Relatively more expensive and a lot heavier than most cookware, users and expert reviewers agree that Le Creuset pots are worth the investment.
Le Creuset French Ovens cost around $200 at Amazon.com. Price may be as low as $87 or as high as $399 for each pot, depending on color and size. Specialty sets like teakettles, fondue sets, and pate terrines of similar quality are also available.