Over the past few months, I’ve seen numerous articles declaring Le Creuset products as overrated. One article even described the brand by the circa-2013 term “cheugy,” meaning cringy or outdated. (Not to be snarky, but it’s kinda funny the author used this particular word because, well, it’s kinda outdated.) And okay, sure, not everything from the heritage French brand is a slam dunk, and collecting Le Creuset enamelware solely for its aesthetic isn’t something I’d do. But I just had to stand up and write a few words to defend my favorite Le Creuset product: Its Dutch oven, which also happens to be the overall best in our tested reviews, a title it’s held since 2017.
Why the Le Creuset Dutch Oven Is the Best
Credit: Amazon
Dutch ovens are the draft horses of pots; they’re burly, tough, versatile, and made for hard work. And the elegant Le Creuset is like the Clydesdale of the lot. I tested Dutch ovens, and let me tell you, the quality varied widely from brand to brand. Some Dutch ovens had enamel that had hardened in unsightly drips, while others were chipped right out of the box. Some were too cramped, leading to flabby, wan sears on meat. And some were incredibly heavy—nearly 16 pounds in one instance, which required a decent set of guns to haul around the kitchen. Amid this sea of disappointment, the Le Creuset stood out like Venus on her seashell. She may be pretty, but Venus ain’t no pushover, and the same goes for the Le Creuset Dutch oven. Its enamel is tough; it stayed pristine even after I whacked it with a metal spoon in my tests. It also recently survived a violent cleaning by my husband, who tried to scour off some gunk with a chainmail scrubber. (Yikes!) Another anecdote that serves my purpose: My parents have had their Le Creuset Dutch oven since before I was born (30-plus years), and its enamel is still in perfect condition. It’s well loved, too—we grew up scooping chili and beef stew out of it on the reg.
Beyond its hardiness, the wide interior sears meat deeply, and the cream-colored enamel makes it easy to see fond development. Every braised dish I’ve made in it cooks and reduces perfectly, and I’ve made a lot. I use this pot at least three times a week, if not more, in the winter. The wide knob on top is easy to grip, even with an oven mitt, and the pot only weighs a little over 11 pounds. It’s easy to move from stovetop to oven, and vice versa.
And yes, the Le Creuset does come in a mind-boggling array of colors. While some folks might gripe about it and find it gimmicky, what brand hasn’t done some limited-release colorway to entice buyers? It’s the modern way! As the cliché goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and just because Le Creuset makes a gorgeous, aesthetically pleasing Dutch oven doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any substance to it. I’d proudly choose it over any other Dutch oven, any day.
Why We’re the Experts
- Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats.
- She’s been testing kitchen gear and gadgets for over four years.
- She uses her Le Creuset Dutch oven multiple times a week.
- She tested over a dozen Dutch ovens to find the best ones.
