Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/2-Quart Round French Oven, Red

I'm lucky to have 2 Le Creuset pots.  The red 5 1/2 quart round was a gift from my husband and the smaller yellow 3 quart round I bought myself.  Yes, they are pricey, but it is the type cookware that I will be able to pass down to a niece or nephew one day.

It is a main stay for me during the winter months for braising, roasting and entertaining.

The pot does everything the advertisements suggest they do.  It's well made, and the Black Onyx comes with the stainless steel lid knob.  A number of people didn't care for the phenolic knob.  For what I cook and the quantities cooked, the 5 1/2 quart is a perfect size, but if you're cooking for more than three or four, the larger size up might be the way to go, especially if you want leftovers.

Being able to use pot for cooking, serving, and storing in the fridge is a very nice atrtribute.  It makes the whole making the meal and storing the results a little simpler, not that you can't do that with other pots.

The quality of the enameled coating is excellent, both inside and out.  I couldn'd find a chip, scratch, or weak area in the coating.  The almond colored interior finish is very smooth, and releases the food well - no scrubbing or extra energy needed for cleanup.

The pot goes easily from the stove top to the oven, and heats evenly in both places.  But this baby really shines in the oven when doing a long, slow braise or making a stew.  The top fits well, it's oven proof to a temp higher than most anyone would use, and the handles were comfortable.

Although it's an expensive pot, it's worth it.  Try to get a good deal, though.  Le Creuset has a number of outlet stores that sell at a good discount and sometimes have sales on top of that.  Whatever you do, if you've been thinking about getting one, do it!  You won't be disappointed.

I should mention that I have the black pot, not the red.  I've found that the black color transfers heat better than the lighter colors, and have been using lower oven temps to get the same degree of simmer.

This is a great pot for long, slow cooking, and rugged enough for daily use, but is so heavy that I only use it when I need the even heat distribution.

 

That said, it's a beautiful pot and looks nice sitting on my black stove - and when I do need even steady heat, it's great.  It's also great for baking rustic bread quickly in the oven.h