Product Description

With Le Creuset, you not only get an exceptional piece of cookery but also a handsome serving dish that you can carry right from the oven to the table. Our buffet casserole serves a one-pot, family-sized dish like a Mexican chicken and rice or a Cajun jambalaya. The pan is deep so it holds plenty of meat, poultry or seafood, plus vegetables or grains. It comes with two wide handles that provide balance when carrying plus a heavy, domed lid that helps seal in juices so your food is tender and moist. Oven-safe to 450 degrees F and dishwasher-safe. The buffet casserole holds 3.5-quarts.About Le Creuset...Since 1925, artisans have been crafting Le Creuset cookware in the French village of Fresnoy Le Grand. Each piece of Le Creuset cast iron cookware is handcast, polished, double enamel-coated and then fired, resulting in some of the finest quality cookware available. Cast iron is one of the best materials for distributing heat gently and thoroughly and is ideal for induction ranges. The strong enamel coating will not absorb odors or flavors, and is easy to clean. Heavy lids securely seal in moisture and flavor. Le Creuset cookware comes in a variety of sizes, colors and styles to match any kitchen and cooking preference. So lasting, you'll pass it on to the next generation of promising cooks.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #170270 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Chestnut
• Brand: Le Creuset
• Model: L2532-3029
• Released on: 2006-04-01
• Dimensions: 5.25" h x 14.50" w x 12.25" l, 12.60 pounds

Features

• 3-1/2-quart buffet casserole made of enameled cast iron for fast, even heating
• Sturdy loop handles facilitate carrying from the oven or stovetop to the table
• Heavy, tight-fitting lid helps lock in heat, moisture, and flavor
• Dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 450 degrees F
• Measures 12-1/4 by 14-1/2 by 5-1/4 inches; limited lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review
Beautiful enough to bring to the table and durable enough to outlive its 101-year warranty against defects, this heavy casserole is perfect for preparing and ceremoniously serving a dish such as baked pasta or braised short ribs. Use it in the oven or on the stovetop. Made of cast iron, with an exterior and interior clad in Le Creuset's famous bright enamel, the casserole holds 3-1/2 quarts and measures 12-1/4 by 14-1/2 by 5-1/4 inches. Cast iron is unexcelled for heat distribution and retention, so this casserole cooks foods evenly and gently without hot spots. The knob on its heavy, tight-fitting lid is ovenproof to 450 degrees F. Loop handles facilitate carrying, and the casserole is dishwasher-safe. Like all Le Creuset products, this casserole dish is made in France. --Fred Brack

Customer Reviews

A great starter piece or addition to your Le Creuset collection
Le Creuset manufactures porcelain enameled cast iron cooking vessels as well as other products. Le Creuset casts these cooking vessels from molten iron poured in sand moulds that are used only once. For this reason, one pot may look like another, but each is unique in its own way.

Cast iron is a highly efficient material which absorbs and distributes heat efficiently. It is recommended that cooking with cast iron is done on low to medium heat. However, there are exceptions like boiling water where cooking on high heat is appropriate and okay. Remove cast iron from the heat and it does not cool off quickly. This heat retention helps your food stay warm while serving. Beware; iron tends to be heavy so are these cooking vessels.

Cast iron is an effective material for cooking so why cover it with enamel? Iron tends to rust; iron oxide (rust) doesn't add any complimentary flavors to your food. If your cast iron cooking vessel was not enameled, you would have to season and maintain your cooking vessel. Adding the porcelain enamel not only looks good, but has multiple benefits. The enamel, being a solid coating, is one of the most hygienic surfaces to cook on, does not stain, absorb odors, retain flavors, and is easy to clean. The enamel can be damaged, so limit cooking tools to plastic or wood.

The benefits of cooking with Le Creuset cast iron are many, but lets get down to the buffet casserole specifically. The buffet casseroles are one of the most versatile pieces in the Le Creuset lineup. Use this pan as a sauté pan, a roasting pan, for poaching, or as a shallow braiser. The 3.5 quart capacity can is plenty of space when it comes to casseroles, so consider your recipes when determining the size you need. The buffet casserole tends to do best if at least three quarters full. Any less and you may overwhelm your food with the evenly dispersed heat in the pot.

With a large flat bottom that curves up this pan resembles a curved sided saute pan the only thing missing would be a long handle. The tight fitting lid is mostly flat with curved sides. This lid seals in heat, moisture, and flavors and can be used to hold your meat while you are making a sauce from the drippings. Its shape and design makes this an extremely versatile pan.

I tend to use this pot for basic dishes like smothered pork chops more than anything else. But once you get past the basic functionality that lends itself to recipes such as paella, frittatas, deep dish pizza, and casseroles, you can really open up the possibilities. Keep in mind this is a 3.5 quart pan, feeding two out if it is ridiculous unless you want leftovers. It is probably the perfect size for a family of four in most cases. Try baking pineapple upside down cake or bread pudding for when you need to please many guests, poaching fish, or Mac and Cheese. The possibilities almost seem endless.

One feature that people tend to complain about is the cost. The cost does seem steep compared to other pans made from other materials. Heck, cast iron doesn't seem like it should be expensive when comparing to that old cast iron pan past generations have used for cornbread and camping. However the manufacturing process requires making a mould for each and every pan produced. They then go through the enameling process before shipping these heavy pans. If you take what goes into making and distributing these high quality cast iron products, the cost tends to make sense. Then consider that this pan will easily last a lifetime when taken care of.
PROS:
Extremely versatile
Efficient absorption and distribution of heat
Hygienic enamel cooking surface
Does not stain, absorb odors, or retain flavors
Easy to clean when not abused or misused
Can be transferred from stove top to the oven to the table
Can easily last a lifetime

CONS:
Its heavy, as cast iron tends to be weighing in at about 12.25 pounds.