If there’s one brand that defines beauty and performance in the kitchen, it’s Le Creuset — and I say that as someone who owns a lot of their products. I’ve been using them for over 8 years, and while my love for the brand is real, it comes with a few cautions. I bought most of my cast iron pieces in a discontinued color, which helped with pricing. I purchased most of the ceramics at full price or during small sales. Here’s my honest breakdown:
🔹 Cast Iron & Nonstick Cookware
- Gorgeous and great for heat retention
- Not ideal for high-heat cooking — works best at low to medium temperatures
- Enamel interior doesn’t stain (even with tomato sauces)
- Cleans well if used correctly, but can scratch in the dishwasher
- One piece had a crack-like mark after 6 months; customer support wasn’t great
- Despite the care required, I’d buy them again — worth it for performance + aesthetics
- My “Lazy Cook” nonstick pot is a favorite — easy to clean, practical, and surprisingly resistant, even on higher heat
- The grill pan and skillet are beautiful, but not as versatile, not great for basic recipes, and a bit tricky to clean
🔹 Silicone Tools
- The spatulas are amazing — flexible, non-stick, and gentle on cookware
- Important tip: the bamboo part of the spatulas must be removed before dishwashing
- I only learned this after some damage — they should offer replacement bamboo handles
- Silicone holds up perfectly — the issue is care instructions not being clearly explained
🔹 Ceramic Pieces
- I own a large collection: salt crocks, utensil holders, oil/vinegar bottles, ramekins, etc.
- The ceramic oil/vinegar bottles were a letdown — the silicone ring often gets stuck inside, leading to breakage
- Salt & pepper grinders: great for decoration, but not ideal for daily use
- The ceramics are undeniably beautiful, and more refined than many other brands
- I’ve collected unique, discontinued pieces from different countries, making my kitchen feel extra personal
🔹 Baking Sheets & Accessories
- Nonstick baking sheets disappointed me — rusted quickly, not dishwasher safe, and the Teflon degraded fast
- One metal accessory pot even lost a piece of its coating after a wash, despite careful spacing in the dishwasher
- These are items I wouldn’t repurchase
✅ Final Thoughts
- Le Creuset is an investment — but for the right pieces, it’s worth it
- It’s not very beginner-friendly — there’s a learning curve to using and maintaining their cookware properly
- I would repurchase the cast iron cookware and the “Lazy Cook” line
- I would not repurchase the oil/vinegar bottles, baking sheets, or some of the metal accessories
- Customer service could be more helpful, especially for premium-priced items
- If you value a beautiful kitchen and love cooking with care and intention, Le Creuset delivers
- In future posts, I’ll share my comparisons with other brands and what truly earned a spot in my kitchen
Summary:
- 🟢 Cast iron pots: excellent heat retention, beautiful, worth the investment
- 🔴 Interior enamel can wear early; customer service was not responsive
- 🟢 Lazy Cook pot: easy to clean, surprisingly versatile — my most-used piece
- 🟢 Spatulas: top quality silicone; just detach from bamboo before washing
- 🔴 Bamboo handles can discolor if dishwashed (info not clearly explained)
- 🟢 Ceramic line: elegant and unique; perfect for serving
- 🔴 Oil/vinegar bottles: fragile — design flaw with silicone part
- 🔴 Nonstick baking sheets: rusted, wore down fast
- 🔴 Metal accessory pot lost coating in dishwasher — wouldn’t repurchase
- 🟢 Would buy cast iron + Lazy Cook again
- 🔴 Would avoid baking sheets, oil/vinegar bottles, and certain accessories
- 🟡 Brand is beautiful but requires proper use + care knowledge
- 🟢 Collecting pieces across countries made my collection unique
- 🔜 Stay tuned for a future post comparing Le Creuset to other kitchen brands
