Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Buffet Casserole, Cobalt Blue
by Le Creuset
List Price:
Our Price: $204.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Kitchen
See more product details
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Le CreusetBrand: Le Creuset
Release Date: 2006-04-01
Model: L2532-3030
Color: Cobalt Blue
Product features:
- 3-1/2-quart buffet casserole made of enameled cast iron
- Cast-iron loop side handles facilitate convenient transport
- Secure-fitting lid with phenolic knob locks in heat, moisture, and flavor
- Hand washing recommended; oven-safe to 350 degrees F
- Measures approximately 13-2/5 by 10-4/5 by 4-3/5 inches; limited lifetime warranty
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/2-Quart Round French Oven, Cobalt
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/4-Quart Round French Oven, Cobalt Blue
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 4-1/2-Quart Round French Oven, Red
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 10-1/4-Inch Square Skillet Grill, Cobalt
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/4-Quart Round French Oven, Cassis
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Buffet Casserole, Cobalt Blue
Customer Review: A great starter piece or addition to your Le Creuset collection
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Description of Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Buffet Casserole, Cobalt Blue
Le Creuset 3 1/2 qt Buffet Server w/cover, Cobalt Blue. The hand-finished craftsmanship and superior quality of Le Creuset enameled cast iron have long made it the cookware considered by many to be the finest in the world. Bold colors, timeless design aThis 3-1/4-quart Le Creuset buffet casserole is individually sand-cast of rugged cast iron, then clad in two coats of hard, colorful enamel. The result? Cookware so durable it's covered by a lifetime warranty, and so attractive you'll proudly bring it to the table or buffet, where it'll stay hot indefinitely. Cast iron retains and distributes heat evenly, making this round pot with its tight-fitting lid and non-abrasive bottom excellent for braising, simmering, browning, or poaching on any type of stovetop burner. And, because the black phenolic lid knob is oven-safe to 375 degrees F, the pot and lid can be used to bake a casserole whose cheesy crust can be browned under the broiler with the lid removed. You can also use the enameled pot for marinating meats and storing leftovers in the refrigerator.
Le Creuset is known for suffusing the exterior of its products with bright, modern colors, while keeping a more neutral tone on the interior to showcase the cuisine. The enamel interior resists cracking and staining and is best cared for when the contents are stirred with nylon, wood, or silicone utensils. Food particles tend not to stick to the smooth surface, making cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher a snap. Made in France, Le Creuset cast-iron cookware is guaranteed to be free of defects for the lifetime of the original owner, whether self-purchased or received as a gift. --Ann Bieri
Casseroles
Kitchen and Housewares
Most talked about in Le Creuset
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 11-3/ 4-Inch Skillet with Iron Handle, DuneLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2005-01-21; Kitchen
Best price: $154.95
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Combination Silicone "Cool Tool" Pot Holder and Jar Opener, CitrusLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2004-03-31; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Hi-Tech Kitchen Textile Potholder, CherryLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2005-04-01; Kitchen; Home
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops:
2.25-Quart Braiser in FlameLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Le Creuset 2-3/ 4-Quart Oval Oven, RedLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset 2-1/ 4-Quart Apple Casserole, RedLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2003-06-15; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron10 1/ 4-Inch Skillet with Iron Handle, BlueLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset 10-1/ 2-Inch Deluxe Oval Trivet, Cherry RedLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Stoneware 9-Inch Oval Baking Dish, CherryLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Best price: $28.00
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/ 2-Quart Bouillabaisse Pot, CherryLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Best price: $289.91
Price in other shops:
Similar Kitchen and Housewares Products
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/ 4-Quart Round French Oven, Cobalt BlueLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2006-04-01; Kitchen
Best price: $279.99
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 4-1/ 4-Quart Soup Pot with Cover, Cobalt BlueLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2007-01-10; Kitchen
Best price: $159.99
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Stoneware 1-1/ 4-Quart Rectangular Baker with Bonus 16-Ounce Rectangular Baker, Cobalt BlueLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2006-04-01; Kitchen
Best price: $35.95
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 2-1/ 4-Quart Saucier Pan, Cobalt BlueLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2006-04-01; Kitchen
Best price: $169.95
Price in other shops:
The Dutch Oven Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pot in Your Kitchenby Sharon Kramis, Julie Kramis-Hearne
Sasquatch Books; Published: 2006-09-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.47
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/ 2-Quart Round French Oven, CobaltLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2006-03-01; Kitchen
Best price: $299.99
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset Silicone Cool Tool Handle Sleeve, CobaltLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cookingby Molly Stevens
W. W. Norton & Company; Published: 2004-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.94
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset 12-Ounce Enameled Cast-Iron CleanerLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Release date: 2006-01-13; Kitchen
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Le Creuset L9403-45 Stainless-Steel 2-Inch Replacement KnobLe Creuset; Le Creuset; Kitchen
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops: