Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Iron Handle Skillet, 11.75", Caribbean

After using my mom's vintage Le Creuset skillet for years, I bought a Creuset Dutch Oven about a year ago, and it was a huge hit in our household. It's totally a repeat buy for everyone in my family. After a while I wanted to get a bigger skillet to add to the collection, because the vintage one can really only cook a very small amount of food at the same time. Since I bought this at the beginning of lockdown, I think a lot of other people were splurging on kitchen gear because they were cooking more from home. So this took about a month to arrive. Once it got here, I was excited to try it out, and the whole family has been using it. I've had it for at least 3 months by now. Pro: 1. Larger surface space 2. Cast iron is sturdy, and easy to clean 3. It's high quality, so it will last for years. 4. I can cook more food at one time. Cons: 1. There is no protective handle, since it's all made of cast iron. This isn't a problem if you're frying a quick egg, pancakes, or grilled cheese. But if you're cooking for a while with items that need to simmer, the entire thing gets hot, and you need to wear oven mits/gloves. 2. It's very heavy to pick up and put in the sink. If I pick it up with one hand, my arm is shaking. I typically need two hands. But if it's still hot, it's really difficult. Maybe I'm just really weak. I find that I still gravitate towards my old vintage skillet, because it's easier for me to hold, pick up, etc. I can't say that I regret buying this, because it's useful in its own way. But basically, I think I would repeat buy the dutch oven and vintage style skillet, but I'd never get this one again.

For those that have problems cooking in the skillet, you’re doing it wrong. Sorry but it’s the truth, you have to do your part to learn how to cook in cast iron and especially enameled cast iron because it is a little different. 1- The skillet is not nonstick nor does the description say that it is. 2 - It is also not meant to be seasoned as some may think is the problem. The interior is sealed with enamel, you can’t season it like bare cast iron. Food won’t stick if you know how to use it. 3 - The pan needs to heat up before you put anything in it. If you’ve only ever cooked in nonstick cookware you can get away with starting with too cold of a skillet, cast iron requires the skillet to be hot. I turn the burner to a medium setting and let it heat up for 3-4 minutes along with your choice of oil or cooking spray before putting any food in. Cast iron initially heats un-evenly but retains that heat. That’s also why when cooking delicate things like eggs I actually shut the burner off halfway through as the skillet will retain its heat for quite some time. 4 - I got the pan in the photos about a year ago and it cooks food just as great today as it did the first day. My pan hasn’t developed the patina that is mentioned but I tend to throw mine in the dishwasher after wiping it out which will slow that process. 5 - And being able to throw this in the dishwasher if you’re feeling extremely lazy is something you’ll never be able to do with regular cast iron. I just bought my second pan and gave it as a gift, these things are great!

I love this pan but the negative reviews are not necessarily wrong. Using this pan is about as close as I get to enjoying cooking. This thing is solid. It heats up fast on my induction cooktop, it holds heat like crazy, and it does a good job of being non-stick. I spend a few seconds more washing it than a Teflon pan, but it's worth it. The other "but" is that you need to use it right. I'm not a great chef, I'm not going to try to write a manual on what right is, the booklet that comes with it does a good job of that. What I will say is I can scramble eggs in it and it takes me less than a minute to clean it after. My wife will scramble eggs in it and Ive had to soak it for 3 days to loosen it up enough to get it clean. This is a case of know thyself. If you're going to read the instructions and use it the way you're supposed to it's amazing and nearly indestructible. If you're going to turn the temp up too high then dump an egg in there with no butter or oil (and no judgement if that's how you cook), you're going to hate it.

The perfect size for eggs and even hotdogs! Too hot where I live to grill, but I like a good hotdog. I fill the pan with enough water to cover the bottom and go slightly up the curve, then set the heat to medium and turn halfway through the water completely evaporating (about 8 or so minutes), then I add butter and continue cooking until nicely browned all over and the Nathan hotdog skin is crispy. So good and satisfying. This piece is beautiful as it is functional. It’s a keeper for a long, long, long time.

My wife and I have two of the Le Creuset Signature pans - this nine inch version and the twelve inch iteration. We got the thirty centimeter pan for our first anniversary and the twenty three centimeter for our second. These pans are, without question, the best frying pans I have ever used. I first encountered them in the care of a roommate who was gifted two of them upon graduating culinary school. The special enamel coating is unlike any pan I have ever used: it is not a traditional "non-stick", nor is it a plain cast iron. It is a unique enamel formulation that, over a short period of time, acquires a patina which offers the best of both worlds. It imparts the kind of rich carmelization and browning you expect from well-seasoned cast iron, while also having outstanding non-stick qualities without any unusual chemicals (PTFE, etc.) being involved. Unlike traditional cast iron, the Signature pans do not require seasoning with oil and high heat, and can be washed with regular dish soap and scrubber sponges or the like. You can put them in the dishwasher, and you can use heavy scrub brushes on them, but both of these things will inhibit (or outright prevent) the development of the patina that enables the enamel finish to really function as intended. I recommend only hand washing, and only using soft nylon scrubber sponges at most. Fortunately, even high heat cooking rarely if ever sticks anything to this pan so badly that you can't clean it off with a sponge or, at worst, getting at it with a wooden spoon. To really make the pan shine - literally and figuratively - I recommend that after cleaning and drying it, you spray it with a light coating of neutral vegetable oil (soy or canola) and gently wipe it down with a paper towel to form a light shiny coat. Doing this every time will help develop the patina more quickly, and leaves the pan ready to fry the next time you reach for it. You don't need a lot of oil here - just a smidge. These pans are expensive, no question. They are also ridiculously durable and incredibly useful. They will probably end up in our will. We barely use any of our other pans anymore! They're that good.

When I first got it, I was disappointed everything I tried to cook stuck to the pan like crazy. I followed Le Creuset's instructions and those of others I found on YouTube, but nothing seemed to make much of a difference. I finally found a video on YouTube that solved the problem. Since I can't locate the video, here's the basics. Heat pan on medium low until water dropped on surface dances and skitters around the pan. If it sits and boils dry, the pan is not hot enough. Once it's the right temp, turn down the heat, and add a thin coat of oil (I use coconut). On my gas stove, I start on 4 (scale of 1 to 10), then turn it down to 3 right before adding oil. I have my eggs in a bowl ready to go. I add a small pat of butter, brush it around the pan, and add the eggs. Since doing it this way, I've had no trouble of sticking. This also works on stainless steel.

This is a high quality pan but it did not meet my needs so I returned it. I needed a pan for cooking eggs, burgers, steaks nearly every day. This pan takes too long, is not supposed to be heated to high heat, and so my food didn't cook the way I wanted it too. Eggs stick quite a bit, steaks and burgers don't get brown enough. It is time consuming maintaining this pan. I learned later that it is better for things like braises, stews and baking. If you buy this pan for what it is made for, I think you'll be very happy.

This is a wonderful skillet!

Le Creuset Signature Gusseisen Brat und Servierpfanne This Le Creuset Signature Gusseisen-Bratpfanne (cast iron frying pan) truly feels like my first "grown-up" kitchen essential. From the moment I held it, the weight and quality construction were undeniable. There's a certain heft to it that screams "built to last," and I have no doubt it will be a cherished part of my kitchen for many years to come. While the 23 cm size might seem a bit small, it's perfect for everyday meals for one or two people. I love that it heats evenly, ensuring perfectly cooked food every time. The smooth enamel surface makes both cooking and cleaning a breeze. Plus, it just looks so elegant on the stovetop! This pan is definitely an investment, but the quality and potential longevity make it worthwhile. In fact, I'm already looking forward to expanding my collection with a whole set of Le Creuset cookware! I can even imagine passing this pan down to my children someday. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautiful, durable, and high-performing frying pan

Excelente produto ! Juntar grana para ter mais umas

It's a solid heavy pan that gives you much of the benefit of cast iron with less of the hassle. I can't speak for the durability of the surface but I see no reason why it shouldn't last if it is hand washed and not banged around and abused.

È così bella. Funziona benissimo anche come padella! Basta scaldarla lentamente fino alla temperatura giusta e il cibo non si attacca. È pesante e ovviamente il manico si surriscalda. La mia padella preferita!!

Pure Le Creuset quality in a small size. Is perfect for scrambling 2 eggs and other small jobs. The finish is virtually non stick and cleans very easily. Love it.