How to choose the right size for my casserole?

One of the most frequent questions among those of you considering buying a Le Creuset casserole or casserole is "What size of casserole should I buy?". It's hard to choose, because we want a pot for everything: for everyday use and for the most special days, to make creams and to roast... Faced with all those varied considerations, what size is appropriate?

We have extensive experience advising on this topic, so we leave you a guide to choosing the right casserole size.

How to choose the size of my casserole?

First, it’s essential to know whether it’s a first or a second casserole. If it’s your first casserole and you want to use it daily, it’s important to choose a casserole suited to the number of people usually at home. On the other hand, if it’s a second casserole, it will depend on whether it’s for one person or for several diners.

Choosing the size of my first casserole, for everyday use

It’s very important to buy the first casserole for the number of people at home so you can use it daily or regularly. Many people make the mistake of looking for a larger casserole than they would normally use, so they can make the most of it on special occasions with 10 or 15 people at home, but they don’t take into account that they will then use the casserole very little, because it’s a heavy item and will be too large for daily use.

So, if it’s your first casserole and you want to get the most out of it on a regular basis, buy it for the number of people in your household. And if it’s your second casserole or you really want a casserole for times when there are many of you, buy a large one.

How to choose my Le Creuset round casserole?

To choose well you must choose thinking in PORTIONS (Not people!). On the product pages of the different cocottes (starting with the most common, the round casserole), you will see a indicator table with the number of servings you can cook based on each casserole’s diameter. Using those charts, think about which casserole to choose, keeping in mind the following tips to pick the right casserole.

4 portions don't have to equal 4 people! You should think not only about how many you are but how you behave at home. Consider the following:

Tips to keep in mind when choosing a casserole

• The servings indicated in each casserole’s serving charts (on the cocotte product pages) are "standard portions", they are by no means small portions; they are generous (not exaggerated, but quite proper).
• Think about the size of the portions you serve at home: if at home you usually serve very large portions, you’ll need a larger casserole than the chart suggests. That is, if there are 4 of you, your portions for 4 will equal 6 or 7 standard servings, so you should choose based on that number of servings. Conversely, if you serve very small portions, 4 people could equal 3 servings on the chart.
• Do you usually have seconds? You may always serve standard portions, but two diners—or regularly one or another—might always have seconds. If so, if there are 4 of you at home, it will be worth choosing a casserole for 6 or 8 servings, already factoring in those repeat helpings of the same recipe.
• Do you tend to cook extra to make sure there's leftovers, or to freeze: some people make just enough for that day, but others always cook extra, planning to store it in the fridge or freezer. If you tend to cook extra, choose a casserole slightly larger than the servings indicated for your household, or it will be too small.
• Small children eat small portions now, but they grow quickly. We recommend you don't think of them as a "half portion" because in a few months or years the pot would be too small, which would be a shame. Think of the little ones as standard portions.
• Casseroles go a long way: often the first impression is that it will be too small, but generally, after the first uses and seeing a casserole’s real capacity (thanks to its wide base and height), you see that every centimeter is well used and that the guide charts are accurate.

Example: a family with 2 children and two adults, where the parents tend to have seconds, the ideal would be to start with a 24 cm casserole (thinking 4 standard servings + 2 refills). Only if they plan to cook quite a bit extra to have food for the next day or to freeze would they consider a 26 cm one, because with a 24 cm they will be able to serve everyone, have seconds, and a bit more.

What is the most common casserole size?

The most common size, the best-selling casserole worldwide, is 24 cm in diameter (being the TOP-SELLING casserole the cherry color 24 cm). That size lets you cook for 4 to 6 generous portions, which is perfect for many families made up of parents with 2 children, or families of 4 who receive a visitor on the weekend (up to 6 portions).

The 26 cm size is also very common, designed for about 8 portions, which suits both those who host family every weekend and those who want to cook extra to freeze.

Getting a second casserole

Once you’ve cooked in Le Creuset cast iron, you’ll repeat. It’s very common to look for a second casserole, and you might be looking for:

• A smaller casserole, for days when you’re home alone or there are just two of you, or to use as a saucepan or for side recipes. In that case, you can look at an 18 or 20 cm one.
• If, on the other hand, you want a casserole for family days or when friends are invited, keep in mind that the larger it is, the bigger, the heavier, and the much more food it makes. For special-occasion casseroles, 28, 30, and 32 cm are common. These are undoubtedly more for special days with many diners, but keep their weight very much in mind (with the lid on and food inside, they can weigh 12 to 15 kilos, so they aren’t easy casseroles to handle). It will be a lifetime investment, but buy it knowing what you’re getting and that it will be a heavy casserole (so if you can manage with a 28 cm, better than a 30 or 32 cm, as it’s much lighter).

Choosing the size of an oval casserole

The oval casserole is an ideal casserole for whole cuts of meat (whole chickens, legs of lamb, long fish, etc.). Just as with the round ones, you’ll see a servings chart on the product page, and it’s worth choosing the size that suits your needs. In this case, it’s often weekend needs, which is when people tend to cook these kinds of pieces.

Don’t be misled by the size of the casserole: oval casseroles offer a larger diameter and length, but they lose capacity because the other diagonal is narrower. The chart indicates the longer diameter of the casserole, and you should choose according to the number of servings you want to cook in it: