My take on Le Creuset's stainless steel range

Le Creuset has always had us in love with its use of cast iron and its fabulous cocottes, with its characteristic design and such high quality. Well, with these two qualities it has made us fall in love again, but this time with stainless steel: it launched the Le Creuset Inox range on the market, which is spreading everywhere due to its high performance and beautiful design (and that shine that has no equal!).

Luisa Morón, author of the blog Cocinando con mi Carmela , has had some of the articles from the collection since it was launched, and today she gives us her opinion on it, which you will surely find interesting.

We have known the Le Creuset brand and its famous cast iron cocottes for a long time, but a few months ago they launched the new stainless steel range . Since I saw it advertised I didn't hesitate, I had to get some of the pieces. I am an unconditional fan of the brand, a lover of cocottes, and knowing the quality with which they work I was sure that these new steel pots would not disappoint me, and so it has been.

First of all, when buying a kitchen item as important and as frequently used as a pot, frying pan or saucepan, I pay a lot of attention to its design. In this case, I think that the aesthetics are more than approved: Le Creuset has based its traditional, beautiful and successful cocottes on the design of the lids in this collection. As we are so used to its design, this collection certainly attracts attention: you have to look at it once or twice to understand that it is not the traditional iron cocotte, but a stainless steel pot.

But its aesthetics do not end with a pretty lid, what makes it very special is the quality of its enamel: it has an iridescent shine that you only find in these pieces, and due to its quality they are guaranteed to maintain this characteristic for years (in fact, Le Creuset provides a lifetime guarantee!).

As I have been able to read, each piece is made of stainless steel in three layers (stainless steel, aluminum, and stainless steel), in this way the heat will spread evenly and reach the top of the edges (the whole piece has this structure, not just the base). I can assure you that you will get excellent results in cooking.

Another thing I look for in stainless steel pots is that once you wash them they don't get stained, and so far this is the only one that has managed to do this, and it's thanks to the titanium it contains that it resists discoloration and stains. In addition, the mirror effect of the finish that I mentioned earlier makes it a good choice for displaying on your table.

You can use it on any type of cooker, including induction hobs, and you can even put it in the oven to finish off a stew.

It is perfect for everyday use in your kitchen, for traditional stews. A low heat, to cook pasta or vegetables...

The Le Creuset stainless steel range

The Le Creuset Inox collection is made up of pots, saucepans, frying pans and saucepans. All of them, with the exception of the frying pan, have this lid that makes the range so characteristic of Le Creuset.

One of the items worth highlighting is the Sauté, a truly versatile and practical product, not easy to find: it is a combination of a frying pan and a saucepan (some describe it as a frying pan with high walls). Its size makes it suitable for many things: sautéing vegetables, making stir-fries, braising, stewing, frying, roasting…

In the photo, Le Creuset stainless steel sauté

Characteristics

Here are the slightly more technical features that all the items in the Le Creuset stainless steel range meet, you will find it interesting:

- One of the most notable features is its ergonomic handles: they have an excellent grip, which also provides greater safety; and they also have a hollow interior to reduce the effect of heat.

- Lid with hole that controls steam flow to prevent overflow. Its snap keeps the lid firmly in place.

- Resistant up to 260 °C.

- Glossy exterior/Matte interior.

- Capacity marker inside the utensils.

- As a feature but also as a curiosity, you should know that the edges are designed to avoid splashes, and it can be used by left- or right-handed people.

- Reinforced with titanium to prevent discoloration.

- Knob suitable for temperatures up to 260 °C.

- Compatible with all heat sources, including induction hobs, and dishwasher safe.

If you want to find out more about this collection, you can see the post that was made when this collection was launched on the market ( here )

Tips and instructions for use

The entire collection is made of stainless steel, with all that this implies:

When cooking with a pot, saucepan or sauté pan, we usually have to keep in mind that when cooking we must use the correct temperature, at a medium and low temperature. This will ensure excellent performance and will also allow us to clean it correctly and remove residue easily.

In the case of the frying pan, where we will normally make grilled food, fried food or omelettes, you will want to heat the pan very hot to prevent it from sticking. In this case, use high heat to heat it, and lower it when you put the food in.

Cooking with stainless steel utensils is ideal for a healthy diet, and we can use little oil when cooking, and the vitamins and nutrients of the food will be preserved.

Finally, and something I really appreciate, the heat distribution is so good that the utensils heat up much faster, saving you time when cooking and energy.

When handling utensils, you should use a glove or kitchen cloth when they are hot, and when handling food, always use wooden or silicone spatulas to avoid damaging the surface.

Get inspired with some recipes

Now you just have to see some of our recipes to fall in love with them. I encourage you to see:

- Noodles with chanterelles , prepared in the lovely sauté pan,

- or some sautéed peas , which you can see on my blog.

I hope that all this information will help you to get one of the utensils from this collection, as it is a product that will last a lifetime. A good collection for your kitchen, which you will even want to leave on display in your kitchen to show off!