One of the most frequent questions among those who consider buying a Le Creuset cocotte or casserole is "What size cocotte to buy? ". It is hard for us to choose, because we want a pot for everything: for everyday use and for the most special days, to make creams and to make roasts... Given all these disparate approaches, what size is the right one?

We have long experience advising on this subject, so we leave you a guide to correctly choose the size of the cocotte .

How to choose the size of my cocotte?

First, it is essential to know if it is a first or a second cocotte. If this is the case of a first cocotte and you want to use it daily, it is important to choose a suitable cocotte for those of you who are at home regularly . On the other hand, if it is a second cocotte, it will depend if it is for a single person or for several diners.

Choosing the size of my first cocotte, for day to day

It is very important to buy the first cocotte for those of you at home to be able to use it daily or regularly. There are many people who make the mistake of looking for a larger cocotte than they would normally use, in order to be able to take advantage of it on those special occasions where there will be 10 or 15 people at home, but they do not take into account that they will then use the cocotte very little, because it is a very heavy item and will be too big for your daily use.

Thus, if it is your first cocotte and what you want is to get the most out of it on a regular basis, buy it for those of you at home. And if it is your second cocotte or you really want a cocotte for the occasions when there are many of you, buy a large one.

How to choose my round Le Creuset cocotte?

To choose well you have to choose thinking about RATIONS (Not people!). On the product pages of the different cocottes (starting with the most common, the round cocotte ), you will see an indicator table with the number of servings that can be cooked with the diameter of each cocotte. From these tables, think about which cocotte to choose, keeping in mind the following tips to choose your cocotte properly.

4 servings does not have to equal 4 people! You must think not only about how many there are but how you act at home. Think about the following:

Tips to keep in mind when choosing a cocotte

  • The portions indicated in the portion tables of each cocotte (on the product pages of the cocottes) are "standard portions" , they are not small portions at all, they are generous (not exaggerated, but very correct).
  • Think about the size of the portions you serve at home: if you normally serve very large portions at home, you will require a larger cocotte than the one indicated in the table. That is, if you are 4 people, your portions for 4 will be equivalent to 6 or 7 standard portions, so you will have to choose according to that number of portions. On the contrary, if you serve very small portions, 4 people could be equivalent to 3 portions from the table.
  • Do you usually repeat? You may always serve standard rations, but two of the diners or one or the other always repeat. If so, if you are 4 people at home, it will be interesting to choose a cocotte with 6 or 8 servings, already thinking about those repeated services of the same recipe.
  • Whether or not you are used to making more to ensure that it is left over, or to freeze: there are people who do just enough for that day, but others always cook more, thinking that this is how they will keep it in the fridge or freezer. If you tend to overcook, choose a slightly larger cocotte from the indicated portions for those of you who are at home, or it will be too small for you.
  • Young children now eat small portions, but they will quickly grow up. We recommend that you do not think of them as "half a portion" because in a few months or a few years they would be too small for you, which would be a shame. Think of the little ones as standard servings.
  • Cocottes are widespread: often the first feeling may be that they will be small, but generally, after the first few uses and seeing the real capacity of a cocotte (because of its wide depth and its height), one sees that every centimeter is used well , and that the indicator tables are correct.
Guide to choosing cocotte size

Example: a family of 2 children and 2 adults, in which the parents tend to repeat, the ideal would be to start with a 24 cm cocotte (thinking of 4 standard portions + 2 repetitions). Only if they intend to cook a lot more to also have for the next day or to freeze, would they consider buying a 26 cm one, because with a 24 cm one they will have enough to serve everyone and repeat and something else.

What is the most common cocotte size?

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

The 26 cm size is also very common, designed for about 8 servings, which serves both those who receive family at home every weekend, and those who want to cook more to freeze.

Acquire a second cocotte

When you have cooked on a Le Creuset iron once, you do it again. It is very common to look for a second cocotte, and it may be the case that you look for:

  • A smaller cocotte, for the days when you are alone at home or there are only two of you, or to use as a casserole or to accompany recipes. In that case, you can look at one of 18 or 20 cm.
  • If, on the other hand, you want a cocotte for days with family or invited friends, you should take into account that how much bigger, bigger, heavier and much more food. Cocottes of 28, 30 and 32 cm are common as cocottes for special days. Undoubtedly, these are more for special days where there are many diners, but keep their weight in mind (covered and with the food inside, they weigh 12 and 15 kilos, so they are not easy to handle cocottes). It will be one more investment for life, but buy it knowing what you are buying and that it will be a heavy cocotte (so, if you can get by with a 28 cm, better than a 30 or 32 cm one, as it is much lighter).

Choose size of oval cocotte

The oval cocotte is an ideal cocotte for whole pieces of meat (whole chickens, legs of lamb, elongated fish...). As with the round ones, you will see a serving indicator table on the product page, and it is interesting to keep the ideal size for your needs. In this case, they are often the needs of the weekend, which is when you tend to cook these types of pieces.

Don't be fooled by the size of the cocotte: oval cocottes offer a larger diameter, longer length, but lose capacity by having a narrower diagonal. The table offers an indication of the longest diameter of the cocotte, and you must choose according to the number of servings that you are interested in cooking in it:

choose oval cocottes
I hope you find this guide and tips for choosing a cocotte useful. And remember: on each product page of the cocottes at Claudia&Julia you will find, in the middle of the text, a table indicating the number of servings and diameters of the pots and pans. Guide yourself in them taking into account the tips that we have given you. Here you will see all the Le Creuset iron cocottes.
Claudia Ferrer

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