Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Braiser, 3.5 qt., Cerise

Le Creuset excellence of course! This size (2.25 qt) is perfect as a skillet/ brasier for two to three people. The enamel interior does produce a good fond for great sauces! It deglazes well with wine or broth and cleans up like a champ after the meal. The bigger (3.5 qt) is great for a 3-5 person family or when you have company. Of course, the bigger size helps build your biceps!We love Le Creuset and the expansive color palette is an added bonus. They look fantastic in your kitchen!

This is a wonderful little brazier. The thick, cream colored, enamel interior lets me see how the cooking is progressing. And I can move the brazier from stovetop to oven without worry. When I'm brazing just for 2 and don't want to drag out big, heavy pots/pans, the little brazier is ideal. Still I manage to fit 3 chicken breasts OR 4 thighs OR 6 drumsticks (smallish chicken). Always laugh when people say the pan is heavy; well, of course, it's caste iron. Bought the little 2.25 qt. brazier because it was small and therefore lighter than most caste iron braziers. Generally use fully clad stainless steel pots/pans because they are extremely versatile, lighter weight, and non-toxic. Sometimes, however, a slow braise is necessary and caste iron fills the bill. The large handles make gripping the brazier with large silicone oven mitts and/or doubled towels easy. Clean up is just as easy as with my stainless steel pans--hot soapy water and scrubby sponge or dish brush. Haven't had any burnt food issues or sticking. However, I have many years experience cooking with caste iron, so I knew what to expect. The little brazier is wonderful. Though I've only had it for a month if it's like my other LC caste iron pots and roasters, I expect to pass it down to the next generation.

This is my 8th Le Creuset pan over the past 20 years. They are the best, non toxic cookware I have seen. The white enamel does not chip, even after 20 years.The 2.2 quarts braiser is perfect for 2-4 people. I had a bigger one but got rid of it due to its heavy weight. This one is about 8 lbs with lid and pan combined. The lid is heavier than the pan. However, I have another glass lid that fits perfectly on this pan if I need to see the inside.It is very versatile and the size is perfect for many dishes. I can use it to make apple pies, chicken pot pie, bread, braised beef, stir fried veggies, omelette, and paella.I like buying smaller size pots and pans from Le Creuset. The big ones are too heavy to wash unless I want to do weight lighting each time I use them.They are so pretty that you can use them to serve directly on the table or put them on a shelf for decoration instead of storage. I have many color: red, white, orange, pink, yellow, and blue. They all look pretty!

I want to demystify this product a little bit. I got the 3.5 court and let me just say that you can feed a family of four with it without any issues. I am glad I got the one that I did, as I had wondered if the larger model would be better for us...it is not. This is perfect. It is 12 inches wide. Withoug the lid, the bottom is 2 inches deep. If you add the lid the it holds 3.5 inches.Heat distribution is absolutely perfect. There are no hot spots or cold spots. I cook on a Thermadore range, that is gas and I have had no issues at all. Heat retention of the cast iron is a match for any of the Griswold stuff that I have.OK...now let's talk looks. I got the red, and IT LOOKS GREAT! It looks so good that it is going to live on my stove all the time.In short, this is flawless. If you need one buy this one. Sure, it is a lot of money, but you get what you pay for here.

This is a lovely cook everything pot. It's a nice weight, has great heat distribution, I'm so glad I got it. it hangs out on our stove and is enticing to cook in.

This expensive pot replaces my old non-stick 5-quart aluminum frying pan. Everything I did in that old rag (and more) can be done in this cast iron beauty! Expensive? Yes. However, you usually get what you pay for. I do not, for a minute, regret buying this braiser. It is many times better than my old frying pan. It cooks evenly. It’s 5 quart capacity is versatile: You can cook for a few or for many. You can fry, braise, stew, brown, sear, roast, bake, cook rice, and make soup in it. And, it keeps food hot longer with its heavy construction and lid.Heavy? Yes. But not unmanageable for a woman with average strength. Due to its size, storage is an issue for me. I want it readily available but not in the way. The top of the refrigerator is where I keep it, while my 5 quart Dutch oven (yes, also Le Creuset) lives on my stove. It works.Clean-up is easy—sometimes a little soak is needed, but it always comes out clean. Another plus is that it doesn’t require any additional care—no seasoning or immediate drying. It is dishwasher-safe, although I always hand-wash cooking pots. Why hand wash? Two reasons: 1. Big items take up too much needed space in the dishwasher and can interfere with the water spray needed for thorough cleaning. 2. I don’t like what the dishwasher detergent can do to some surfaces. It can cause damage to aluminum and other materials. So, i just don’t want to take a chance with my Le Creuset cookware.Beauty. As with all of the Le Creuset line of cookware, this pot can easily go from the kitchen to the table, or even to the patio or fire pit area. As previously mentioned, it is sturdy and heavy; food will stay hot longer under its hefty lid. It is perfect for taking hot food to a dinner party or potluck meal.This braiser is a good investment for my family. I can honestly recommend it highly to anyone in the market for such a pot.

The 5 stars are just for the product. It's Le Creuset after all! We were disappointed that it arrived not as originally packed and it was clearly a previously returned product. Although there was nothing wrong with it, receiving someone else's reject took the edge off purchasing this top-of-the-line product at a premium price.