The Benefits of Le Creuset Cast Iron

For over 75 years, Le Creuset Cast iron Cookware has been manufactured at a foundry in the town of Fresnoy le Grand approximately 120 miles north-east of Paris.  Although computer-aided technology has revolutionized the production, the basis has remained the same, Le Creuset maintain their continued commitment to perfecting handcrafted, high quality cookware.  Once released from it's mould, and before it reaches the packaging each piece is scrutinised by at least 15 people for flaws and imperfections.  Here is a brief story of how the cast iron pieces are produced and how the thorogh manufacturing process befefits you.

Their weight is their strength

• Distributes heat more evenly, preventing "hot spots".
• Ensures moisture and flavours are sealed in byperfectly fitting lids.
• Keeps its shape and maintains a flat, steady base.
• Retains heat longer which keeps foods hot when serving.

Adaptability and versatility

• Ceramic, Halogen or Induction hobs, Gas, Electric, Solid fuel or Aga/Rayburn, Le Creuset enamelled cast iron is always at home.
• Sautéing, grilling, baking, roasting or casseroling, Le Creuset has a pot, pan or dish to do the job.
• Most pieces can be used on the hob, in the oven or under the grill. If you change your cooking hob, you do not have to change your pans.
• Le Creuset cookware is available in a wide range of colours that are equally at home in the kitchen or on your dining table.

Energy efficient

• Once hot, you require only a low to medium heat setting to maintain a good cooking performance.
• Once hot, the pan can be removed from the heat leaving the food to cook in its own heat.

Hygienic

• The vitreous enamel cooking surface is completely hygienic and impervious to flavours and odours.
• Perfect to hold foods that are marinating or for storing foods (raw or cooked) in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Our Interior enamel is a smooth gloss finish in a sand colour - except on Satin Black where we have a matt black enamel. Both will clean easily by hand or by dishwasher if used in accordance with our care and use.

Heat Retention No ‘hot spots,’ the base, side walls and lid are all of the same quality and thickness so there are no areas where heat can be lost rapidly. Cast iron retains heat so that food will be kept hot for some considerable time when served at the table.

Cast Iron Manufacturing

Cast iron has been used as “the” material for cooking pots since Roman times. Even with today’s wide choice of cooking materials, cast iron, still forged and crafted by hand, reigns supreme with its versatility, good looks and ability to retain and spread heat evenly.

Sand moulds and casting

In order to produce the desired shape for a Le Creuset piece, two sand moulds need to be made. One produces the interior shape of the item and the second, the exterior shape. The moulds are secured together leaving a small gap between them.

The raw materials, including pig iron, are melted at an extremely high temperature in a large cauldron (called a " creuset" in French) and then poured into the moulds. Once the shape is cast, and the iron cooled, it is removed from the mould ready for the finishing process to begin. After use each mould is broken (the sand is then recycled) meaning that no two pieces of Le Creuset are ever "exactly" the same.

Finishing Once removed from its mould, each piece has then to pass through several finishing processes under the hands of skilled craftsmen for cleaning and smoothing, rough edges and burrs are removed in a hand process called "fettling". Then each piece is blasted by tiny metal pellets to prepare a uniform surface for enameling.

Enamelling Each piece of Le Creuset receives two coats of enamel. The first is a ground coat which, once fired at 840°C, is clear and uncoloured. This allows for better adhesion of the second coat, the coloured enamel, to the cast iron. This special colour coat is applied internally and externally. After the enamel is applied it is air dried before being vitrified to produce a highly durable, hygienic and shock resistant finish.

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