I Tested the Le Creuset Pumpkin Dutch Oven to See If It Lives up to the Hype – It’s the Fall Essential I’d Actually Buy

I am a certified fall enthusiast. As soon as the mercury begins to drop, my home is drenched in orange, with pumpkins of every size on any surface they can fit on, and an arsenal of autumnal recipes ready to go.

It is perhaps no surprise that I have been itching to test the Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte to see if the seasonal upgrade of the iconic Dutch oven lives up to the hype online.

The short answer? It is. If you love fall and cook or host regularly, it is absolutely worth treating yourself. That said, if I am being picky, it is slightly smaller than the standard Le Creuset Dutch ovens, and the ridged edges can be just a little fiddly at times. However, I would now easily class it as one of my most prized pieces of non-toxic cookware.

Product Specifications: Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte

Design and First Impressions

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If you are buying the Le Creuset Pumpkin Cocotte, it is (mainly) because of the aesthetic. Beneath it all, it is the same great heritage enameled cast iron as the other Le Creuset pieces, including the Modern Heritage Dutch Oven I reviewed earlier this year.

The pumpkin shape is certainly a novelty, and I am happy to say that it does not impact general performance.

It looks spectacular. The Dutch oven shape lends itself to pumpkin-fication, with the domed lid working perfectly to trap moisture for ultra-tender meats and stews, and fluffy breads. Note that it does need to be lined up perfectly ridge-for-ridge to sit flush with the base and ensure a seal. This can add a few seconds to general use. It's minor, but worth mentioning.

The curled pumpkin stem lid handle is another nice touch, especially in the gold finish. It is generally easy to wrap your fingers around to lift and manoeuvre; however, if you are using thick oven mitts, such as the Le Creuset oven mitts I have, it gets a little trickier. I didn't feel like I was going to drop it at any point, but I felt myself gripping a lot more firmly to ensure I did not.

If you are keen on using kitchenware as decor, this is a worthy choice for fall.

Cooking Performance

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Having reviewed the Modern Heritage Dutch oven a few months ago, I found the Pumpkin Cocotte's performance comparable. As with any enameled cast iron Le Creuset piece, it heats evenly over low heat, maintains its temperature, and is relatively low-stick when oiled.

I tested similar recipes again to understand how the new shape and size affected the experience and results:

• Dutch oven bread: The Pumpkin Cocotte is uniquely shaped, and I was intrigued to see if the ridges would transfer onto a loaf of Dutch oven bread. My dough was slightly too small to get the full effect, but there was certainly evidence of the indentations from the Pumpkin ridges. The domed lid trapped moisture perfectly for the first half of the bake, and the bread base crisped beautifully. All in all, it was a deliciously airy loaf.
• Stewed apple: It would not be fall without an apple crisp. While testing some new baking trays, I used the Cocotte to cook down some apple chunks, sultanas, butter, sugar, and cinnamon for the filling. With the lid on, everything softened nicely and quickly, with nothing sticking or burning. I did find that stirring and scraping the edges of the pot was more difficult than in a flat-sided Dutch oven, however, meaning I had to scrape up and down, rather than sweeping round, to ensure no pieces were unmixed.
• Aubergine Tofu Stew: This is where I started to really notice the difference in capacity. The onion and aubergine cooked down nicely without sticking; however, scraping the pan once again felt a little fiddly. As the Cocotte slopes inwards towards the base, the large chunks also felt a little cramped. It transferred well to the oven, however, and the results were deliciously rich.
• Chicken Casserole: A classic test for any Dutch oven that enters my home, the smaller base was once again noticeable. I could only fit three large skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs comfortably in the base of the pot, compared to the four to six I have managed in other pots. It is safe to say that this Cocotte is best for serving up to four people comfortably, rather than a whole crowd. The stew cooked as well as it did in the Modern Heritage pot, with crispy skin and tender vegetables, and absolutely no sticking or burning. When serving, the ridges once again make it more awkward to fish all the sauce out, as I could not sweep the edges smoothly.

Cleaning, Storage and Maintenance

As with all Le Creuset cast iron, you need to hand wash the Pumpkin Cocotte. This helps to protect the enamel, the brilliant coloring, and the gold handle from damage. As it is slightly smaller, the Pumpkin is marginally lighter than the original Dutch ovens (and is some of the lightest cast iron on the market). That said, I have always found it easiest to leave it flat on the counter and fill it with soap and water, scrub it, and then empty it and repeat, rather than trying to hold it with just one hand to avoid slipping and dropping it.

The enamel cleans easily, although, as with serving, the raised ridges mean you cannot get an easy clean sweep around the edges, making the up-and-down technique best for getting all the nooks and crannies. It is not an overwhelming amount of extra effort, but worth noting. The lid is much the same. Once clean, hand-dry to prevent rust from forming on the rim.

Storing the Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte is about as awkward as any heavy pot. You need to store it on a low shelf to prevent damaging your kitchen storage or dropping it when you take it out. You also cannot stack this pot, meaning you need to dedicate a chunk of space just for it. This is worth considering if you plan on only using the pot in the fall, unlike me, who plans to leave it on the stove year-round.

My Verdict: Should You Buy The Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte?

If you love fall, pumpkins, or cozy seasonal cooking, I absolutely think that the Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte is worth treating yourself to, or putting on your holiday gift list. It is a fun, novel addition to your seasonal cookware, is entirely non-toxic to help make a kitchen less toxic, and brings a smile to people's faces when you bring it to a fall table.

That said, it is a little smaller than a standard 5-quart Dutch oven, meaning it isn't the best for cooking for large crowds, and it is expensive ($395 at the time of writing) if you only plan to use it for a few months every year.

It is undeniably pretty, however, making a fantastic piece of seasonal decor that can also bake bread, slow-cook meats, produce bakes, soups and stews, and even display candy for Halloween.

I personally adore mine and have had a blast using it over the last few weeks. It's a piece I will cherish for decades to come.

How We Test Cookware at Homes & Gardens

The best cookware has to tick all the boxes: Versatility, manageable weight, safe materials, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

You can read more details about how we test cookware at Homes & Gardens, including how long we vet each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

I test all cookware in my own home under real-world conditions – usually mid-week meals cooked after work, putting the pans through regular use over a range of recipes to get a good understanding of how these pans perform and fit into the everyday, hard-working home.

What Else to Shop

From the essential tools you need to clean and care for your cookware to other chic fall cookware pieces worth considering before hosting season, these are the kitchen essentials to have on your radar.

All prices were correct at the time of publishing.

Hosting this season? Explore our edit of the best fall cookware pieces to bring elegant seasonal charm to your kitchen and table.

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