Is Le Creuset worth the money? I test cookware for a living – and here are my honest thoughts

A conveyor belt of pots and pans come and go in my kitchen. Non-stick, copper, stainless steel... I’ve tried them all. As a trained chef who cooks at home daily and works as a product tester, it is both my passion and profession to test the best cookware on the market. I’ve seen what works and what wears out. So, you can trust me when I tell you Le Creuset is worth the money.

Like many keen cooks, I was introduced to the brand by my parents. My mom actually taught me how to cook with her Le Creuset pot (the best Dutch oven), which was a wedding gift 30 years ago. Three decades later, she’s still using it to bake bread and simmer casseroles. It continues to look good and perform well. Le Creuset combines beauty and durability – and to me, that makes it worth every penny.

That said, unless you’re lucky enough to receive one as a gift (or snag a piece in the Le Creuset clearance sales), I appreciate that the upfront cost can feel like a splurge. Below, I’ll break down in detail why I think a Le Creuset is worth the investment – but also, who it might not be right for and the Dutch oven alternatives that could be a better match for your lifestyle.

Is Le Creuset cookware worth it?

I definitely gave the game away above, but if you're looking for a clear verdict: yes, Le Creuset is worth the money. I've cooked with some of the best cast iron cookware on the market, and Le Creuset always comes out on top.

The only snag is that Le Creuset can be prohibitively expensive. While you can save hundreds in the sales, it still may not suit your budget.

To help you shop smartly, I've laid out the pros and cons of Le Creuset below, with my personal insights as a trained cook and the opinions of our design editors, too.

Buy if: you want the best Dutch oven money can buy

If you love to cook as much as I do, then a Dutch oven is a must-have. It is essentially a heavy-duty, oven-safe pot with a smooth enamel surface and tight-fitting lid to stop steam from escaping. The design enhances the natural flavors of your food and is a joy to cook with.

Here at Homes & Gardens, we've tested many Dutch ovens. Time and again, Le Creuset tops the list. I put that down to the quality of the craftsmanship. Each Dutch oven is cast in sand, polished and finished by hand, then coated with porcelain enamel for durability and fired for heat resistance. Le Creuset has been making them since 1925, so it's no wonder they know what they're doing!

The design is also incredibly versatile. I've made all sorts in my Le Creuset Dutch oven, from casseroles on the stovetop to baked bread in the oven. It excels on braised dishes like beef bourguignon, pot roast, or short ribs; the enamel surface is designed to create beautifully crispy edges on the meat and the lid retains the moisture.

I even use it for sweet treats, like fruit cobbler desserts and my daily oatmeal. If you want a 'do-it-all' piece of cookware that you can use multiple times a day to achieve delicious results – and you never need to replace it, look no further. Le Creuset's Dutch oven is worth the money.

Buy if: you value aesthetics

Le Creuset is undoubtedly chic. Their colorful enamelled hues have a way of bringing instant character and charm to the kitchen. After using my mom's pot for years, I finally got a Le Creuset Dutch oven of my own. I spent hours scrolling their site to find a color that I love and will age well. I settled on Thyme – a calming, earthy green. As soon as I set it on my stovetop, my kitchen was a new space entirely; chic and elevated with a homely Mediterranean vibe.

Naturally, it is not only cooks who rate Le Creuset. The brand is beloved by designers too. Our Style & Trends Editor, Charlotte Olby, says: 'I actually designed my kitchen around a vintage Le Creuset collection of pots, pans, and dishes that I inherited from my Grandad that he bought in the 1970s in retro, of-the-moment orange and green tones. Not only are they great for giving my neutral kitchen a burst of color, but I actually use most of the collection daily. As a big pasta household, we use the casserole dish and the rectangular baking dishes (of which I have 3) for making pasta bakes and one-pot dishes.'

If you often host dinner parties, Le Creuset pieces are beautiful enough to double as serveware, too. Many owners also proudly display theirs on the stovetop or in open cabinets when they are not in use.

Buy if: you want cookware that actually lasts

Charlotte's grandfather bought his Le Creuset collection in the seventies, which is astonishing really, but it isn't uncommon for these pieces to be passed down the generations.

When I asked Charlotte about the current condition of the pans, she said: 'While I can only praise the cooking surface of my vintage Le Creuset, I will say the wooden handle has seen better days – but I'm sure a little sand and oil will work wonders. A few items have chips in the exterior enamel, but I think it adds to the vintage appeal'.' The fact that she still uses the pots and pans daily is a testament to Le Creuset's craftsmanship.

This is why I do not recommend choosing a faux Le Creuset (the kind that you can buy in supermarkets). If you're looking for a Dutch oven that will last for years, a knock-off version is always going to be a waste of money. Fake models have thinner walls and less durable materials, which are prone to uneven heating, chipping, and staining over time. On the contrary, a bona fide Le Creuset pot is made from durable cast iron and coated with several layers of enamel. Many of their pieces have a limited lifetime warranty to back up their quality.

While Le Creuset is tough, the enamel coating can be scratched by metal utensils, so you do need to take care. Silicone, wooden, or plastic tools are recommended instead. Using abrasive cleaning materials is another major Dutch oven mistake. If you want your investment to last decades, you will do well to heed this advice.

Don't buy if: you're on a tight budget

Le Creuset cookware can get seriously expensive, especially if you're buying in bulk. A full 157-piece Le Creuset set will cost you an eye-watering $4,500 at Costco. Even if you set your sights more modestly, a basic Le Creuset collection with a Dutch oven, a skillet, a cocotte, and a casserole dish will still set you back a few hundred dollars.

You can get more items for your money when you shop at one of the major home stores. You can bag a 22-piece set of non-stick pots and pans for just $2.26 per piece when you shop at Walmart for example.

However, be aware that you will need to replace that cheaper, non-stick cookware every two to three years. The coatings tend to wear rapidly, causing them to flake and leach chemicals. I explain more about this in my guide to non-toxic cookware, if you want to learn more about the risks of non-stick coating.

If you prefer to buy once and buy well, Le Creuset's cast iron pans usually work out at a better price for a long-term investment. If you can't make the financial leap just yet, these are the only alternatives I recommend (both non-toxic and good quality).

Don't buy if: you hate washing up

I'll hold my hands up and admit it: I love cooking but I am not keen on cleaning. After I've eaten, I like to throw everything in the dishwasher and forget about it.

You can't really do that with Le Creuset cookware. While many of their pieces are technically dishwasher-safe, it's best to wash each pot and pan by hand to preserve the enamel finish.

For me, hand-washing my Dutch oven is slightly annoying, but it's really not the end of the world. Food residue wipes away easily, and there are countless tips and tricks to keep your Le Creuset in good condition with minimal effort. Our cleaning editors have put together a simple guide to cleaning cast iron enamel which provides everything you need to know.

If you really despise washing up, I'd recommend saving your money and shopping for a cheaper piece that can slot into the dishwasher. Just be aware, it might feel convenient now, but you'll probably need to repurchase it a couple of years down the line.

FAQs

Why is Le Creuset cookware so expensive?

Honestly, because you get what you pay for. Le Creuset makes some of the best cast iron cookware on the market, including the best Dutch oven money can buy.

When you buy from Le Creuset, you're paying for high-quality pots and pans that are designed to stand the test of time. I've cooked with my family's Le Creuset Dutch Oven since I was eight, so that's twenty years now, and I haven't noticed any depreciation in quality.

If you are wondering why cast iron enamel is more expensive than some stainless steel cookware, it is because you don't need to season it before use and it is very easy to use. Porcelain enamel also guards against chips and cracks, and makes the clean-up easy too. It is also safer and more durable than non-stick. Le Creuset's stoneware is fired at super-high temperatures for heat resistance, so you have peace of mind when cooking at high temperatures. Plus, most cast iron pieces come with a lifetime guarantee to protect your purchase.

Of course, the uniquely classy colors and design also raise the Le Creuset prices. Where most kitchenware comes in neutral or metallic shades, Le Creuset offers options, such as elegant Brioche, Caribbean Blue, and a sweet Shell Pink. Whenever I host a dinner party, I always position my Le Creuset pot pride of place in the center of the table: it's the perfect statement piece on a tablescape.

Which Le Creuset piece should I buy?

It all depends on what you want to cook, and how you want to present it.

The classic Le Creuset piece is a round Dutch oven, but there are oval ovens, too, which are better suited to cooking larger cuts of meat or baking loaves of bread.

I have also tested the frying pan collection, and my personal favorite is the Alpine Food Fry Pan. It has a charming wooden handle and is perfect for cooking large portions. I use mine for family-sized rice dishes, like paella. It never burns or sticks and looks great when I want to serve straight to the table.

There are also casserole and baking dishes, as well as a whole host of kitchen tools, utensils, and tableware. If you're set on owning a Le Creuset piece, but you still can't stretch to the iconic Dutch oven, you might be satisfied with something like the $50 olive oil dispenser. It still brings that instant charm to the counter. Each Le Creuset piece is made with the same appreciation for form and function in mind, but of course, compared to the average manufacturer, it won't come cheap.

Will Le Creuset cookware work on an induction hob?

Yes. Le Creuset say that all three of the cookware collections (Cast Iron, Stainless Steel and Toughened Nonstick Cookware) are optimized for induction cooktops – and can be used on any heat source including ceramic, electric and gas.

Are Le Creuset pans non-toxic?

Le Creuset's cast iron collection is non-toxic. These pieces are coated with porcelain enamel, rather than non-stick coating which can contain PFAS 'forever chemicals'.

Be careful when you're shopping though; Le Creuset also sell a collection of non-stick pans, which I would avoid.

Is Le Creuset cookware dishwasher-safe?

Technically, yes. While Le Creuset stoneware is dishwasher-safe, I'd recommend hand-washing anything made from cast iron in order to protect and preserve the enamel coating.

If you know you want a beautiful, long-lasting piece of cookware, you can rest assured Le Creuset will serve you well. If you're still looking to save money, I highly recommend checking out the Le Creuset sales before you shop for alternatives. It may just surprise you with some purse-friendly prices.