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If you consider yourself a serious home cook or baker, you likely want to take the best care of all the cookware and other kitchen tools youve invested in—especially when theyre high-ticket items.
Take, for example, the Dutch oven. I’m a huge proponent of this versatile, low-tech kitchen tool that can be used to make everything from curries and stews to bread and breakfast.
But if you’re working with a standard Le Creuset, you need to think twice about putting the lid in the oven. Why? The classic black phenolic knob on many Le Creuset products is only oven-safe up to 390°F and could smoke, warp, or melt if placed in a hotter oven for a sustained period.
Le Creuset Stoneware is safe for use in the microwave, freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and broiler. The maximum oven-safe temperature is 500°F / 260°C. Use oven mitts for lifting at all times. When using under a broiler allow a gap of no less than 2 ½ inches between the rim of the dish and the heat source.
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The standard black phenolic knob on Le Creuset lids is only oven safe up to 375°F.
If you’re not a regular baker, you might be surprised to learn that not all Le Creuset lids are endlessly oven-safe.
Certain models contain black knobs that are phenolic, meaning they’re made of a plastic-like resin material that may warp or melt if kept above 390°F. While this is fine for low-and-slow cooking and baking, many Dutch oven recipes (like those for baking sourdough bread) call for much higher temperatures of 500°F and above.
If you’re working with a Le Creuset and want to place the lid in an oven warmer than 390°F, you should first unscrew the knob using a small screwdriver and set it aside until you’re done cooking. This will make it harder to lift the hot lid, so be sure to use good oven mitts with high heat protection.
What about other Dutch oven lids?
Staub Dutch ovens are made with nickel-coated brass knobs that are oven safe to 500°F.
Not all Le Creuset Dutch oven knobs are phenolic or unsafe for hot ovens. You can tell that yours has a classic phenolic knob if its black and features the C-shaped Le Creuset logo in addition to the brand name. Le Creusets other black knobs (sans logo) are called signature phenolic knobs, and those are oven-safe up to 480°F.
If your Le Creuset has a metal knob—like copper, gold, or stainless steel—have no fear: Those are oven-safe up to 500°F. Luckily, these knobs are interchangeable, so you can always replace yours as needed.
And if you own a Dutch oven from another brand, you may be in the clear. Staub, for example, fits their standard Dutch ovens (or cocottes) with nickel-coated brass knobs that are oven safe up to 500°F.
If you own a different brand and don’t know what their knobs or handles are made of, make sure to look it up before placing the lid in a very hot oven—you can’t always tell by looking.
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FAQ
How do I know if my Le Creuset is oven-safe?
Can Le Creuset enameled cast iron go in the oven?
Is everything Le Creuset oven-safe?
Can I put my Le Creuset casserole in the oven?
What temperature can a Le Creuset Pan go in the oven?
Le Creuset pans can go in the oven with a temperature of 450°F or 232°C. The handles of the pan are made of heat-resistant metal or plastic, but they can only go in the oven at a temperature of 400 degrees. Otherwise, the enameled cast iron can crack or melt in the oven at a temperature of more than 400 degrees of heat.
Is Le Creuset oven safe?
Yes, Le Creuset is entirely oven-safe because of their enameled cast iron and also three layers of coating on the outside of the cookware. The signature pots of Le Creuset with phenolic knobs can go in the oven at a temperature of 470 degrees. The lid on the top is called a phenolic knob which is also oven safe up to 370°F of temperature.
Does Le Creuset cookware go in the oven?
Le Creuset is one of the most famous cookware brands in the world. They are renowned for their dishes, especially their iconic orange (or “volcano”) colored stoneware oven dishes. But Le Creuset has so many more ranges that are both cookware and bakeware. The bakeware can, of course, go in the oven. But what about their cookware?
Can you put a Le Creuset stockpot in the oven?
For Le Creuset enameled cast-iron, stainless steel, and hard-anodized aluminium, the safe oven temperature limit is 500F. But if you have an enameled Steel stockpot from Le Creuset, never put it in the oven. Cast iron is a good heat conductor and can bear the oven’s temperature as long as you are careful.