Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
I love my Dutch oven so much that it barely leaves my stovetop these days. From simmering Japanese curry and lamb stew to baking crusty bread, my Le Creuset can handle just about anything I throw at it.
Well, almost anything. You can imagine my horror when I discovered a chip on my Dutch ovens inner enamel. Did I not properly clean it? To this day, I still don’t know what happened.
Like most Dutch ovens, Le Creuset’s pieces are made of cast iron coated in enamel. Although enamel is known for its longevity and toughness, it can still chip. You might think to ignore a small chip in your Dutch oven, but if you keep cooking with it, it’s likely the chipped area will grow—and the small, sharp pieces of enamel have the potential to get into your food.
As I know absolutely nothing about re-enameling a piece of cookware, I decided to call my local Le Creuset store, hoping they’d give me answers. The store informed me that although they dont offer an enameling service, the lifetime warranty on their cast iron products means my Dutch oven may be eligible for a replacement.
I screamed. A lifetime warranty? It sounded too good to be true, but I began the process and was pleasantly surprised by the results.
What’s it like to submit a claim?
Despite having lost my receipt for the Dutch oven as proof of purchase, I decided to still submit a claim by calling Le Creusets customer service. A representative quickly picked up the phone and wrote down my information. After the phone call, I received an email with my case number and a detailed explanation regarding the next steps: I would need to return the Dutch oven for further examination by Le Creuset to determine the validity of my claim. If my Dutch oven was eligible for replacement, they’d replace the product with one of the same or similar design and color.
While I was worried about not being able to provide the receipt from my initial purchase, the representative on the phone assured me that the receipt would not be necessary. The next day, I tightly packed my Dutch oven (in Caribbean Blue) and included a note with my name, address, email, and case number written on it.
The only cost involved in the process is shipping. As Dutch ovens are heavy, I paid roughly $25 for three-day shipping from Massachusetts to their U.S. headquarters in South Carolina. Though there’s no guarantee of replacement, any customer returning a broken Le Creuset cast iron product still receives, at the minimum, a 75% discount on their replacement purchase. This discount alone on a new Dutch oven is worth more than the shipping cost.
What’s a lifetime warranty?
Enamel is a great heat conductor and wont rust, but its susceptible to chipping.
The Le Creuset website outlines their lifetime warranty, saying, “Le Creuset cast iron cookware offers a lifetime warranty guaranteeing products against defects in material and workmanship.” To be eligible for the warranty, the original owner must follow the use and care instructions provided with the product. The warranty covers normal household use and does not cover damage from use in commercial establishments, abuse, neglect, abnormal wear and tear, accidental breakage, overheating, or other uses not in accordance with the printed instructions.
Though I don’t remember the last time I read the printed instructions word-for-word, I still took good care of my Dutch oven—I washed it with soap and a sponge after each use, occasionally used baking soda to carefully remove the brown spots, and never used metal utensils in it. Since I didn’t do anything wrong, I thought I’d have a good shot at making the claim.
Is My Le Creuset Defective?
FAQ
Does Le Creuset have a lifetime guarantee?
Can you return Le Creuset after using it?
How do I make a warranty claim on my Le Creuset?
What if my Le Creuset product is defective?
Le Creuset products are crafted to meet a high standard of quality. If you believe a product to be defective, it may be returned based on the warranty for the specific item. Warranty details may be found here or in the item’s box; please refer to your item’s warranty before attempting a return.
Does Le Creuset offer a warranty?
Warranty details may be found here or in the item’s box; please refer to your item’s warranty before attempting a return. Le Creuset reserves the right to determine if the product has been used in a manner that would violate the warranty. Shipping charges are non-refundable.
What happens if a Le Creuset cookware is not made?
According to the warranty, if a similar product is not in production, then the cookware will be replaced with one of equivalent value. Also, according to the Le Creuset warranty, they cannot guarantee that the replacement product can be made with a product of the same color.
How does Le Creuset assess a returned product?
Once the warranty claim has been submitted, Le Creuset can assess the returned product to determine if the product has been used in such a way that is contrary to the instructions that came along with the product, or has breached the Le Creuset warranty policies in any way.