Best Reviews of Le Creuset 26 cm Cast Iron Shallow Casserole, Coastal BlueWith so many available today, it is great to have a make you can recognise. The Le Creuset 26 cm Cast Iron Shallow Casserole, Coastal Blue is certainly that and will be a excellent acquisition. For this great price, the Le Creuset 26 cm Cast Iron Shallow Casserole, Coastal Blue comes widely recommended and is always a popular choice amongst most people.
Product Description
This exquisite soft, graded pastel shade of blue evokes all that is magical about the coast and will prove to be a winner when it comes to injecting colour and style into the kitchen.
The Coastal Blue Collection offers all the kitchenware you need for preparing, cooking and serving to use time and time again. Whatever recipe you are creating there is a piece of Le Creuset to suit.
The shallow, wide base of this versatile pot allows maximum contact between the food and the heat. A paella, couscous or simple seafood linguine cooked and then served at the table in the Shallow Casserole looks simply stunning. The cast iron casserole is the essential kitchen classic from Le Creuset, suitable for all heat sources.
Fired at temperatures of 840 degrees Celsius, the smooth enamel finish of Le Creuset cast iron is durable and hygienic. This means that everything you stew, braise or simmer in a Le Creuset piece will taste just as good as you intended. It also means your dishes will keep looking good from the hob to the oven, from the oven to the table (and from the table to the dishwasher).
Cast Iron Facts
Suitable for use in the oven, on the hob and under the grill. Cast iron can also be used on all heat sources, including Aga’s and induction hobs. It can withstand temperatures up to 190 degrees Celsius. It’s excellent heat retention qualities mean that only low to medium heats are needed to ensure even heat distribution.
Le Creuset Cast Iron
Hand made in France since 1925, each piece is made from a unique mould into which molten iron is poured, this creates a unique piece, which is, then hand finished and subjected to strict quality checks. Le Creuset offers a lifetime guarantee on all cast iron (except non stick items which carry a 10 year guarantee). You will feel the difference as our cast iron is 9 percent lighter than the leading competitor and with a perfectly flat base it is great for all hobs including glass and ceramic. It also distributes heat more evenly ensuring there are no ‘hot spots’.
Hygienic
The enamel cooking surface is completely hygienic and impervious to flavours and odours. It is perfect to hold foods that are marinating or for storing foods (raw or cooked) in the refrigerator or freezer. The interior is a smooth gloss finish in a sand colour. The interior will clean easily by hand or by dishwasher.
Adaptability
Ceramic, halogen or induction hobs, gas, electric, solid fuel or Aga/Rayburn Le Creuset cast iron will work excellently on all. Whether you are sauteing, grilling, baking, roasting or stewing there is a pot, pan or dish to suit your needs. Most pieces can go on the oven, in the oven or under the grill and importantly if you change your cooking hob you do not need to change your pans. Le Creuset cookware is available in a wide range of colours that will suit both your kitchen and dining table.
Energy Efficient
Once hot you will require only a low to medium heat setting to maintain a good cooking performance, they can even be removed from the heat leaving the food to cook in it’s own heat. These heat retention properties mean that a Le Creuset dish will keep warm for longer at the table.
Care and Use:
Before first use: remove all labels. Wash the pan in hot soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. Pans with enamelled cooking surfaces are now ready for use and require no further preparation.
Heat Sources: Le Creuset cast iron cookware can be used on all heat sources. Gas, electric solid or radiant plates, vitroceramic glass, induction, and ranges fired by gas, oil, coal or wood. When using on any glass stovetops always follow the manufacturer’s guidance for use of your cookware. Never drag pans across the glass, but lift on and off,or from one heat zone to another. The enamel surfaces are not suitable for dry cooking. Your choice of liquid, oil, fat or butter should completely cover the base before heating begins.
Oven Temperatures: For black phenolic lid knobs and handles a maximum temperature of 190 degrees Celsius, 375 degrees Fahrenheit or Gas 5 (Europe gas setting 6). For products with integral cast iron handles or stainless steel knobs the maximum oven use temperature is 230 degrees Celsius / 450 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas Mark 8 (Europe gas setting 9).
Range Stoves with Cast Iron Oven Linings: Do not place any cookware on the floor of these ovens. Cook only on the racks provided. Integral cast iron handles or stainless steel knobs will become hot during stovetop as well as oven use. Use a dry, thick cloth, or Le Creuset oven mitts, for handling these at all times.
How to use:
Medium and low heats will provide the best results for the majority of cooking, including frying and searing. Allow the pan to heat gradually and thoroughly, as this will give the most even and efficient cooking results. Once the pan is hot almost all cooking can be continued on lower settings.
High heats should only be used for boiling water for vegetables or pasta, or for reducing the consistency of stocks and sauces. High heats should never be used to pre-heat a pan before lowering the heat for cooking. Cast iron retains heat so well that if a pan is overheated in this way it will contribute to poor cooking results, sticking and discolouration of cooking surfaces.
Match the pan base to the heat zone to maximize efficiency and prevent overheating of pan sides or damage to handles. Long handles should be positioned safely so that they do not overhang the front of your stovetop, or over other heat zones. Do not heat an empty pan or allow a pan to boil dry. Either may cause permanent damage to the enamel and pan.
For stirring comfort and surface protection use Le Creuset heat resistant silicone utensils, heat resistant plastic or wooden tools. Occasional use of metal utensils may leave silver trail marks over the surface. Do not knock metal utensil on the rims of cookware, this will eventually damage the enamel.
Note: Do not cut foods directly on any enamel surface.
Place hot pans on Le Creuset silicone mats, wooden boards, or trivets. Never place a hot pan directly on an unprotected surface. We recommend using Le Creuset oven mitts for lifting hot pans at all times.
Electric hand held beaters or mixers should not be used in any cookware. Permanent damage to all surfaces will be caused.
After use always cool a pan for a few minutes before washing in hot soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Do not fill a hot pan with cold water or plunge into cold water as thermal shock damage to the enamel may occur.
If there are food residues fill the pan with warm water and leave to soak for 15 – 20 minutes, then wash in the usual way. Nylon or soft abrasive pads or brushes can be used to remove stubborn residues. Do not use metallic pads, or harsh abrasive cleaning agents, as these will damage the enamel and polished trims.
Light stains or metal trail marks (caused by metal tools) can be removed with Le Creuset Cookware cleaner. An occasional conditioning clean with this product will also retain the new appearance and polish of your pans.
Cleaning
All pans with integral cast iron, phenolic handles, or stainless steel lid knobs, can be washed in the dishwasher. When using the dishwasher always allow the cycle to complete before opening the door. This will ensure the pans are dried thoroughly.
Maintain the tightness of all handles and knobs by checking and re-tightening them regularly. Le Creuset enamelled cast iron is extremely durable, but it may be damaged if accidentally dropped or knocked against a hard surface.
Le Creuset Guarantee
Le Creuset is proud of the workmanship in its products and guarantees its enamelled cast iron cookware, from the date of purchase, for the lifetime of the original owner, whether a self purchase or received as a gift. The lifetime guarantee covers faulty workmanship and materials when the product is used in normal domestic household conditions, and in accordance with the care and use instructions provided. It does not cover normal wear and tear or misuse of the product. See Care & Use booklet for full details of guarantee.
To claim under this guarantee firmly attach to the cookware your printed name, address and nature of the complaint, together with the name of the retailer, if known.
This Lifetime Guarantee does not affect your statutory rights. The lifetime guarantee does not apply to cookware products with a non-stick coating.
About Le Creuset:
A lifetime spent crafting the finest cookware. Le Creuset has been making superb, award winning cookware since 1925 and the secret recipe of ingredients remains the same today. Each piece is made from a unique mould into which molten iron is poured from a large cauldron (called a creuset). This creates a unique piece, each with it’s own identity and style. The piece is then hand finished and subjected to strict quality checks. Finally the cast iron is enamelled at extremely high temperatures to create the vibrant lustre and hard finish which looks great in the home.
If you require any further information from Le Creuset please visit www.lecreuset.co.uk, call our friendly and experienced team of Consumer Advisors on our Freephone UK Helpline on 0800 37 37 92 9am-5pm (GMT) Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays), or email us on helpline@lecreuset.co.uk