Starting your Le Creuset collection is an exciting challenge, especially if it is your first time investing in quality cookware. Using the right kitchenware makes all the difference in how your recipes turn out, which is why investing in quality cookware is an important step in your culinary journey. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a novice home cook, selecting the right cookware helps achieve the best results time and time again.
From the versatile Dutch Oven to the dependable Iron Handle Skillet, Le Creuset cookware is built to last for a lifetime of delicious homemade meals. With the right pieces of cookware in your kitchen, you will be ready to tackle a whole host of your favourite recipes.
Of course, which cookware pieces will serve you best will depend on both what you cook most often and even what you want to cook more of. The best way to understand what items to keep in your kitchen is to determine what your everyday staple dishes are. These will be the pieces you reach for most often.
Staple Recipes
From delicious breakfast recipes to staple sauces and casseroles, certain dishes have established themselves as mainstays across all kitchens – and for good reason. We have carefully curated a list of traditional dishes along with the piece of cookware or bakeware best suited for preparing them, demystifying your favourite recipes and cooking techniques.
Breakfasts
Arguably the most important meal of the day, the importance of having the right breakfast cookware cannot be overstated. Whether its eggs, pancakes, or any other breakfast classic, our Toughened Nonstick Pro and Enamelled Cast Iron Cookware make for the ultimate breakfast companions.
Our Toughened Nonstick Pro Fry Pan comes equipped with a durable, nonstick coating, ensuring ingredients do not stick to the surface and burn. This versatile piece of cookware also eliminates the need for using oils and butter, offering a convenient and healthy way to start out the day.
And for those who enjoy the delicate art of crepe-making, a dedicated crêpe pan with its thin, flat surface is a game-changer. Le Creuset offers our classic Toughened Nonstick Pro Crêpe Pan, as well as our Enamelled Cast Iron Crêpe Pan. Both pieces of cookware feature a flat and low-edged design and a wooden rateau to spread batter evenly throughout.
Cakes
From the tantalizing aroma that fills the kitchen to the anticipation of that first bite, baking a cake is an experience that engages all the senses. Even the best bakers, however, the ones who can turn simple ingredients into works of art, rely on premium bakeware to complement their skills.
Le Creuset’s bakeware provides excellent heat circulation and superior heat retention, and has been carefully crafted to produce delicious, bakery-worthy results time after time. Our Rectangular Cake Tin embodies our commitment to innovation and premium materials, helping you tackle a variety of new recipes and baking techniques.
This versatile piece of bakeware can be used to bake cakes, tarts, crumbles, as well as no-bake bars, including our No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Date Bars. Featuring a durable nonstick coating and a heat-resistant silicone rim, this Rectangular Cake Tin goes from oven to table in no time, helping you level up your baking skills. When it is not being used for desserts, experiment with this delicious Focaccia recipe, highlighting its versatility.
Lasagna and Casserole Recipes
Delicious staple recipes like lasagnas, pastas, and casseroles, not only satisfy our carb cravings but also offer a delicious and nutritious meal when prepared with fresh ingredients. With the right pieces of cookware in hand, whipping up these comforting classics becomes a joy, making it easier to maintain a balanced diet without compromising on taste.
Our oven-to-table Heritage collection has you covered, helping you prepare your favourite casserole dishes and lasagnas with ease. Whether it is an Oval Casserole or a Rectangular Casserole, these pieces of cookware are designed to lock in heat and moisture, exposing ingredients to a consistent heat source.
Pasta and Rice Recipes
Pasta recipes are equally as important, as any home chef could attest to, offering delicious, hassle-free meals in no time. Our Dutch Ovens, notably the Round Dutch Oven, excels at every stage of preparing pasta dishes. From the initial step of bringing water to a rolling boil, to simmering a rich meat sauce or a flavourful vegetarian marinara, a Dutch Oven creates the ideal environment, providing even heat distribution and exceptional heat retention.
Last but certainly not least amongst carbs, rice plays an integral role in everyday meal preparation, complementing a range of main courses to perfection. While classic rice recipes can be prepared in our Dutch Ovens, our dedicated Rice Pot is particularly ideal. Designed with steam vents on the stoneware lid to prevent boil-overs, this versatile piece of cookware delivers the perfect batch of rice every single time.
Meats
Chicken and roast recipes should feature within any home cook's repertoire, providing endless opportunities to create family-friendly meals that bring everyone to the table. From succulent roasted whole chickens with crispy skin to mouthwatering grilled chicken skewers and comforting chicken pot pies, these dishes combine comfort, nutrition and familiarity.
Our Oval Dutch Oven is the ideal piece of cookware you need for your favourite chicken recipes, featuring an elongated shape, perfect for roasting ingredients until browned. These versatile pieces of cookware give you the ability to mix and match ingredients as the chicken slow cooks, integrating new layers of flavour throughout.
Alternatively, our Rectangular Roaster can also be used for these types of recipes, coming equipped with a low-profile design, specifically optimized for oven roasting. Whether you want to prepare a delicious Beef Rib Roast or a hearty Apricot and Olive Roasted Chicken, our Roasters ensure food is cooked evenly, delivering superior heat retention.
Sides
Complementing staple recipes with delicious side dishes is essential for a well-balanced meal. Preparing side dishes, however, is not just about creating an ensemble of flavours; it is equally important to synchronize the timing of these recipes seamlessly to ensure everything is ready when the main course takes the spotlight. This is where equipping your kitchen with essential pieces of cookware comes into play.
Our Stainless Steel Saucepan makes for the ultimate kitchen companion when tackling side dishes, helping you reduce sauces and prepare a delicious side of vegetables with ease. Featuring interior capacity markings, this piece of cookware gives you the ability to monitor the progress of recipes, all the while exposing ingredients to a consistent heat source. From a classic poultry gravy to our flavourful Pearled Couscous Salad, our Stainless Steel Saucepan has earned its reputation as a Le Creuset essential when tackling side dishes – and rightfully so.
Stir Fries
Whether you are tossing together colourful bell peppers, crisp broccoli, tender strips of chicken, or tofu with a savoury blend of soy sauce and ginger, stir fries allow for endless creativity in the kitchen. These quick and versatile dishes offer a delightful departure from traditional meal preparation, introducing a vibrant array of flavours and ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights when time is of the essence, stir fries help retain the natural crunch and nutrients of vegetables, without compromising on flavour.
When it comes to stir fries, the Wok reigns as the undisputed champion in the realm of cookware. Its unique design, with its wide, shallow shape and high, sloping sides create the ideal environment for ingredients to cook to perfection while integrating new, rich flavours throughout. This piece of cookware also comes with a tempered glass lid to lock in heat and moisture, helping you steam veggies with ease. Experiment with our Rib Stir Fry or this Ginger-Sesame Vegetable Stir-Fry recipe ahead of next stir fry dinner!
Equipping Your Kitchen with Le Creuset Essentials
Le Creuset’s versatile cookware and bakeware ultimately makes for a great addition to any collection, ensuring you have everything you need to tackle these staple recipes. Curing your cookware collection based on what you cook the most simplifies traditional meal preparation, delivering consistent results time after time.
Whether you need a multi-purpose pot like the iconic Dutch Oven, or are looking to earn the title of the ultimate baker with our durable and stylish oven-to-table Heritage Bakeware, our products are built to last, featuring a design and materials you can depend on for years of cooking
Bring joy to the kitchen one meal at a time with Le Creuset’s essential kitchenware, elevating your culinary creations to new heights of deliciousness and style. For more inspiration, visit our blog for the latest product updates, cooking tips, as well as cookware care and use.