Ahh, Le Creuset. Any kitchen-savvy home cook is probably already familiar with this name. Le Creuset is a brand coveted by professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts alike.
For the uninitiated, it might just seem like another overpriced line of colorful metal kitchenware. But of course, Le Creuset is more than just a fancy name and pretty pots, pans, and Dutch ovens.
Le Creuset has been around since the 1920s and has stood the test of time for good reason. They’re probably most recognizable for their classic look and vibrant colors. However, colors and aesthetics don’t make a good, trusted brand of kitchenware that has been well-loved by generations.
One of the biggest things Le Creuset boasts is the fact that the money you pay to get one is entirely worth it. It won’t be surprising that they’ve been around for so long because they’re literally heirloom quality when it comes to the build.
You can use it, then pass it down to your kids to use it. Then they can pass it down and so on. The secret to this is the durable cast iron they use in their kitchenware, protected by enamel.
Is Le Creuset induction friendly?
But now, technologies in the kitchen are quickly changing. The birth of Le Creuset came with more traditional ways of sourcing heat in the kitchen. It really was meant to withstand intense, direct heat from wood-burning ovens or gas stoves of older days.
While gas and wood are still possible heat sources in the kitchen, they’re no longer the only choices nor the most popular.
Electric stove tops have become fashionable. But similar to gas stoves, they also use direct heat. So there’s no question there on whether Le Creuset would work as well as it was intended to.
At the top of the list of new kitchen innovations are induction cooktops. They work a little differently from gas and electric stoves.
So, would Le Creuset actually be able to stand the test of time with this one and be usable in a kitchen with induction stoves? Can you use le creuset on induction hobs?
Well, the answer lies in what makes induction cookware work best.
Induction stoves need a particular type of cookware to work properly. This is because induction, unlike gas or electric, does not directly transfer heat onto the surface of your cookware.
This means that if you’re using the wrong kind of cookware on an induction stove, no heat will transfer to it, no matter how long you keep it on.
Instead of direct heat, induction cookers use magnetic currents that flow through the metals in your pots and pans to heat them up evenly.
Unlike gas or electric stoves, where certain areas that the burners touch might get hotter than the areas without direct contact with the stovetop, induction heats more evenly. The magnetic currents act like a path the heat can follow to fully saturate the bottom of a pot or pan.
The rest of it is simple science. For the magnets to work, you need ferromagnetic cookware.
Wait, does this mean I need to throw out all my pots, pans, kettles, and skillets and replace them with ferromagnetic cookware?
Well, not really.
Ferromagnetic cookware is a lot more common than you think. It simply means that they’re mostly made up of iron.
A simple test is to use a refrigerator magnet. If it sticks to your pan, it should work fine with an induction cooker.
So, is Le Creuset induction compatible?
Before we get into whether or not you can use your Le Creuset cookware on induction, let’s clear out a bit of terminology. It can be a little confusing when we see information about induction cookers.
Does Le Creuset work on induction cooktops? Does Le Creuset work on induction stoves? All kinds of terms are used to describe what we use for induction cooking, but they’re more or less the same.
Yes! Induction cooktops and stoves all work the same way, so it wouldn’t make a difference in effectiveness. It’s just a difference in semantics!
Can you use Le Creuset on induction cooktop?
Now, the question is: will Le Creuset work on induction? Simply put, yes! Most of them will!
Most items in Le Creuset’s expansive collection are made of enameled cast iron. Under that shiny colorful polished exterior, usually made of ceramic or glass, is a cast iron body that works well with most induction cooktops and stoves.
But Le Creuset claims that it’s best to use their cookware on medium to low heat to keep them in good condition.
One more thing to note is that some Le Creuset items might work better on induction than others.
Generally, Le Creuset itself recommends that any cookware from their Stainless steel, cast iron, or toughened non-stick lines should work on induction cooktops without a hitch.
So, simply put, does Le Creuset cast iron work on induction?
Yes! As long as your cookware is flat and flush to the cooktop’s surface, it should work like a breeze.
Does Le Creuset Dutch oven work on induction cooktop?
Now that we know what materials to look out for in Le Creuset cookware to have the best results when cooking using induction, does it matter what kind of cookware we use?
The Le Creuset dutch oven works well with induction as long as it’s made of either toughened non-stick, stainless steel, or cast iron.
The heavy flat bottom of dutch ovens also lends well to induction cooking.
Does Le Creuset kettle work on induction?
Yes, they do!
Le Creuset kettles are designed so that induction cooking can be a no-fuss process. They also typically come in the brand’s enameled cast iron or stainless steel.
Do Le Creuset pots work on induction?
Absolutely.
Just like the dutch ovens and kettles, what matters most is the material used in the cookware.
Across the board, nearly all Le Creuset’s pots are made of induction-compatible material. You’d be more hard-pressed to find one that isn’t.
Does old Le Creuset work on induction?
Yes, when maintained well.
Cookware doesn’t just lose magnetism over time simply because it gets old. However, there can be some factors that cause damage to your cookware which can affect its efficiency on an induction cooktop.
One of these is rusting. It’s best to keep your cookware dry and well-oiled to prevent rust.
In other cases, warping can also happen after some use. Warping can be a big issue because induction works best when the bottom of your pot or pan is completely flat and touches as much of the cooktop as possible.
However, you can prevent this by regulating the temperature used on the pans.
Conclusion
So, it looks like Le Creuset will still last the test of time. Quality materials like enameled cast iron and good stainless steel won’t be outlived by technology, at least for now.
Therefore, if you’re looking for investment heirloom pieces that you can use on just about any stove, turn your eyes to some classics like Le Creuset. You might find your kitchen favorites there.
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