Le Creuset 11.75-Inch Iron Handle Skillet

Bottom Line

Unlike other cast-iron pans, the Le Creuset 11.75-Inch Iron Handle Skillet has an enameled interior finish that's dishwasher-safe and doesn't require seasoning. On the down side, this also means food is more likely to stick when cooked without oil. Also, while owners say the pan is durable, it requires careful handling: no metal utensils, no harsh scouring and lower heat than other cast-iron pans.

Performance

Aces pro tests. The Le Creuset pan can make scrambled eggs without fat and still produce a lovely crust on pan-seared steak and corn bread. However, when tested in actual home kitchens, its nonstick performance is less impressive. We saw several reviews at Amazon.com that said it's necessary to use at least a little bit of oil with this pan to keep food from sticking to the surface. "If you want these skillets to have the properties of Teflon pans, don't buy them," warns one owner. However, multiple users say the pan will release food better if it's used on a lower heat setting and preheated before the oil is added. This will take a while, users note, because like other cast-iron skillets, this heavy pan takes a while to come up to temperature. Once it does, however, most owners say it delivers even heat and maintains its temperature for a long time.

Ease Of Use

Size and shape a plus, according to professional reviewers. Testers at a cooking magazine found it easier to handle this pan than other cast-iron skillets, adding that the sloping sides made it easier to transfer food from the pan. Users say the pan's large cooking area is also a bonus; one notes that it can hold five to six chicken breasts with room to spare. However, the pan's large size also makes it very heavy (one owner quips that it's "great for bench pressing"), and it doesn't include a helper handle.

Cleanup is easy, according to owners, requiring no more than warm, soapy water. Even if it's been left overnight before cleaning, one owner says, it will come clean after being warmed back up, soaked in soapy water and scrubbed with a sponge. Unlike most cast iron, this pan can also be washed in a dishwasher, although Le Creuset warns that doing so repeatedly will dull the bright enamel finish.

Appearance

Bright enameled exterior. Even the editors at the cooking magazine, who normally focus on performance, were impressed by the Le Creuset pan's "pretty" and well-proportioned appearance. Moreover, the finish is easy to maintain, according to one user, who confesses that it often goes for several uses between washings with just a quick wipe of a paper towel. The skillet is available in a variety of cheerful colors.

Durability

Users are impressed. One owner says the Le Creuset skillet is in great shape after two years of use: "A few scratches on the bottom, but the interior is perfect." Other users also praise the pan's quality and say they expect it to be a lifelong investment. However, the editors of the cooking magazine warn that the enamel finish is vulnerable to damage. Using metal utensils or stacking anything else inside the pan, they say, could damage the surface. Le Creuset backs this skillet with a lifetime warranty, but it does not cover damage due to "abuse," which includes overheating or accidentally dropping the pan.