Before First Use
Enjoy unboxing your new purchase! (And make sure to remove the labels and packaging.)
Wash your Le Creuset product in warm, soapy water; then rinse and dry thoroughly.
When frying for the first time, add vegetable or corn oil so the base is covered. Then heat the oil gently, rotating the product to coat the inner side walls. Remove it from the heat, let it cool, then clean with paper towels.
Cooking
Stay protected – always use oven gloves when handling anything hot.
Use the product on the most appropriately sized hob ring — it’ll make your food cook more evenly, and reduce the risk of damage to the handles and sides. This is especially important on induction hobs: if you use the wrong-sized ring, there’s a risk the hob won't ‘recognise’ the product.
Cooking on a medium or low heat gets the best results — even for frying and searing. Let the product heat up gradually for great tasting food that’s cooked evenly. If you do need to use a higher heat, lower the setting once the desired heat has been reached.
For induction hob cooking, avoid using the ‘boost’ function as it should only be used for rapid heating large volumes of water.
If you're using salt, don't pour it directly onto the stainless steel surface. To avoid damage, add it to hot cooking liquid or food.
For best results, place your product on a shelf or rack. Never place your product on the floor of your oven – it can increase the cooking temperature, leading to faster, uncontrolled cooking which could cause damage.
When using under the grill, always allow at least a 5 cm (2 inch) gap between the heat source and the top of your product.
Cleaning
Always cool the product for a few minutes before cleaning. Do not plunge it into or fill it with cold water when hot, excessive surface temperature changes may damage the product.