Several European countries issued strong recommendations against the use of aluminium cookware.

Read that again.

That’s right everyone, for years, aluminium pots and pans have been off the shelves of the UK, France, and Germany, to name only three. This is because aluminium can react to certain foods and produce chemicals that are potentially dangerous. Some may even cause digestive issues and ulcers. NOT something you want after you actually make the effort to cook.

No one wants their cookware to be a source of danger in their kitchen. Stories like this mean that it’s difficult to know what is safe and what isn’t. With rumours flying in every direction, it’s time to set the record straight on one of the most popular brands of today. Le Creuset.

A Short History of Le Creuset

Created by two Belgian inventors, Le Creuset’s home has always been France. As the country has such an amazing culinary reputation, Le Creuset have used this to their advantage over the years with their advertising campaigns to set the scene for excellence in the kitchen.

Post WWII, the brand really began to take off and it was at this time that their exports began to grow and grow. Now, they’re one of the most recognisable brands in any kitchen. Featured on every wedding list, having one of their products is generally seen as a good investment and in some cases, a must-have.

What Le Creuset Sell

Le Creuset means ‘the crucible’ in English, and this is exactly what the brand is most well-known for. French ovens, or cast-iron Enamel cookware has always been their selling point, and is the product that made them famous.

These days however, they’ve branched out a little with the items available. From mugs to a Le Creuset oil sprayer, this company has a little something for everyone.

To delve deeper into the safety aspects of Le Creuset, let’s take a closer look at their two most popular products. First, the classic enamelled Cast Iron. Second, the newer toughened non-stick range.

Enamelled Cast Iron

With its beautiful colours, it’s easy to see why this cookware has caught the eye for so many years. Particularly striking is the ‘Flame’ range. The bright oranges certainly look the place in any kitchen and because they are designed to last for years – even a whole lifetime, many people find it a worthwhile investment. Yet there have been some worries surfacing about how safe this Enamelled Cast Iron is, and whether it’s leaching anything into our food that we should be aware of.

Cast Iron vs. Enamelled Cast Iron

With cast iron, one of the things that has to be done in order to to be able to start cooking with it is to season the iron. This is done by cooking a layer of oil in the pan so that it becomes polymerized and provides a protective coating. While many of these come pre-seasoned, they are prone to rust and take a bit of looking after.

Enamelled cast iron is different and doesn’t need as much care. As it has a smooth and non-porous enamel coating, it doesn’t need seasoned, and is much easier to clean and care for. It has all the benefits of a well-seasoned cast-iron dish, without the hassle.

The Dangers of Cast Iron

The dangers of cast iron aren’t fully known, but there is evidence that seasoned cast iron can cause leaching of the metal into your food. While extra iron in your diet hasn’t historically been seen as a bad thing, this type of heavy metal will actually be stored in your liver and can affect your joints if you take in too much of it.

Cast iron can also react to certain foods, making them leach more. You’ll need to reconsider making a bolognese in a cast iron pot, because acidic foods such as tomatoes will react strongly. Many people believe that there isn’t a significant danger, but it is recommended that you don’t cook acidic foods in cast iron. This means that it’s cooking potential is limited to certain foods.

The Dangers of Enamelled Cast Iron

One thing that people worry about is whether there is lead or cadmium present in enamel. These are other dangerous toxins that can potentially leach into food. While we can’t comment on other brands, Le Creuset have been extremely vocal about this and state that while used in some of their products (to create their iconic colours) the amount used is well below the safety limit, and some of their enamelled cast iron are both lead free and cadmium free. Furthermore, the ones that do use it only have it on the outside so it won’t get into you food. As an extra safety precaution, due to the temperature that the enamel is fired at, it makes the products inert, meaning that leaching isn’t a danger.

California 65 Test

Most people will have never heard of the California 65 test. Why would you? Yet if you want to know how safe your enamelled cookware is, this is the standard that you are looking for. Why? Because it’s one of the strictest tests in the world for measuring the amount of lead and cadmium that leaches into foods. It sets the bar at ten times lower than what is generally seen as ‘safe’. According to Le Creuset, all of their products pass this test and are in compliance with California law. Meaning its good news for Le Creuset buyers everywhere.

Toughened Non-Stick

One of the newer ranges that Le Creuset sell is their toughened non-stick range. There has been a lot of debate about whether the non-stick coating used in pans like these is safe, and there are certainly some out there that aren’t. However, with awareness comes change, and these types of coatings are being phased out in many countries. One of the main culprits was Teflon. As we all know, non-stick coating, particularly on cheap pans, can peel off. Ingesting small amounts of Teflon isn’t dangerous, but the chemicals it releases when it overheats can be, so it’s best to avoid it if you can.

Does Le Creuset use Teflon?

Short answer, no. Le Creuset doesn’t use Teflon in their non-stick range. All their products are PTFE and PFOA free and made using their own proprietary technology. Because the coating is 4x tougher, it also means that it doesn’t peel easily, so no nasty surprises in your dinner. For many, a non-stick coating is still something that they want to avoid, but if you are going to use it, then Le Creuset are setting the standard for safety.

Other Commonly Asked Questions about Le Creuset

There’s always a lot of questions that surround the Le Creuset products, so we’ve gone ahead and answered some of the most common ones that might be on your mind.

Can Le Creuset Go In Oven?

Most of Le Creuset cast iron products are safe to put in the oven, although the temperature should be monitored. 

• If your product has cast iron handles, a classic black phenolic knob or a stainless steel or metallic knob, it is safe for up to 260°C. 
• If it has a classic black phenolic knob, it’s safe in the oven up to 190°C. 
• If your cast iron Le Creuset product has wooden handles, it can’t go in the oven. 

The toughened non-stick range can also be used in the oven up to 260°C or 220°C with the lid on.

Is Le Creuset Dishwasher Safe?

All cast-iron Le Creuset products are dishwasher safe apart from those with a wooden handle.

While the toughened non-stick products are also dishwasher safe, it’s instead recommended that you wash them with hot soapy water to protect the coating.

Is Le Creuset Eco-Friendly?

One thing about Le Creuset is that many of its products come with a lifetime guarantee. This type of warranty means you won’t be throwing any more dishes into the bin or trying desperately to find somewhere to recycle them once they’re broken. As a default – Le Creuset is eco-friendly.

Want to know more about eco-friendly kitchens? Have a look at our lists of the best plastic-free kettles or read more about the consumption of slow cookers.
And if you want to know if you can recycle greaseproof oven paper, read that.

Summary

Ultimately, the cookware that you choose is your choice. Looking at the facts, we’ve determined that Le Creuset is safe to use. So whether you’re looking to buy your first enamelled cast iron dish, or just add a few to your wish list, at least there’s no reason to worry about any form of leaching.

Le Creuset’s adherence to the California 65 regulations is admirable, and it’s also a way that we can easily tell if a brand is safe or not. Both the enamelled cast iron and the new toughened non-stick are leading the way in terms of healthy non-toxic cookware. It’s clear that these French dishes are going to continue to be popular for years to come.

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