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Le Creuset Doufeu Review: Everything You Need To Know

Le Creuset cookware is a highly-trusted Parisian brand known for its high-quality products. The doufeu is an innovative take on the traditional dutch oven that offers unique features that results in more moist and juicier food. But what exactly makes the Le Creuset Doufeu so special? Read on for my Le Creuset Doufeu review.

The Le Creuset Doufeu is an excellent investment for those who aim to make highly tender meat in their dishes. Because of the intense moisture the doufeu can produce, a traditional dutch oven might work best for those who want a drier end product.

As a massive Le Creuset lover, I have examined the Doufeu and researched extensively to give you the most comprehensive review and answer any and all questions you can think of. Read on for the Le Creuset Dofeu Review.

How the Le Creuset Doufeu Works and Why Do You Need it?

The Le Creuset Doufeu is unique in its design as a slow cooker because of its unusual method of cooking food. The Le Creuset Doufeu is essentially a dutch oven that uses ice to help slow cook food. 

Unlike traditional dutch ovens with flat or rounded lids, the Le Creuset Doufeu has a deep, inward-facing lid that holds ice on top. 

Usually, when cooking food with a lid, the steam collects and pools at the top. The theory behind the Le Creuset Doufeu is that when the steam rises, it will hit the cold surface of the lid where the ice is sitting on top. Rather than evaporating or pooling at the top, as usual, the steam will convert back to a liquid form upon contact with the cooler lid.

Another unique feature of the Le Creuset Doufeu is that it contains little raised bumps on the inside of the lid, which allows the steam to quickly drip back down onto the food rather than spilling down the sides of the pot.

When the steam trickles back down to the food, it adds moisture to the dish, effectively creating tender, juicy meats and vegetables. The idea is that by reducing the amount of steam escaping through the pot, you’ll get juicier, more flavorful dishes without adding additional liquid.

Le Creuset Doufeu Review: Pros of the Le Creuset Doufeu

Even though the Le Creuset Doufeu is relatively similar to a regular dutch oven, there are some unique advantages to buying this particular slow cooker that I think you should consider.

1. It Has a Versatile Lid

The lid of the Le Creuset Doufeu is one of the unique features of the oven. Most traditional dutch oven lids are fairly thin and have a small knob handle at the top, preventing you from turning it upside down and putting food in it unless you want to have a giant spill. 

Not so with the Le Creuset Doufeu! This innovative lid doubles as a portable stove or food warmer. Because of its concave lid, it provides a unique method for cooking food or keeping it warm. 

Without a pesky knob handle, it balances safely on a counter, table, or flat surface so that you can store food in it without a problem.

Its deep rim allows you to easily store liquid foods such as soup, sauces, juices, and more while keeping meat or other solid foods dry on top. 

You could also use the Le Creuset Doufeu’s lid as a regular serving dish with chips or crackers on the elevated part of the lid and dips and spreads on the bottom rim. You could also use it to create a small charcuterie board. The possibilities are almost endless!

Another unique feature of the Le Creuset Doufeu’s lid is its handles on the side. While side handles might not seem like a big deal, remember that many traditional dutch ovens only have a single knob-type handle at the top.

Putting handles on both sides of the lid makes it easier to lift and carry if you’re using it as a portable stove, food warmer, or serving dish. I personally really struggle holding a dutch oven so I particularly love this feature!

2. You Can Use It With Multiple Heat Types

Another big advantage to the Le Creuset Doufeu that I love is that it is strong (and heavy!), withstanding temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it with any heat source. It is oven safe, and you can also use it on the stove—with gas or electric heat. The pot also works well with ceramic top heat and induction heat sources. Just be really careful when you put it down on the glass as I have heard of people cracking their glass top stoves!

As with most cookware, allow the Le Creuset Doufeu to reach room temperature if it has been in the fridge before using it with heat to avoid damaging it.

Cons of the Le Creuset Doufeu

Like with any product, there can be downsides that you should consider if making such a big investment:

1. The Base Handles Are Small 

One downside of the Le Creuset Doufeu is that the pot’s base handles are pretty tiny. While many dutch ovens do not have handles, the ones that do have rectangular-shaped handles that allow you to grip them easily with several fingers. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the Le Creuset Doufeu. The handles are more curved, which leaves little room for your fingers to slide in. I don’t find this such a big deal as you are wearing oven mitts when handling it most of the time and there is ample room to grip the handles.

The best way to transport the Le Creuset Doufeu is actually with pot holders (the square type like these on Amazon) instead of oven mitts. The mitts will be too bulky, and you won’t be able to get a grip. Instead, use a high-quality, heat-resistant pot holder underneath the handles to safely grasp and move the pot without dropping it or getting burned.

The Le Creuset Doufeu Is Expensive

Another downside to the Le Creuset Doufeu is the price. These dutch ovens are costly, especially if you’re purchasing a larger size.

If you’re purchasing a high-quality dutch oven, you can expect to shell out a decent amount of money. The Le Creuset Doufeu is no exception. You can check out the price here on Amazon.

Is Purchasing a Les Creuset Doufeu Worth It?

The Les Creuset Doufeu is worth it if you value extremely tender meat. Many people praise the self-basting properties of the doufeu, which works to tenderize meat much more than a traditional dutch oven.

However, it’s worth noting that many people enjoy using the Les Creuset Doufeu without ice on the top. Although the unique lid design was constructed for use with ice on top, even without ice, the pot still produces quality results and tender, flavorful dishes. 

Les Creuset is a trusted brand in cookware, and you usually get a lifetime warranty with your purchase. It’s no surprise that people also love the Le Creuset Doufeu. Because it goes through rigorous quality checks, people trust it and value it as one of the gold standards in cookware. 

However, it’s difficult to say if people love the Les Creuset Doufeu because it’s a great dutch oven or because using the innovative lid genuinely makes a difference. In some tests, adding ice to the top of the lid actually resulted in poorer quality dishes. The additional condensation from the ice left too much liquid in the pot, which thinned out sauces.

In a regular dutch oven, some of the extra liquid evaporated, leaving thicker sauces with more flavor. 

It’s worth noting that the complaint was with the quality of the sauces and not necessarily the meat itself. Suppose you’re looking for extra tender meat or incredibly moist dishes. 

In that case, it’s evident that the Les Creuset Doufeu will deliver with its ability to condense steam and tenderize meat. 

For people unconcerned with price, the Les Creuset is a valuable addition to any kitchen collection, and the investment in quality is worth it. You can be sure that your doufeu will continue to perform well over time. It’s also scratch resistant and is slow to show signs of wear. 

People also love the Le Creuset Doufeu because of its versatility and ability to perform with various heat sources. Like most dutch ovens, it can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and thankfully you can easily remove heat marks with Le Creuset’s unique Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner. 

Who Should Buy a Le Creuset Doufeu?

People interested in cooking or braising meat should consider purchasing the Le Creuset Doufeu. The innovative lid of the Le Creuset Doufeu does work in adding more liquid to dishes and producing tender meat, making it a better alternative to a traditional dutch oven. 

A traditional dutch oven might be a better investment for those who are more interested in baking, making casseroles, or soups in the Le Creuset Doufeu. If you aren’t planning to use the ice tray portion of the pot, you could purchase a regular dutch oven from Le Creuset to receive the same high-quality cookware. 

The space for ice at the top of the lid truly works to tenderize meat. So if tender meat isn’t a primary goal, those cooking with the Le Creuset Doufeu might find their dishes to be overly moist or retain too much liquid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where Can You Buy a Le Creuset Doufeu?

The Le Creuset Doufeu is still sold in stores across the world. Many kitchen supply stores such as Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Le Creuset Outlet, and online retailers carry the sought-after dutch oven.

You can purchase it through Amazon here.

Q: What Is the Le Creuset Doufeu Made From?

The Le Creuset Doufeu is made from cast iron and is covered with enamel. It goes through quality tests and receives multiple enamel coats. You can check the quality by making sure you can’t see any of the cast iron through the enamel. 

Q: What Can You Cook Using the Le Creuset Doufeu?

Pot roasts; meat such as beef, mutton, pork shoulders, steak, lamb chops, chicken, etc.; vegetables, stews, soups, casseroles, and more can all be made in the Le Creuset Doufeu. Essentially, any dish you would put in a slow cooker, can be cooked in the Le Creuset Doufeu.

The Les Creuset Doufeu is famous for its ability to braise meat, which is why many people enjoy cooking tough meats in the pot, as it makes it incredibly tender. You can also fry foods using the Les Creuset Doufeu.

Dessert enthusiasts will also love that you can bake using the Le Creuset Doufeu. Cakes, cobblers, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, bread, and more can all be made using the Le Creuset Doufeu.

If you want a cast iron pan with more versatility check out my review on the Le Creuset Multifunction Pan

Q: How Do You Clean the Le Creuset Doufeu?

As with most cast iron cookware, hand washing the Le Creuset Doufeu with mild dish soap and water is best. Although it is technically dishwasher safe, it’s best to avoid washing it in the dishwasher often. 

If you have hard stains that you’re finding difficult to remove, you’ll be pleased to know that Le Creuset has its own special cleaner for its products. To clean difficult stains on the Doufeu, use the Le Creuset Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner, which promises to safely remove stains, discoloration, and other dirt from the dish without harming the enamel. 

Final Thoughts

The Le Creuset Doufeu is an excellent investment for those looking to cook frequently with meat to get juicy, tender results. While the doufeu isn’t limited to cooking only meat, the ingenious design lies within the inverted lid, which holds ice that turns the steam back to liquid within the pot. 

If you’re not planning on using ice with the doufeu, you can invest in another Le Creuset dutch oven, which will work just as well and give you the same quality in your slow-cooked meals. I hope you found this Le Creuset Doufeu review article helpful!