About

Colors match the rest of your Le Creuset cookware collection

1-quart Capacity

Made of durable, high-fired stoneware with glossy enamel glazing

Safe in oven, freezer, and microwave; comes in different colors

Non-porous construction resists odors, chipping, cracking, and staining

The oval au gratin features classic scalloped handles and a flat, shallow design. This microwave-safe dish is lightweight enough for easy transfer between the oven and table.

  • Type: Casserole, baking dish
  • Color: Cobalt blue
  • Weight: 2 lb 3.5 oz
  • Made In: France
  • Warranty: 5 years against defects
  • Dimensions: 11-1/4" x 7-1/4" x 2-1/4"
  • Composition: Stoneware
  • Manufacturer: Le Creuset
  • Other versions: white, cherry, kiwi; 3-quart version
  • Product number: PG0400-24

Ambitions

Apparent goal: kids gift/registry home kitchens restaurants everywhere
Intended audience: novice advanced beginner good home cook gourmet professional
Diet/nutrition: does not apply scary empty promises helpful essential
Green?: not especially neutral mixed blessing earth friendly green!
Innovative: step back standing still progress trendy genius
Problem solving: no better baby steps solid steps giant steps a revelation
Competition: outclassed follower in the pack strong challenger likely champ

Utility/Quality

Ease of use: impossible frustrating OK simple child's play
Intuitive: Ph.D. required barely logical effortless brilliant
Instructions: missing incomprehensible adequate unnecessary excellent
Quality: cheesy questionable good years of service impressive
Parts to lose: inevitable some/many one-piece self-storing not a problem
Power source: none hands batteries outlet oven/mocrowave
Clean-up: nightmare wipe clean soap & water scouring pad dishwasher
Does it work?: not at all adequately well very well perfectly
Availability: airfare required online kitchen store department store supermarket

Packaging

Easy to open?: impossible maddening tolerable good opens itself
Green?: fills a landfill huge waste passable minimal waste impressive

Economy

Time saving: time wasting not really modest substantial huge
Labor saving: less efficient marginal a bit noticeable remarkable
Money saving: money wasted none $ $$ $$$
Beats the old way: worse no change better infinitely entirely new
Where will it live?: garage/attic drawer cabinet countertop elsewhere

Summary

Fulfills ambitions: falls short almost there satisfies exceeds home run
How often used: once/twice ≥daily ≥weekly ≥monthly ≥yearly/holidays
Worth the space?: no does not apply w/unlimited space w/limited space absolutely
Need it?: a luxury discretionary basic equipment for serious cooks get it
Value: ouch! a little pricey worth splurging on the money a deal
Overall rating: skip it fair good very good excellent

Comments: There is an undeniable elegance to this dish. Even covered with the baked-on remains of a leftover potato dauphinoise (delicious, by the way), it is a lovely dish.

Le Creuset's stoneware can go in the freezer, refrigerator, oven, and microwave oven. (The company does not want you to take it straight from the freezer to a hot oven, but says to put it in a cold oven and let it heat up while the oven heats. It cannot be used on the stovetop, within about 2-1/2" of the broiler flame, or above 500°F (260°C)). It is certainly beautiful enough to be used as a serving dish on the table.

The dish is wide and shallow, which increases the surface area, and provides a larger crispy portion for each serving. We think it works fine for creamed spinach or anything else that doesn't provide a crispy portion, too. The dish will not absorb odors or flavors, and Le Creuset says it is strong and durable to resist staining, chipping, and cracking. We see every reason to believe them. We have not babied this dish in our testing, and inflicted no harm. We have not dropped it on the floor, either, and do not recommend doing so….

This 1-quart size is ideal for a modest main course or more servings of a side dish. Of course, you can get Le Creuset casseroles and bakers and au gratin dishes in every shape and size, and a dozen-and-a-half colors, so if a 1-quart capacity is inadequate (or way too big), the company still has something (or many somethings) to meet your needs.