I love this size because it is more versatile than the round shape. I use it for soup, whole chickens and small pork roasts. It is great on cook top as well as oven. It was the first size of 5 that I purchased Ease of Handling A good way to keep those arm muscles working Ease of Cleaning What doesn't come off right away, comes off after a short soak

Mcbinder

USA

I love my Le Creuset French Oven; I use it for anything I can. It it a wonderful tool to have for any kitchen. I enjoy using mine for chili, stews, and more. Doesn't Stick This pan is great, I have never had issues with ingredients sticking to the pan. The Le Creuset design allows for non-stick cooking without having to spray or apply oil to the pan. Heat Distribution The le creuset french oven cooks evenly. the heat distributes between the ingredients and throughout the five quarts. I have not had any issues with food burning or not being done. this is great for cooking things on low, as well browning items. Ease of Cleaning The pan is very easy to clean; it is slightly heavy and requires some caution when carrying and transporting. it is not the easiest to wash with one hand due to the weight, but there is typically not a big mess stuck to it. It also is not dishwasher safe. Durability The le creuset french oven is very durable and is constructed to last for many years. It is very durable, sturdy, and you can tell it is well constructed.

RobinSparkles10

USA

Although quite heavy, I couldn't imagine cooking without my French oven. This durable pot produces some of the best meals (my personal favorite being coq-au-vin). I love the versatility of it and appearance. I usually just leave it on the stove rather than store it. It's great to brown meat, toss in the oven overnight or cook soups on the stove-top. Heat Distribution Being such a heavy bottomed pan it spreads heat quite well, but can be difficult at times on smaller burners, particularly due to the oval shape. I've had few to no real problems with it though. Ease of Handling I almost feel bad giving such a low rating, but when I have this pot that is already heavy on its own filled with a chicken and a bottle of wine (which I realize is not really the pot's fault as much as it is my own) this guy can get pretty heavy. My ceramic pots, though, are much more manageable with the same amount of food inside. Nonetheless, it is the heaviness that I love this pot in other categories, so its tough to really put this down as a negative. Ease of Cleaning The awkward shape and heaviness can prove a little frustrating in my small apartment sink, but fortunately the surface itself cleans very easily. Durability It has solid construction and has gone into hot ovens, grills, refrigerators and just about everything in between with no issues. Hand washing it has removed a bit of the "Le Creuset" sticker on the side, but otherwise it looks practically new. That's a lot more than I can say for many of my other pots and pans...

mlombard

Undisclosed

I had been watching all of the famous chefs on the Food Network and slowly began stocking my own kitchen with the same cookware that they were using. I can tell you that they use this expensive cookware for a reason-IT WORKS! It really cooks and holds up unlike the less expensive brands. In my experiences with cookware, you get what you pay for. My first Le Creuset purchase was the 5 quart oval french oven. It is perfect for soupos, stoups, stews, pastas and anything wlse you can put in it! I use it for roasting whole chickens and roasts with vegetables too. I really love how well it hold the heat. It also cooks very evenly as well. Be careful not to use any metal utensils inside of it though as it scratches very easily. I use my french oven quite frequently and have never had any trouble cleaning it. I use dishsoap and hot water, never putting it into the dishwasher. All in all, I would recommend the Le Creuset 5 quart French Oven to anyone!

doitallmama

Hartville, OH

I have this piece along with a few others from Le Creuset and I LOVE them!!!!  They are the only thing that I'll buy for the kitchen now.  The are heavy duty, very insulated, and cook things evenly.  I have cooked desserts, breads, vegetables, meats, noodles, rice, soups, and stews in this pot and they have all done GREAT in them. I've been amazed at what I can make in just these pots.  They have a great website to check out too.  I highly recommend this dish along with any other Le Creuset pieces to have in your kitchen. It's a little pricey, but well worth it!!  You won't meet anybody that regrets ever owning this dish!!!!  I have only owned my pots for a year in a half and they have held up very well and I'm proud to say that I own a Le Creuset owner!   A well-made investment for your kitchen that you'll never be disappointed in making.  Get one, two, or even six of these pots today!!

egdcwed

Murfreesboro, TN

I have the 5 quart oval shaped french oven from Le Crueset.  I was trying to decide between the oval versus the round one.  I decided to go with the oval one since someone mentioned that you could cook a whole chicken in it.  Although I have never cooked a whole chicken in my french oven, I could see myself wanting to do so in the future. This cookware is great since you can put it on the stove and in the oven.  My major complaint is that this thing is very heavy!  this might not be an issue for most people, but I have pain in my arms.  I definitely find myself using this less due to its weight, but that's not something that can be changed.  When you have an cast iron enamel pot, it's going to be heavy.  Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and I've thought about purchasing additional Le Crueset items that are different sizes.  I especially like using this to make a double batch of Thanksgiving stuffing since this pot can hold a lot.

mfong

San Francisco, CA

I have always wanted Le Creuset cookware.  And I finally treated myself to some, and LOVE it.  Of the five pots I own, the 5 quart oval roaster is one of the ones I use most often.  It is perfect for roasting a chicken, or making a small roast.  I use it so often, my husband jokes that I shouldn't even bother putting it away!  Like all Le Creuset, it heats extremely evenly, easily goes from stovetop to oven, and is easy to clean. The one negative would be that because it is made of cast iron, it is heavy, so you don't want to overload it. I know the Le Creuset pots are expensive, but they are definitely worth it, especially when you consider the 101 year warranty.

amystroh

Birmingham, AL

I have always wanted Le Creuset cookware, but never had the money.  I saw all those famous named people on Food Network with one, and I wanted one too.  I wanted to cook food that looked picture perfect like on TV.  I thought that the food was just a little too perfect looking on TV.  I wasn't sure that when I would finally own Le Creuset my food would look like that too.  So I decided to wait.  Then a Le Creuset store opened up nearby to my house, and I signed up for their mailing list.  This is a must - if you live nearby a one of their stores.  Then I discovered that Williams Sonoma had free cooking demos.  Thanks to Denise and her cooking chicken in Le Creuset, I knew I had to buy one and quickly.  My lucky day had arrived when in the mail I received a 40% off coupon for Le Creuset!!!  That was one deal I just couldn't pass up on.  It is truly amazing..on the stovetop and in the oven.  Even when you think your food is burnt (because the sides of the pot are black), it tastes great!!  It washes out really easy too.  Just fill with warm soapy water and let it soak while you and your family eat dinner and clean-up is a breeze.  Dishes like roasted chicken and soups just simmer away covered while you can do other things.  I truly love it.

swirlb

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

i know a lot of people swear by Le Creuset, and say it's basically the holy grail of cooking stuff. i own a pretty complete set for everyday use. i have a skillet, 3 different sized round pots, a covered casserole, a marmitout and a panini press. it's good for people who believe that you're making an extra special dish because you're using a really expensive cast iron pot/pan, but i'm not so sure it makes such a huge difference. for starters, the surface is really hard to take care of. i'm super vigilant about not letting it soak in water too long, i always use wooden utensils on it, and if anything happens to the enamel on the inside, i clean it with Bon Ami... but even with all this attention, there are spots where the enamel has started to thin a little, and i imagine in a few years, i will be seeing rust spots in the bottom of the pots.  the heat distribution is very even, as everybody says. but to be honest, i'm not sure that the average home cook needs that kind of professional equipment to make a simple beef stew or roast.  

thisiswhatisay

San Francisco, CA