Your favorite Le Creuset color

[Monica]

Orange(or was it called Flame) is my favorite...though I ended up ordering red since orange wasn't available.

[Sugarsnappedpea]

I live near the outlet and have been able to take advantage of the clearance pricing. My favorite color was a limited production now discontinued color from Macy's I call Martha Stewart blue. I bought one piece and spent a whole summer without success to buy more. I have the mixy- matchy add on colors of Caribbean, a discontinued yellow, kiwi and dune.

[Mojave]

I have Kiwi, Cobalt and Caribbean. There are so many I REALLY LIKE. And then Marseille came out…I am addicted to the color. I even bought the metal decor sign. I only want this color now, in hundreds of pieces.

[Brenda2]

White, white, white! So clean and pretty on the outside. :)

[Wapptor]

Flame, Caribbean. And of course the first piece I ever received was a 5.5qt dutch oven in Cobalt. <3 them all!

[law_doc89]

Cherry red! Except my unenameled all black wok.

[katmendez]

wow, i'm checking into this thread after 3 years!! flame seems to be the most popular choice, which makes sense as it's THE classic LC color. it's my 2nd favorite.

my favorite is still dijon: an elegant yellow. it's also incredible happy, affecting the mood at the table.

after dijon and flame, i like cobalt and cassis as accent colors. the quad together looks so lovely!

[depthchef]

I just purchased my first Le Creuset at an outlet store and am feeling a little buyer's remorse (or at least doubt) over the color. I felt so overwhelmed by all the beautiful primary colors, but we are about to remodel our kitchen with white cabinets, pale sage subway tile and light colored warm bamboo flooring. I wanted something that would continue in that bright, soft, airy style, and that I can display on a stainless shelf over my new CC range. I ended up with three pieces of Coastal Blue at a fantastic price, and it is very pretty, but I also don't want a matchy-matchy look. I was hoping to supplement the Coastal Blue with other shades but I don't like the muted, muddy colors much and not sure how any of the primary colors would work with the muted light blue. I'm thinking I should have gone with flame or red...

[foiegras]

They design all of the colors to go together, I believe. I think the Coastal Blue would be pretty with all the colors I have (cherry, aubergine, linen, dune).

[depthchef]

Thanks, I think some cherry would work for a pop of color. I wasn't crazy about linen, but I think Dune would be ok. It definitely looks good with bright white dishes, etc. Unlike many here, I do like Ocean, but would have to find it at an outlet or discount store rather than WS to afford ;-)

[thatwineguy]

It was Kiwi/Lemongrass for the longest time. Then, I got a 5.5 qt in Rosemary and fell completely in love. Then I realized that rosemary wasn't sold in the States and that made me sad. The new Marseille Blue, however, is absolutely beautiful. I just got the chef's multi pot and I'm completely in love with this color. I totally regret my purchase of a Fennel demi kettle and wish I had waited. :(

[foiegras]

I got a Linen 5 quart oval for Christmas. Was going to get Aubergine, but the Linen was on sale (I guess that means it's being discontinued), so I got it instead. The interior does seem to release better so far (made short ribs for New Year's), and the wide handles are easier to use. The knob is larger too. I like the color ... the gradient is nice. Trying to figure out what other piece would be best to get in Aubergine ;) Does anyone have the little bitty saucepan?

[Catarino]

I purchased my 1st piece today completely on a whim. They were having a ridiculous sale at an LC outlet store (7qt French oven for $144) so I thought it was a great time to give it a try... I ended up selecting red but was very tempted by the flame as well! I can't wait to try it out!

[sugarflowers]

Caribbean
Dijon
White, actually - so clean and sleek!

[phrekyos]

I was at the LC outlet earlier tonight and picked up this color I've never seen before - it's a dark kind of purple-blue. They only had one piece, a 3" square lidded ramekin, and it was on the shelf with the lilac and cassis stoneware. It has a label in Japanese, but the color name is not listed; it's just the usual use/care/warning stuff. The bottom is stamped 08.41. I wish they had more of it - it's very pretty.

[Jay F]

Can you take a picture? I'd love to see it.

[blue room]

Maybe one of these?

http://www.google.com/search?q=le+cre...

I've just given up -- I will always want the next one, the new one! So now I try to admire from afar.

[Jay F]

Thanks. I think those are mostly cassis. I have a lot of Indigo, which technically should be a purplish-blue, but in fact looks like Navy Blue.

[phrekyos]

I took a quick picture with my webcam. The "attach photo" function just hangs, so I put it here: http://i.imgur.com/gcbaD.jpg

It's not Lilac or Cassis. It was on the shelf with other Lilac and Cassis stoneware, but the color is different.

edit: You know, I think this might just be Cobalt. The model number on the receipt ends in 30, which is Cobalt according to that eBay guide. Likewise, my Kiwi stuff ends in 71, which also matches the guide. Oh well, false alarm I guess... sorry!

[Jay F]

Thanks. It's pretty. It would go nicely with Indigo, I think.

[cosmogrrl]

Just got a mailer from WS and they show a new color called Linen. It's kind of a mushroomy color. I'm not terribly thrilled with it, and it seems a little unappetizing.

I like the traditional Flame and cobalt. I also like Caribbean.

[foiegras]

Just looked up the Linen ... wow, that is ugly. Was hoping it would be similar to Dune, but no ...

[Island]

Agree. That's nasty. Right up there with the equally boring and unappetizing dune and whatever the brown color is called. JMO. Maybe LC is running out of color ideas for the color junkies...like me!

Wish there was an outlet for trading Le Creuset. I have a few different colors, don't really need any more pieces, but I'd like something useful in Kiwi. I'd easily trade my perfect Sonoma Green buffet for one in Kiwi. Who knew LC would come out with so many new colors years later!

[Jay F]

Island, e-mail me at the address in my profile. I have a few pieces in Kiwi I'd trade for stuff in Indigo, or maybe other shades of green. Has to be green or blue, though.

[dixiegal]

I agree with some of the LC colors not being so attractive. LIke black. Looks just like a bare cast iron to me.

But, when viewing combinations of colors, some of those not so attractive colors look really good with other colors.
Like that grey color. Nothing great about a gray pot. They are everywhere. But paired with the cherry red and maybe some black. Looks real good.

I wasn't too attracted to Cassis on it's on. But when paired with Fennel. It looks great! Throw in a little cherry colored pot, and it all comes together really well.

That linen color reminds me of a mushroom and that ocean color looks like a bad storm is brewing. Don't much care for either one. But paired with some other colors, might look just fine.
That dune color reminds me of sand. Bet it would look good with carribean and some kind of green color and/or cherry red.
LOL Wish there was a virtual LC sight that would let us play with the colors in a kitchen on line. That would be fun.

[blondelle]

You can easily play with colors. Just cut and paste pieces of different LC color pots into one document, and then just move them around to play and see different color combos.

[foiegras]

I have Dune and Flame. I already have a really colorful kitchen, so I like Dune in it ... goes with everything.

[Moyo]

Citron yellow!! Does anyone know where I can still purchase this set in Citron Yellow? There must be some unsold sets around!! Please help!!

[Jay F]

Try one of Le Creuset's Factory Outlet Stores. You don't have to live near one. You can call any of them and they'll ship to you. Free shipping if you spend more than $100.
http://lcstores.com/locations.asp

[Moyo]

Thanks Jay! I'm having no luck online so far!! Want the 5 -pc set in Citron yellow not only the Dutch Oven piece I found!! U suggest I call each factory store? Figured they'd list online what they have(?) seems there should be a lot of unsold sets - considering it's only been retired a short time!

[Jay F]

They don't list anything online. You can ask the salespeople to look something up on their computer, though. It shows what's available at every store. It's best to call at a less busy time, first thing in the morning, maybe. But they'll call you right back if they're busy with in-store customers.

Which five pieces are you looking for?

[nomadchowwoman]

Yes, agree w/Jay F. Start calling. People in those stores have always been very helpful, ime.

[wonderfullyweird]

I had a citron yellow dutch oven on my Williams-Sonoma wedding registry and noticed recently it was removed (and not because someone bought it). I was so bummed to see they stopped carrying that color! But I agree with Jay F - check or call one of their factory stores. I live near a LC factory store and they still have the citron color (though mine only has the oval shaped dutch ovens and I was looking for round). I think after the wedding, we'll use the money to buy one from there if they stil have them.

[KansasKate]

I don't care for the shaded colors, but I do like some of the solid blues LC has made over the years.

[Jay F]

I don't like the shaded colors, either. I have mostly Indigo now, a solid blue. Should've been called Navy, though.

[blondelle]

I like almost all the colors except Truffle, Chestnut and Ocean. Not that crazy about Dune, Cassis or Fennel either but wouldn't turn it down if someone offered me one free :-).

[sunniburns]

I only started purchasing Le Crouset, and got the "Ocean" color. But I think mixing the colors up is cool too (not so "matchy matchy"). "Kiwi" is nice, and the "Flame" is just classic. Oh, and I also got the square griddle in what I guess is called "Dijon" (it was on the sale rack at WS w/ no box, and I did not think to ask the name of the color - but it is a real pretty yellow.

[Endivia]

I have assorted LC in red, cobalt and dune. I love them all and wish I could justify getting some more pieces in the new WS ocean or Dijon. From the ones I have my least favorite would be dune, but it was the one one sale!

[NCVeggie]

OCEAN! It is new- a pale greyish blue, available at Williams-Sonoma. It is gorgeous and very classy. The new Cassis line is also nice ( a modern eggplant-purple) but the Ocean is far more classic and would look great in any kitchen. I am in love with this line...
P.S. Definitely spring for the silver handle replacement- it looks SO much nicer than the standard black plastic and is more heat resistant. They are only like 10 bucks.

[LidaK]

I really do not like the new WS "Ocean Colour." I just can't picture food in it on the stove. Mine are red. I used to like the old Wlliam Sonoma dark green.
I also do not like the soft pastel colours I see from Japan like pink or lilac.

[Jay F]

LidaK: "I also do not like the soft pastel colours I see from Japan like pink or lilac." I don't either. I expect them to be filled with Cotton Candy Helper.

I don't have any Ocean, and I've only seen it once. It didn't bother me as much as it does some people. I've come to realize I really like the solid colors more than the gradient ones. Indigo is my favorite.

[qwerty78]

mine are all red. but i also love the orange and kiwi... maybe when i have a bigger kitchen i'll add to it...

[decolady]

Caribbean Blue, Lilac Mist and Red. Lilac Mist is HTF in the US, though.

[DAVESGIRL]

I wanted an array of colors because my kitchen colors will change with my mood.
I have discontinued colors I believe.
Dutch oven and sauce pan w/the frypan as a lid, both in Indigo (really really rich, dark blue)
Grill pan and tea kettle in red
a saucepan in flame
baking/casserole dishes in yellow and orange (now called dijon and flame)
I love that Cassis color and may get a piece to mix things up a bit more

I grew up with the Sonoma blue and my Mom has since decided she needed full sets for each season...(see where I get it?) She has the blue, red, yellow (dijon) and the green - sonoma green? While it's beautiful displayed in her kitchen and beautiful in it's own right that's too many of one thing for me.

[Jay F]

I got some new pieces recnently, the larger roaster in Lemongrass and a 26 cm/5.5 qt round oven in Jade. I like the Indigo, too. There's some available now on eBay.

I now have Flame, Jade, Indigo, Lemongrass, and a color of Green that's almost Jade. I'm a fan of blues and greens in everything. One Flame LC au gratin is all I have left from my original pieces back in 1979.

[blondelle]

Jay where did you get the Jade? Was that from Ebay too? I've always liked that color.

[Jay F]

Blondelle - The Jade oven came in the mail, and because the seller didn't pack it well (she used the smallest box it could possibly fit into), and one of the handles broke off, causing two cracks underneath that went almost to the bottom. I got my $$$ back, but what a pain.

My Lemongrass roaster is nice, but it is heavy. I made apple crisp in it on Friday, and tomorrow I'm going to roast a chicken. It's too big for some things (I really didn't need that much apple crisp), but the smaller roaster only holds 2.5 qt, and I have au gratins near that size.

[blondelle]

Oh dear! Poor little pot. You should be able to find another on Ebay. People don't realize how brittle and breakable cast iron is. Just curious if you paid the insurance on it, or if the seller returned your money anyway without insurance.

[Jay F]

The seller just refunded my money. It was clearly her fault for not packaging it better, and the pictures showed it.

[CookingwithMochi]

I was just at the LC outlet in Woodburn, Oregon, and they have several indigo and sonoma green pieces that they just got it...you could give them a call if you need any of those pieces. You can find their phone number at lcstores.com. I picked up a trivet, pate terrine, cleaner, etc.

[Gabatta]

We like mixing primarily the primary colors, all of which are readily available in the outlets:

3 Red (5.5 qt. round oven; 10" sq. skillet grill; mini cocotte)
2 Dijon (7.25 qt. round oven; 2.5 qt. roaster pan)
2 Cobalt (3.75 qt deep sautee; 2.5 qt. roaster pan)
3 White/Dune (gravy boat, butter dish, garlic keeper)

We are pretty set with out current pieces (FWIW our most used pieces are the 7.25 qt. round and the 2.5 qt. roasting pan). However if I had to go with another, it might be a Black Onyx.

[Scotpaulabear]

My mom always had LC in the house, from when I was a kid - talking about 30 years now! Am almost positive it was dark green, why I can't remember I don't know... and now I'm looking at buying my first large pot in cassis, as purple is my fave colour and I can't resist the nostalgia :)

[CookingwithMochi]

I love the cassis color and now have a 7.25 round and a 3.5 qt braisier. Have fun!

[Scotpaulabear]

Thanks! Just got a 4 1/2 quart round (the UK equivalent anyway - 24 centimeters) and a mini individual covered ramekin this weekend, both in cassis... they look fab. Can't wait to give the big one its first use :D

[CookingwithMochi]

You're going to love it! I have my 7.25 sitting on the stove, right now...in cassis, of course! :)

[nomadchowwoman]

Most of my pieces are in the discontinued Indigo Blue, a color I still love. But my very first LC DO was one I bought at a huge discount, and it was (and still is) brown. I have assorted other pieces in light blue, cream, white, red, orange, and cobalt blue.

My mother had a whole "set"--many, many pieces--in orange, which she sold in a yard sale (for $35!!!!) when I was away at college. I couldn't believe it when she said she'd never liked them ("too heavy") and had no idea I did.

Recently I discovered what I think is a new color--cassis--and, OMG, am I lusting after that color. (Of course I need another LC like I need more fat on my thighs.)

[Jay F]

I had a set in Flame, too:

4.5 qt. round oven
2.5 qt. round oven
a very small white enamel-coated fry pan you could cook one egg in.

And with wooden handles:
a very small saucepan
2 qt. saucepan
a larger frying pan.

It cost under $200 in 1979. I didn't like the color much, but the only alternatives were yellow and brown.

I later bought the 12" skillet in brown.

[DAVESGIRL]

Yay!! I thought I was the last person on Earth who knew of Indigo!!

[rovergal]

Just wanted to share that I just spotted another green at Tuesday Morning today - it's called "Victoria Green", and it's a dark solid green, kind of like British racing green. They had round DOs in 3.5 qt, 4.5 qt and 7.25 qt, for pretty good prices. I'm guessing this color is probably from Canada????

[mcdcook]

The LC outlet in Kenosha, Wisconsin (actually, it's just across the Illinois-WIsconsin border in Pleasant Prairie) had some indigo blue in stock in August. The salesperson said that they found a cache of this discontinued color in a warehouse and were selling it off. There's no website for that store, but the phone number is 262-857-3124. It's beautiful. I just bought the 5.5 round oven. I'd get more, but I like to have a piece in every color before I repeat.

[Leolady]

I love yellow, flame, and red.

[Jay F]

I got a new 7.25 qt. round French oven today in Indigo. I asked someone on eBay if they could get anything in Indigo, now long OOP, and they found a 7.25, a 5.5, and a 3.5. I only wanted the big one, and it's just beautiful, a very dark blue I think will go beautifully with either Kiwi or one of the yellow colors (I've never seen one in person in yellow).

Actually, here's the guy's site: http://shop.ebay.com/worldexplorer102.... The Indigo pieces have 5 hours and 7 hours left to go as I write this (11 a.m. Eastern time). This is the first time I've seen Indigo on eBay -- anywhere, really -- since winter.

I've been experimenting with cannellini beans for the last month or so. I found a picture in a new-ish cookbook (STIR, by Barbara Lynch, who owns some of Boston's best Italian restaurants) of a nicely browned piece of whitefish served on top of a pile of cannellini, and I've been experimenting like crazy. I know how to do the fish, but I'd never made a pot of beans before.

I'll either christen the new Indigo LC with a batch of cannellini, or Bolognese, or a recipe for traditional baked beans I found the other night in an old issue of COOKS.

[Soop]

From the photo, that looks like the colour of my blue one.

There's a new "midnight blue" colour, with silver speckles out now too.

[Jay F]

Soop, where do you live that you can buy "Midnight Blue." It's not available in the USA?

[Soop]

In England, I saw it in a shop, and I think LC sent me it in a newsletter.
Have you seen it?

BTW, you have loads of colours we can't get, like the egg-yolk yellow one.

[Jay F]

Soop, I just found an Indigo Blue 7.25 quart round oven after looking for one for almost a year. The color name on the box is Indigo Blue. The number, 68707.

The same people have two more, a 5.5 and 3.5, both round, on eBay. They sell to people outside the US.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1312&_nkw=le+creuset+indigo&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Is this the shade of yellow you mean (Dijon)? It says on this amazon.com page that they'll ship internationally. I don't know if England is a "select" country, though.

"Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S."

http://www.amazon.com/Creuset-L2501-2...

[Soop]

Yeah, Dijon is the one. I get the feeling that shipping for something that heavy would cost £££££ though!

Plus, when I planned for all my kitchen stuff, I decided I wanted a LC frying pan, and a dutch oven. The only other thing I can think of that I want is the giant reversable iron grill which isn't coloured.

If I could have, I'd have liked a red piece, a blue and a yellow.
But judging by the stains on my frying pan, it's probably just as well I got grey!

[Leepa]

Lately, I've seen saffron pieces at TJMaxx/Home Goods. You might want to check there. It's a similar color.. richer, in my opinion.

[Soop]

Thanks for the tip!

[blondelle]

That sounds really nice. I wish LC would do their glazes with highlights like Staub does instead of being opaque. Their new stoneware olive jar has a glaze like that where the lettering and rings are lighter, but none of their iron pieces do. I think it would make them even prettier.

[Jay F]

After watching two seasons of THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY, I don't think I could own anything made by Staub.

[Soop]

What happened in that show?

[Jay F]

The uber-villain is named Danielle Staub. Google her and see.

[Soop]

yikes

[Jay F]

I wasn't wanting anything from Staub anyway, but Danielle seals the deal.

[Jay F]

I like different shades of blue and green. I have a lot in Jade, a size 32 au gratin in Flame, and am expecting a blue 7.25 round oven in the mail any day now, just in time to make Bolognese, chili, or maybe some osso bucco. I'd like to get something in Kiwi.

I had stopped using my LC because of the weight (combination of arthritis and repetitive motion injury, whatever that's called). I prefer to use All Clad skillets and saucepans, still, but there's just nothing better than LC's au gratins and French ovens.

I discovered something wonderful about LC's ergonomics recently. I've always stored them in the fridge with the lids on upside down, so as not to allow the edges to rust, and because the shelf I store it on in the fridge isn't tall enough to accommodate the handle. And of course, they fit perfectly.

Can't do that with All Clad. Their lids are these skinny POS from China, and they don't fit upside down. They slide off, and one night I had something garlic-y in the pot and a lot of other things tasted kind of garlic-y the next day.

Back to Le Creuset for me.

[breadchick]

White.

The two round casseroles I have are white, and I recently bought the S/S knobs because I like the way it looks. (Still have the old ones in a drawer.) They are over 28 years old, and I'm still happy with them. I love neutral colors in the kitchen anyway: butcher block countertops, lots of copper, sandpiper walls, white subway tile, S/S sinks, wood floors, and the like. It all works for me.

Although... I will say that the blue colors tempt me and I like a pop of yellow when Spring comes round.

[wonderfullyweird]

I'm in love with the WS exclusive color Citron. It's a nice, lemony yellow. I also think that Lemongrass green and Caribbean blue are also pretty colors. I love bright and cheery colors! But I also love the new Cassis color... it's too hard to decide! Can I have one for each season? ;)

[Belle4562]

Is there a difference between the Williams-Sonoma Lemongrass color and Kiwi? It is really hard to tell online.

[hobbybaker]

I think they are the same.

[Belle4562]

Thanks, I couldn't tell. The colors look so different on each website - the kiwi on the bed bath and beyond website looks totally different from the lemongrass, and the kiwion other sites.

[hobbybaker]

I own one DO in kiwi color, so I am quite sure. (I have four in different colors.) Very refreshing and nice. It reminds me of a green apple rather than kiwi, thogh:) I am really tempted by the cirton color, which is WS exclusive, so nice and fresh.

[blondelle]

Red I thought until I saw the kiwi and I had to have a piece of that too and ohhh that azure blue--so pretty. And then they had the caribbean and that was gorgeous, and wanted that too, and that bright, zingy orange--so cheerful. And that matte black with the stainless knob--so chic. And then that pretty fresh citron. Such a pretty yellow and so springy during a long dreary winter. And then the clean fresh white that makes all food look great--and now that new cassis.

Heck! Now I know why I have a piece in each color except the white and cassis, but give me time...LOL!

LC has too many pretty colors to have to pick just one! I want a piece in each color I love, even if it's just stoneware!

[rovergal]

Not that they are my favorite color, but I was just browsing around the LC website, and I see that they do make cast iron in Lilac Mist and Antique Rose! They are available in Pacific countries and South Africa! Interesting - I don't know that I would ever want lilac or pink cookware!

[foiegras]

Here's a link to the pink ... http://www.lecreuset.co.za/Whats-New/...

The heart-shaped casserole would be cute in pink! Would be cute to have them pink, red, white.

[rovergal]

Here's the mini stoneware heart in pink on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Le-Creuset-St...

But you're right, it would be great if they did the cast iron heart in all three of those colors!

[Doubledareya]

My favorite is blue, the dark blue. I have three of them on open display (for easy access( in my kitchen. But also on that same shelf I have a flame piece that makes a nice accent. I also have a flame container (don't know what they call it) on my kitchen counter that I keep whisks and spatulas in.

[buttertart]

I'm a Flame girl but have one lime green gratin pan that I got cheap.

[stuck in Hartford County]

Oh yeah, I have a lime green gratin pan also. I like to think of it as part of my "Jamaican" pan group!

[stuck in Hartford County]

Orange. It's like the "FiestaWare" of LC. It's, like, grooooovy, man.

Plus this gorgeous light blue/turquoisy color. Whenever I use it I feel like I'm in Jamaica or somewhere other than CT. Unfortunately, I only have one pot in this color.

[macbillybob]

Black, but they don't have that anymore I was told.

[roxlet]

My first LC was brown and most of it was banished by my DH who detests brown anything. I remember when I first got it -- the first thing I did, stupidly, was to make pop corn in the smaller of the two dutch ovens and then put water in it right after pouring the pop corn out. Did you know that LC has a web of iron mesh under the enamel. That's what I learned, but I was young and extremely stupid. But my absolute favorite piece is a pale greyish green large dutch oven that someone gave me as a Christmas gift from the now-defunct Martha Stewart catalog. It was a color that was made exclusively for Martha, and it is a beauty. We also have a smaller tound Dutch oven, and a large oval one, both in blue. Guess what color my DH likes?

[gulfcoastgal]

WE have the ancient grey green MS 5 qt which is such a work horse and it has done enverything one is NOT supposed to do ( high heat / boil / boiled dry and still thanks to oxiclean looks new I really really dislike the color and want to give it away and only got it because it was on closeout for almost nothing DH will NOT let me give it away and I told him it was a color only he could love since he tends to not like the bold colors We now have white LC 6.75 which do fine in clean up as long as it is not high heat ( NK bread makes a mess but again oxiclean saved the day ) and an older flame with a steam hole (that he uses for oatmeal = perfect 1 qt size) I love the cobalt and the red and not so crazy about the mustard dijon but having seen the Citron and Dijon both - the subtle Citron wins my heart I have Staub in grenadine and use it more often and it would clash with the red so my next piece -either the med braiser(citron plz) or the wide round 5 qt (blue) I love my wide round white in 3.5 and use it often We got my oldest a vintage black in matte which surprisingly is black inside as well IT is new and never used She thinks it is elegant

[blondelle]

They are all so pretty I just couldn't decide. I wound up getting all 7 pieces I have in different colors. They look so pretty together. Why limit yourself to just one color? It's fun to cook with a different color each time. With different colors you can always add another piece to the mix when they come out with a new color that strikes your fancy. You can never have too much LC ;-).

[Leepa]

No one has mentioned my favorite, long ago discontinued, color yet. Saffron. It's gorgeous. I have two pieces in saffron and the rest are the dark green (cactus or jade, I forget which) color, also discontinued.

[sobriquet]

I have an embarrassing quantity of red Le Creuset products. I have a single orange 12" skillet I inherited from my grandmother now that it's too heavy for her to use. It's twice my age and looks brand new despite frequent use over the years.

[knet]

Just ordered my first LC dutch oven - ordered it in black onyx. I have to admit I was tempted by the Cobalt blue but decided I really wanted the black. All my LC stoneware is white btw I guess I have trouble breaking away from the black and white kitchen!

[falconress]

Flame. And like an idiot, I was so into minimalism, or I don't know whatever was hip back in the day when I was just setting up, that I got my main pieces in black. :(. Ah, well. But I inherited a favorite, oft-used piece in flame from my grandmother, and have accumulated some pieces in Flame since I came to my senses.

Besides liking the color, I found that anything I cook in a Le Creuset (usually something that spends a long time over a low flame) looks delicious served up in that color dish. Whether it's a meat or chicken stew, vegetable soup, greens, legumes - it sets off any dish beautifully and just makes it more appetizing. And I've long ago stopped worrying about whether my serving pieces match my dinner plates.

[Paulustrious]

<< And I've long ago stopped worrying about whether my serving pieces match my dinner plates. >>

Please, please, never use that sentence in front of my wife. I used to think a charger was either a horse or a car. I couldn`t differentiate between a towel, a serviette and a napkin. On the plus side, you have highlighted one of the best things about enamelled cast Iron. It can go from stove-top to oven to table and works well in all three environments.

[Passadumkeg]

What ever color I find at a yard sale. Red, yellow and brown.

[Soop]

Hey, where can you get the yellow from? I can't see it anywhere, not even the LC site

[ziggylu]

William Sonoma has the Citrus color and Sur La Table has the Dijon right now. Both are yellow, the Dijon is more mustardy.

[Soop]

Oh, so it's exclusive? Damn, I'm in England. Whatever the oneon the Wikipedia page for dutch oven is. I already have a blue dutch oven I'm happy with, but I'd love something in that colour.

[lsholli]

Well, I am really boring, I like the WS Slate, WS Sonoma Green and Dune. Plus my REAL favs are Satin Black with the silver knob and Granite. I can find limited Satin Black in the US and very little Granite as they both seem to be an exclusive UK color. I also have picked up the new to US Olive in my local LC Signature store (only avaliable for a month, March 2009) which matches great with my other colors.

[pharmnerd]

Black. Simple, disappears.

[Candy]

Black is back gussied up with a silver knob on the lids. White is a exclusive with Sur La Table also features the silver knob. If it does not hit the general market by June it should be out by the end of the year, The black is shiny and gorgeous.

[Candy]

Wihte is now available for all stores that carry LC

[Paulustrious]

I would like to have them in Grey so they match the colour of my car.

[MakingSense]

So that if we have a Depression and you have to live in your car, everything will match???

[Paulustrious]

No, just so the colour was more silvery or irony.

[Soop]

cobalt blue

[blondelle]

What does everyone think of the new Citron shade from Williams Sonoma? I thought I liked the Dijon but I found it too mustardy and a color not pleasant to me. I love the red and the kiwi green. I too have a piece in many different colors. I wasn't a fan of the cobalt but I found a piece that had a similar shading to the azure blue on the lid. Want them all different too.

[mdfifi]

I happen to really like the citron shade. I like that it is a softer yellow. I too, have various shades- flame, french blue ?, red 2 qt. heart shaped, and kiwi. I don't have the caribbean but I like that.

My favorite of all, though, is my kiwi! I just love that color the most.

[sfumato]

Flame is my favourite, hands down. My mom has a set from the 60s (she was in boarding school in France and got hooked, so she brought them back with her), and to me, that's the Real Le Creuset. :) I do like the red pieces too, though.

[RGC1982]

I have mostly flame because I have had them for a long time, but added dark green and Staub blue to my collection, just for fun. I would try just about all of them except white, which would probably be hard to clean. I used to dislike the way that food looked in a blue pot, but they have made such nice colors of late that I actually bought one in that color. I dislike the gray totally.

[MakingSense]

My white LC looks like new and some of it is decades old. Of course, the colored stuff looks like new too. I take good care of it all. LC is easy to care for.

[RGC1982]

If you have managed to keep white pots looking like new for decades, you are good. Nice to know it can be done.

[Candy]

Once a year all of my LC gets a bath of Easy Off oven cleaner and sits over night. The next AM I rinse it all well and it looks shiny and new again. Some of my pieces are close to 30 years old. My blue terrine went through a house fire and was totally black. You'd never know it to see it after the oven cleaner bath.

[paraque]

Oddly enough, I think that Carribbean is my favorite color, but I've never bought any of it. I think it's so beautiful, but just doesn't seem very "kitcheny" to me.

My dishes and cookware are all in variations on the LC Cherry, Dijon, Kiwi, and Cactus (which I like WAY better than the Williams-Sonoma Green). I like the green-red-yellow combination, and it gives me some room if one color's on sale but another isn't. My Fiestaware matches great with those colors, too!

[falconress]

Flame. Everything I cook in it looks good. And a few years ago I got a great deal on a few of the 2-qt food shaped casseroles - the apple, pepper, tomato, eggplant, each in the color of the food. Those look great too.

When I was very young I got some pots in black that matched my kitchen and modern "aesthetic" at the time, but if I would have been as schmart then as I am now, I would have worried less about being hip and having everything "matchy-matchy" and would have gone for bright color, i.e.... Flame.

[katmendez]

DIJON (yellow) ! ! ! Everyone goes for Flame (orange). I dined at the home of my interior decorator friend, who laid out her table with Kate Spade dinnerware from the Gramercy Park line (multi-colored), accented with several pieces of LC in Dijon. The Kate Spade was gorgeous, but the LC in Dijon simply made the table! The particular shade of mustard yellow was so cheerful and elegant (yellow is rarely elegant). I strongly recommend LC in Dijon with smaller accents in Flame and Caribbean (turquoise blue). This is an unbeatable combination.

I have:
3 large pieces in Dijon (yellow)
1 small Fondue pot in Flame (orange)
stoneware accents in Caribbean (turquoise blue)

[beauxgoris]

Flame is my number one. It is THE classic LC color to me. I also like red and a sunny yellow. I don't like the blues and greens as much - but that's just me.

[Candy]

My first piece was flame. I now have hunter green, white, red, cobalt and am really considering a dijon tagine. Black is back with a silver metallic knob. Sur Le Table has an exclusive at the moment on white with a silver knob on the lid. I expect it will be available after June nation wide. I am seriously looking at a black 2 qt. It is really handsome.

[MakingSense]

I've always loved the white and hated that they discontinued it. But, GEEZ, the prices on this stuff!!!
And the limited selection of sizes in the US drives me nuts.

That black color is available in almost everything LC makes - and that is dozens of sizes - IF you shop in France.
http://www.lecreuset.com/fr-fr/Nos-Pr...
They offer enamel on cast iron cocotte, faitout and doufeu models in sizes from tiny 4" to huge tubs. Those "fashion" colors are only for export to the US and they change them to keep us spending money.

Now I remember why I've bought so much of my kitchen equipment overseas. It was cheaper and I had a better selection.

[Candy]

They recycle colors. Chestnut was in when JillP bought some, it was back in not long ago and is now discontinued. White was in along with hunter green in the 80's and white is coming around again. Black was dropped not that long ago and here it is again. They can never really make some shade of yellow disappear. Flame is a constant. We don't stock it because it is not a best seller for us. If someone wants it we'll special order. I am speculating that Kiwi and Caribbean will be the next to cycle out and Dune will not be far behind. We really don't sell much Dune and will probably not order any more of it either.

[MakingSense]

It's interesting that these "designer" colors aren't available in France.
The black is however across pretty much their entire line.

[Candy]

I'm not seeing it in their "Potterie" line and for some reason the gorgeous Dijon is only available in certain ceramic pieces. I very much wanted a teapot in Dijon. The packaging shows it in Dijon but it is unavailable in the catalog. I ended up with red. That is okay but i really wanted it in Dijon.

[heWho]

Creuset really does nail the color scheme, I can't find one I don't like. But, for our wedding registry we went with Red, and we just received a bunch of it (6.5 dutch oven, casserole, grill pan). I've got to say, the stuff looks sharp!

[Miss Needle]

Good old red. Although my dutch oven that gets the most use is the old ugly drab blue. I think they reworked their blue -- the new blue pots I see are so much more vibrant.

[Raymondo]

My favorite is the flame also. My second favorite is a #29 pot and lid in yellow that I bought many years ago at a garage sale for $1.00. Big enough to accomadate a Sunday dinner roast along with carrots and potatos.

[foodstorm]

Dijon!!!
Caribbean is a close second....

[inuksuk]

I agree with the original poster, flame red (or orange) is my favourite too. But I don't like to have two pieces of enameled cast iron the same colour. I don't want it to look like I bought a set.

[scorpioscuba]

I have the red 5 Qt dutch oven. I love it because nothing else in my kitchen is red so it makes a statement!

[ktmoomau]

Blue and Yellow because those were the colors my Mother had and all my favorite recipes as a child she made in it. Although at this point I buy what I find on sale too.

[mimilulu]

Any color! Let's see... I have the 3.5 qt buffet casserole in flame, 5.5 dutch oven in black, a smaller dutch oven (from the '80s) in green, along with a smaller round casserole in the same color... I have a small saucepan (also from the '80s) in a light brown color, 2 gratins in the matte black (large and medium)... 2 small gratins in flame, and the 6.5 qt oval dutch oven in dijon (my favorite)... oh yeah the small roaster in blue. I have a serious addiction...

[jennisad]

Orange..I love it! Any tips on where to find good bargains on these?

[Romanmk]

I believe the outlet near me in Gilroy, CA has orange on sale in October.

[toddster63]

Caribbean Blue. My first piece of LC, a 2.75 quart oval oven I got last month, is in this color. And it seems popular--the Sur La Table here in Santa Monica sold out a huge shipment of the Caribbean blue (in all shapes and sizes) in just a couple of weeks. I just got a LC mortar and pestle in the Caribbean blue too. A lovely shade of aqua, the Caribbean blue is...

I think the Kiwi is great too. A happy bright green... And how can you go wrong with classic and lovely flame...?!

[itstangy]

I agree! I love the Caribbean Blue color, when I first saw it I couldn't resist! I ordered a 9 pc set from Chefsresource.com (pretty good deal). I also bought the pitcher and the mortar and pestle from Sur La Table. I can't wait to get the salt and pepper shakers!
I originally liked the kiwi color (got the utensil set in kiwi), but didn't really go crazy for it until the caribbean blue came out. Now I am hooked and I want every LC piece in that color. My next purchase will be the 5.5 dutch oven...

[jillp]

Brown. I am so old that brown was in vogue when I bought my first pieces, several geologic ages ago. It always works with whatever else is going on in my kitchen because the color pretty much disappears.

Having said that, I do covet that kiwi shade - it really is gorgeous.

[debbiel]

It seems to me that the brown and kiwi would go quite nicely together. I've been a little tempted by the chocolate brown. Kiwi and dijon are just above it on the list.

[bayoucook]

I'm there, jillp - don't think they had other colors when I got my set, what 20-30 years ago.
Mine is blue and it's still in pretty good condition, so I doubt if I'll get more. But, oh, I love the kiwi. And the flame. And the Dijon.

[debbiel]

My first two pieces (from last November) were red and cobalt. I went in with the idea of a multi-colored collection. I had hoped my next piece would be kiwi or dijon, but was given another red piece (was unable to exchange it for another color). Of course, I still completely appreciated the gift!

[Dee S]

My favorite LeCreuset color is whatever is on sale! I've been lucky though and have mostly red pieces. Started with the 2qt tomato and have moved up since then.

Additionally, I have a 2qt dutch oven (?) in black granite, a 6-3/4 oval roaster, spatula set with crock, plain white crock. Haven't paid more than $100 for any one piece.

[Hungry Celeste]

I agree--whatever color is discounted is the color for me. I have cobalt, french blue, flame, and cherry red. I need some green and yellow to cover the rainbow! Sur La Table is showing the new carribbean blue that looks cool, too. I admit to an aversion for the brownish colors, black, and white.

[shallots]

ITN with Dee and Celeste.
I'd just say it was whichever color was attached to the lowest number on the price tag.

[grnidkjun]

Same here.. I have a couple in Red, Cobalt and one in Flame.
I love the Flame but have gotten what was on massive sale or no distinguishable flaws on Second Sale.

I love the graduated flame color though.

[buttertart]

My 1970's flame gets darker with exposure to heat.

[Sam Harmon]

All of my enameled cast iron is in various shades of red:

Red LC Soup Pot
The old Pimento Red Staub 2Q round
The new Grenadine Staub Coq au Vin 6Q Oval

[moiraknows]

I THINK mine is orange! I have had it so long and it is so chipped, it almost looks like plain cast iron!

[Katie Nell]

Hhmmm... I just went to Le Creuset's site to see what my color is called and it's not on there! It's a beautiful steel greyish/ blueish color and I love it! I think I also love it so much because I ordered it over the phone and it was a bargain, and I didn't even ask what color it was because I was so excited, and I was so pleasantly surprised! How sad they don't have it anymore! Guess I'd have to go with red for the next one. The white always looks pretty in Giada's kitchen, but I don't know if it would always look pretty!

[MakingSense]

I have several pieces - including the beloved pot I use for rice - in white that are ages old and they are still beautiful. Maybe because I take psycho care of them. LC seems to have discontinued white. I could just scream! I really want a larger Dutch oven'in white. Dune just looks soiled.
I like the dark French blue as well. Nice homey, classic color that seems to go with everything. I have the covered paté/terrine in blue. Love it!

[gingerbread]

I have one each of Flame (my favorite), Red, and Dijon, and my next one will be in Cobalt (unless there's a really good sale on another color...). I wish Le Creuset would make a nice green, the color of steamed broccoli.

[JABDDD]

They do- its exclusive to William Sonoma.

[Caitlin McGrath]

LC used to make a nice green like that that wasn't exclusive to WS - I have a 2 qt. soup pot in that color that I got from Amazon maybe six years ago for around $50, and I love the color. I have a green 5 qt. dutch oven from the Staub line that QVC sells that's almost exactly the same color.(excellent prices and performance almost exactly like LC, BTW). Williams-Sonoma tends to carry exclusive colors of LC (I believe they have a signature blue among others that come and go, just a little lighter than the cobalt), but of course they charge top dollar.

I remember when the lemongrass color came out, there was a lot of lustful oohing and aahing on Chowhand, but no one has mentioned it yet. I like it better than the kiwi, but I like the darker green that LC no longer generally markets best of all.

[Amuse Bouches]

I love the lemongrass but all of my L-C is cobalt, except I have one flame gratin. I would totally have a whole set of lemongrass if I had a fortune though.

[alarash]

Hi Caitlin,

I bought my entire set about 7 years ago, too, from an LC outlet (March 2006). I remember the month because the outlet had a great deal where they gave 30% off outlet prices, but only in the green color, which they somehow related to the month of March (perhaps due to the start of spring on March 21?).

In any case, at the time I was bummed because I didn't want an entire set in green, but the discount was so good that I couldn't pass it up. Now after all these years I kind of love the green color.

I believe it to be exactly the same color as the green that is exclusive to Williams-Sonoma, and the boxes I saved have it listed as "Cactus."

At the time, I was an even more novice cook than I am now, and I thought LC enameled cast iron was the pinnacle of cookware, so I considered my approximately $2K purchase an investment for life. Since then, my cooking experience has led me far from this genre of cookware for most applications, though I still reach for my LC dutch oven for stews and my friend Kaleo's no-knead bread recipe, and also for the LC grill pan when I don't have time to fire up the barby.

alarash

[ratgirlagogo]

"only in the green color, which they somehow related to the month of March (perhaps due to the start of spring on March 21?). "
That is possible, but I'd bet it had to do with St. Patrick's.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Well, my post saying I bought my green pot six years ago was made in 2007, so now it's 12 years ago, and LC colors, regular and exclusive, come and go. WS apparently currently carries the same green (Fennel) that everyone carries, and which looks a bit lighter than mine, which is similar to the pot pictured in the avatar of the poster whose post is directly below mine and above yours.

[ziggylu]

I love that Sonoma Green and have been trying to justify buying a piece but...I really don't have need for another piece.

I've been picking mine up mostly at the outlet so I have an assortment of colors: White, dijon, red, blue and the old dark green. I also have the apple, a purple pepper and the pumpkin. But I'd love to figure out something I needed and get a piece of both the Sonoma Green and the Brown.

[RGC1982]

How does the white wear? I just have a feeling that the outside might become discolored after a while, so I have stayed away from the really light colors (although I don't like Dune either). The cobolt never really looked like food would look good in it, so I never bought it. I do like the WS Sonoma Blue, which is gorgeous, and I'll probably try one next if I can justify the purchase of my 12th piece. I have lots of Flame (given by my mother) and the dark green that I found at a LC outlet three years ago. One piece of Dijon. I toyed with the burgundy color, but decided not to buy that day. .

[ziggylu]

I've had my white for about 9 years now. It's a 8ish quart round oven(sorry I always forget the exact sizes!). I use it A LOT. Probably the one I use the most.

It's stil looks nice and white. No discoloration at all. White is probably my least favorite color but I picked this up cheap cheap cheap($27 new!) and decided who cared about the color. Cleans up as easily as the dark colors do.

I wouldn't hesitate to try any of the light colors if you like them.

[ProfessorBear]

Wow! If you ever want to part with that purple pepper, let me know!

[jzerocsk]

Kiwi, Flame, Cobalt are my top three. I try to get them in all different colors, though.

[IndyGirl]

I have one kiwi piece and two red....love all the colors, though I don't really want Dune.

[Candy]

Dune is history. White is back.

[IndyGirl]

Since this thread is still active, I'll update! I have acquired a few more pieces, thanks to my awesome spouse and other family members.

-flame (I think that's what it's called) oval dutch oven
-classic round dutch oven in red
-lemongrass small cast-iron baking dish, oval-shaped
-large round lemongrass wide dutch oven
-cobalt signature braiser
-a darker red huge saucepan--I am not sure what this one was called. We picked it up at a Tuesday Morning, and I could never figure out what the deal was. Because of the unusual dark red color (maroon or red wine looking) I suspected it was a fake for awhile, but I don't think so--it's an awesome piece and has worn really well.

I love them dearly. I am a little disappointed that my favorite one (the cobalt round saucepan) has some pits in the finish, probably my fault somehow. But if anyone reading this knows whether they might be willing to fix it or exchange I am all ears. (I just haven't really had time to fight with calling the company)

[lominator]

My blue round french oven pitted and had opaque round spots on the lid after about 7 years - they replaced it with a new one, no questions asked, but that was a few years ago. I treated the pot very well and they just suddenly appeared for some reason. I've since moved to the red colour with no discoloration problems.

[kristyn]

Im all over the place. I have a white 71/2 soup pot that I use a lot. My next piece I want is a round 51/2 and I want it in the kiwi. I also want a 31/2qt buffet casserole in black.