The One Thing Kitchn’s Shopping Director Is Buying from Le Creuset’s Latest Sale

Every so often, Le Creuset likes to sneak some amazing deals into their clearance section. It’s the one place on the site where you can save over $100 on one of their iconic round Dutch ovens, as well as snag sales that go up to 40 percent off for items including cast-iron grill plates, nonstick fry pans, and the chicest salt and pepper grinders you’ll ever see. This section of their website may not be a secret, but the discounts you’ll find here are surprising.

While browsing their clearance page, our shopping director Jada Wong spotted one of her favorite Le Creuset pieces on sale for 25 percent off. This item is a bit of a hidden gem: It’s not part of their more well-known Dutch oven or skillet collections, but it can be an amazing tool for handling weeknight dinners and easy desserts. Plus, this one item is actually a set of three separate pieces, so you get a lot for your purchase. If there is any Le Creuset item Jada would buy again, it would definitely be this.

Jada’s pick is Le Creuset’s Heritage Baking Essentials Set, which includes three of their most popular ceramic bakeware pieces: a large 15-by-10-inch rectangular dish, a squarish 12-by-10-inch dish, and an 11-by-5-inch loaf pan. Together, they’re a complete cookware collection capable of making crowd-pleasing lasagnas and tender braised meats; roasted fresh vegetables and sides; and satisfying breads, brownies, and cobblers. On their own, the dishes also stand out for the versatility, durability, and style they bring to your kitchen.

One reason Jada likes cooking with these is that they’re easy to clean. They all have a ceramic coating on the inside that doesn’t let browned or burnt bits get stuck. Their glazed exterior is also nonstick, so even if food bubbles over, it will come off with light scrubbing by hand or after a cycle in the dishwasher. “These versatile baking dishes are super durable and nonstick, and the bright red is just so cheerful to look at,” Jada says. “Especially toward the end of a long winter.”

Since they hold heat so well, they’re a great choice for oven-roasted meats, potatoes, and more. “I use these baking dishes at least once a week for dinner or dessert,” Jada explains, “especially for roasting vegetables.” In many ways, they’re a better choice for making sheet-pan recipes than actual metal sheet pans. And, as Jada points out, you can use these dishes for meal prep, serving, and storage. “They’re safe for the oven, microwave, and broiler, and look great on the dinner table too, so you can cook, serve, reheat, and finish dishes in the same piece of bakeware,” she says.

While Jada finds the large rectangular dish and medium-sized square dish great for baking casseroles and getting a nice caramelization on root vegetables, the loaf pan has been useful for an unexpected task: preparing meat. “It comes in surprisingly handy when evenly marinating fish filets,” she says. Considering you can take these pieces of bakeware from the fridge to the oven and then directly to your dinner table, they help you bring meals together in less time and with fewer things to clean. A true win-win!

Add this multifunctional set to your kitchen for $50 off the full price right now. And, be sure to check back on Le Creuset’s clearance section to see what other tasteful discoveries you’ll make!

Buy: Heritage 3-Piece Baking Essentials Set, $150 (normally $201)