This Was the First Le Creuset Piece I Could Afford — It’s Still “Perfect” After a Decade (No, Not the Dutch Oven)

I have had my oval gratin baking dish from Le Creuset for more than a decade now. It was my first purchase from the renowned French cookware brand that I was able to afford on my own; because I lived in a tiny studio then, its size was perfect for the minimal storage space I had. 

I was also dabbling a bit in food blogging and photography, so I immediately fell in love with this little dish for its looks. It has the signature light enamel interior and colorful exterior that Le Creuset is known for, and its shape has a bit of a vintage vibe that looks great in photos.

For many years, it was my only baking dish — the stoneware heats really evenly and it always turned out a great bake. Though it’s not very deep, at 2.25 inches, it’s perfectly fine for making a small amount of baked ziti or macaroni and cheese. It has also come in clutch for brownies when I didn’t have a 9×9-inch square pan. When my then-boyfriend (now husband) came over, I used it as a serving dish for vegetables or rice when making dinner for two, hoping to look somewhat put together. 

Though my cookware and bakeware collection has grown exponentially through my career as a product tester and reviewer, the Heritage Au Gratin Dish is still a pan I turn to regularly to this day. In fact, I use it even more often than my Le Creseut Dutch oven! 

We’re only a household of two (three if you count our dog), so I tend to cut recipes in half to reduce the amount of leftovers we have. This dish measures 9.5 inches long by 7.25 inches wide — its flat, shallow shape lends itself well to making all types of gratins and even shepherd’s pie for two. It’s also the perfect size for my favorite cherry clafoutis recipe during the summer or for a reasonably sized apple crumble in the fall and winter. 

It also adds a pop of color to the table when we’re entertaining and I’m using lots of plain white serveware. I have the Ocean color, which has been discontinued, but the Caribbean is similar.

I’ve owned this baking dish for over 10 years and I’m thoroughly impressed with how it has held up. It has been used probably hundreds of times in the oven and microwave, and it has gone through the dishwasher more than you can imagine — and the enamel is still perfectly intact. It’s fairly lightweight even when full, so I can usually grab it with one oven-mittened hand and go directly from oven to table. 

If you’re looking for a small yet mighty baking dish, this one is at the top of my list, whether you’re cooking for two or looking for a stylish and sturdy option for the entertaining season. 

Buy: Heritage Au Gratin Dish, $16