What Size of Braiser Should I Buy?

Having written The Braiser Cookbook, I’ve become an expert not only on braising, but on braisers themselves. Here, I’ll answer one of the most frequently asked questions I get on the topic of braisers: Hey Wini—what size braiser do I need?

What size of braiser to buy? I own and use all three, but I get the most out of the 3 1/2-quart size. That's the green one. I use the 5-quart size (the blue one) for entertaining, and the 1 1/2-quart size for cooking sides and leftovers.

What Size Braiser Do I Need?

I’ll get right to the point:
• Buy a 3 1/2- to 4-quart braiser if you generally cook for four to six people.
• Buy a 5-quart braiser if you generally cook for six to eight people.
Honestly, it’s as simple as that.

More Info on Braising Pans:

• As for which brand of braiser to buy, I highly recommend the Le Creuset Braiser. However, if you’re looking for a less-alternative option, the Lodge Braiser, which I’ve tested, is a very good choice for the price. See my review.

• What? You don’t know what a braiser is? How is a braiser different from a Dutch Oven? I’ll tell you.

I own all three sizes (5 quart, 3 1/2 quart, and 1 1/2 quart). While I love this 1 1/2-quart braiser, if I could only have ONE braiser, it would be the 3 1/2-quart.

Wait! What about the 1 1/2-quart braiser?

Well, yes, I do own a 1 1/2 quart braiser that I use all the time! It's so handy for cooking vegetables and sides, and also for reheating those two-portion sizes of leftovers. I love the thing. But I would definitely only buy one after I had the 3 1/2-quart and the 5-quart braiser already in hand, which I do.

That’s all I have to say on the subject. Short question. Easy answer.

However, a few people have asked me to clarify the Le Creuset Braisers by size. So, here goes: .

What’s Size Le Creuset Braiser Is a “Le Creuset 30 Braiser”?

Short answer: The Le Creuset 30 Braiser is a 3 1/2-quart braiser.

Le Creuset puts numbers on the bottoms of their cast-iron braisers and on their lids. They correspond to volume sizes as follows:
• Le Creuset 30 braiser = Le Creuset 3 1/2 quart braiser
• Le Creuset 22 braiser = Le Creuset 1 1/2-quart braiser
• Le Creuset 32 braiser = Le Creuset 5-quart braiser

Feel free to contact me if you have further questions about braising. Or leave a comment below. Thanks.

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