Review of the Le Creuset 1.5-Quart Braiser

Here's a review of the 1 1/2-quart Le Creuset braising pan. Spoiler alert: I love it.

My review of the Le Creuset 1.5 Quart Braiser: A definite “yes.” Especially if you already have the 3.5-quart braiser.

Capsule Review: The 1 1/2-quart Le Creuset Braising Pan offers everything you love about the 3 1/2-quart Le Creuset Braiser: The tight-fitting lid that seals in the moist heat for the best braised dishes, the wide base, the cast-iron durability, and those marvelous colors. It's just smaller, that's all! And you'll use it more often than you'd have ever thought. At least I do.

Read on for a more detailed review:

Like all Le Creuset braising pans, the 1.5 quart Le Creuset Braiser is very photogenic. But could I recommend it?

I was skeptical. For me, the pleasures of braising is that you braise those big, inexpensive and ungainly, Fred-Flinstone-esque cuts of meat: chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulder, country-style pork ribs and the like. Even if you're not for a cooking for a crowd, you have this fabulous thing called leftovers! And as we all know, leftover braises get better a day or two in the fridge, and they freeze beautifully.

What on Earth, then, would I do with a 1 1/2-quart braiser? It's not big enough for a 7-bone pot roast (my favorite cut of beef, by the way) or other cuts I love. Sure, you could probably braise a small bread-and-butter pot roast, or four chicken thighs in it....but why would you cut down a recipe to serve two when you could make the whole batch and have leftovers?

Because I would never recommend something I wasn't 100% confident about, I asked the Le Creuset PR folks to send me a 1 1/2-quart braiser for testing. The graciously obliged. And, as it turns out, this cute-as-a-bug pan has become the second-most used pan in my kitchen (after the 3 1/2-quart braiser).

So, how do I use the 1.5-quart Le Creuset braiser? Let me count the ways:

1. Use the Le Creuset 1.5-quart braiser for braising
recipes for two.

A great French recipe for salmon: Salmon on a bed of creamy cabbage. When cooked for two, it’s a perfect use for the 1.5-quart Le Creuset Braiser.

As I mentioned, it's rare that I braise a dish that serves less than four, but every once in a while, I do braise a two-serving recipe. I did this just the other day with my Salmon on a Bed of Creamy Cabbage, pictured above. (Let me know if you want the recipe. I’ll send it to you).

If you enjoy braising for two, this is definitely your pan. (P.S.: While many braising recipes, including the ones in my braiser cookbook, often serve four, you can generally cut braising recipes in half to serve two. The timings will be the same.)

3. Use the Le Creuset 1 1/2-quart braiser for parboiling, steaming and sautéing vegetables.

What can you use a 1 1/2-quart braiser for? Side dishes, of course!

The wide, shallow base lets you put a little bit of water (about 1/2-inch) and about 4 servings of veggies in the braiser. The tight-fitting lid keeps the steam inside.

And if you cook green beans like I do (that is, you steam them first, drain and then sauté in butter), the wide, shallow base makes this pan is the perfect pan for this.

And, of course, this pan works great for other veggies that you simply want to sautée, including zucchini, yellow squash, spinach, asparagus, etc. However, if you're making more than 2 to 3 servings, a skillet will be roomier for all the movement needed in a sautee.

3. Use the Le Creuset 1 1/2-Quart Braiser for Reheating
Leftover Braises

More great uses for a 1.5 quart braising pan: reheating leftover braises. It’s the perfect size to do so without drying up all the pan liquids.

This little guy comes in incredibly handy when I'm reheating two servings of leftovers. It's much, much handier, in fact, than the 3 1/2-quart braiser for this task, as the larger braiser is way too big for smaller amounts—the pan sauces, gravies, and cooking liquids dry up in a flash.

Let me be clear about one thing: If you're trying to decided between the 1 1/2-quart braising pan and the 3 1/2-quart braising pan, I'd definitely buy the 3 1/2-quart braiser first. But I'm really, really glad that I now own the 1 1/2-quart braiser, too.

Any questions? Ask away! I've tested the heck out of this thing, and would be happy to offer further insights. Contact me or post a comment below.

A bientot!

My final answer: Yes! Buy a 1.5-Quart Le Creuset Braiser, but only if you already own a 3.5-Quart Le Creuset Braiser.

By the way, while the Le Creuset Braiser is my absolute top choice for braisers (I’ve tested many!), if you simply do not want to pay $300+ for one of these beauties, the Lodge Braiser a viable stand-in. See my review of the Lodge Braiser.