Well...I might say another Dutch oven....bigger or smaller, or what they call a covered casserole.
But in thinking about what I have that I use the most...outside of the Dutch Ovens...it's the oval baker
I use it for a whole chicken, a small pork loin, roasted potatoes and oven roasted veggies.
I have even made a fritatta in it and flipped it our onto an oval platter.
Good piece!
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: oval baker

I use the 5 qt Dutch oven most--until I got a braiser. I love it for it's versatility in meeting my cooking needs.

Actually, I like Peppi's braiser better. She got hers from Aldi's; my store sold out so I missed out.

My 2 fav are the 5 qt Dutch oven and the oval baker.
Sure is a toss up on which one I use most, probably a tie.

In the winter, besides the digital pressure cooker, those 2 cookware are used the most

My Dutch oven. Love it love it love it,... although now I may be forced to check out the oval baker as well......

OMG, I didn't realize, till I followed Linda's link, that I have an "oval baker," too! Never knew what to call it. It was a wedding shower gift, so that means I've had it for 40 years. Mine's a turquoise color, and it's the only LeCreuset item I own. It usually sits on the top shelf of my cabinet, and I don't use it often (to tell the truth, I'd forgotten it was there). I guess I thought it was only for certain types of casseroles, such as macaroni and cheese. But I see that there are lots of uses for it, so I'll get it down and put it to use soon. I'll be watching this thread for more ideas.

Sue

In addition to the Duth oven and oval bakers, the skillets are great.

Yeah....and also a small heavy sauce pan with a lid. Youc an make all sorts of stuff in that because it heats so evenly and holds the heat so well.
Linda C

Most used is my 2 Qt. Round French Oven and then the red 5-1/2 quart Round French oven.

I also have and use quite a few pieces of the stoneware. The set of 10x7 rectangular baker and the 7x5 baker are handy. I live alone and these pans are the right size for that kind of cooking.

I also have gotten several other of the stoneware pieces, and in order of use is the salt crock in red, the tea pot also red and the mortar and pestle in kiwi. I love seeing these so useful pieces sitting on my counters.

Love my Le Creuset and hope I can continue to use the ovens for years. I figure lifting them is good exercise for me not to mention the good eating.
Kat

The 2 quart round oven is great for simmering rice in. It makes perfect brown rice.

I use the 5.5 quart round oven, the 2 quart round oven, and the large rectangular baker the most.

Of coarse, I've had to add several other pieces as well. Makes cooking more fun.

I only have two pieces of LC, and I use both of them all the time. I love the oval 5 qt dutch oven, but I also have the 2 qt or so braiser that I use almost as much. I use it for smaller quantities (I made ratatouille in it last night), and I also use it for quiche and fritatta dishes. I cook the bacon in the pan, then saute the onions and other vegies, combine the whole shebang with the custard and cheese and pour it back in the pan to bake in the oven. One pan gets dirty, love it :-)

If I had to pick a new piece I'd get a ridged grill pan with a press to make paninis.

Becky

Thanks for all the suggestions offered so far. As I'll be purchasing at an outlet, my choices will be limited to current stock, so I want to be armed with as many good options as possible.

When I was there last week I concluded that color didn't matter to me - I love them all!

The salesperson pointed out the Pate Terrine as being one of her favorite pieces. I know...I thought, "When would I ever use THAT?" but then she said she uses hers all the time to make lasagna for 2, and for meatloaf, and for mac & cheese, and how it's great for serving summer salads at a buffet because of the slim profile. I'm now thinking about that piece.

But the 3qt. oval baker is topping my list at present.

As a disclaimer, let me just say that I have a lot of Le Creuset pieces and I use them all. If I were forced to choose just a few, it would be my 7.25 qt. round french oven (or a 5.5 if you cook for a small crowd), my 3 qt. buffet casserole, and my 2 qt. round french oven. The buffet casserole is great for just about everything, including doing double duty as a casserole dish. It is probably my most used piece of LeC. I use my big french oven for soups, stews, ribs, etc. My 2 qt. french oven is great for rice, grits, and oatmeal - as well as small amounts of vegetables.

In addition to the mentioned pieces I would consider one of the grill pans. Expensive piece to put pretty lines on your chicken breast and fish but they also make it very appetizing.

It's a toss-up between my 5.5 quart round Dutch oven and my 6.75 quart round wide Dutch oven. The wide Dutch oven is lower in height than the regular Dutch oven, which makes is perfect for braising. I love them both and use them equally. If I had to pick one, I'd have to say it's the 5.5 quart round Dutch oven.

My small dutch oven. A metal steamer basket fits in it perfectly. If I had a bigger family then the larger dutch oven. I did really like my small sauchpan with the wooden handle too. Don't like the shape of the replacement with the black handle. Narrow and high doesn't work for me as well.

I just wanted to say thank you for this thread. :) After reading this thread, I checked at TJ Maxx and found an LC oval baker and I love it. It's the perfect size for lots of things when cooking just for 2. Thank you!

And as a follow-up to the OP....I ended up buying the 3.5 qt. oval baker/w lid in Dijon. Can't wait to try it out!

I've seen some of the LC stuff and yes I like what I see but I thought the whole principle of the LC stuff was that they have the dimples on the underside of the lids to spread the moisture evenly over whatever is cooking. I've noticed in some of the stores that there are no dimples. Are some of the items being put out there cheaper to attract a larger audience? I ask this because I'd like to get some of the pieces, they always come up on the shopgoodwill auction but I don't know pricing what is a good deal or not and if they are all supposed to have the dimples. I use my lodge cast iron dutch ovens quite often. I also like the Dansk line of pots but would like to try LC, just don't want to pay alot for it.

I haven't seen the dimples in the lid on LC pieces, but I have seen them on the Staub line.

To my understanding, they're supposed to provide an even basting drip onto the food while it's cooking (caused by condensation on the inner lid.)

Can't speak from experience if it's a more effective design than the smooth interior lid.

I love to see the big round stew pot sitting on my aga full of soup,Its the biggest one they have, Love those kettles I have quite afew in the red.

I didn't even see the note about TJ Maxx, but ended up there yesterday in an attempt to buy sunglasses (first time ever they didn't have any, so....) of course I ended up wandering the kitchen aisles and am now the proud owner of a La Creuset blue oval baker! Thanks for enabling me......

I have the 7-1/4 Quart Le Creuset Doufeu (with the dimples) oval pot in cherry. I got it for Christmas a few years back. It's used a couple times a week fall to spring. The lid is designed to hold ice cubes. It's my favorite LC from the first time I braised a pot roast.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: LC Doufeu Pot