A Staub Cocotte or French Oven is that essential item that once you learn how to use it, you'll find it difficult to imagine how you cooked in your kitchen without one. This bright, enamelled cast iron cookware can really improve your cooking, transforming your dishes and lifting the flavours of food to new heights. This is why so many of our customers are simply in love with them, showing them off as a kitchen feature by storing them on top of their stoves instead of their cupboards.
For us at home, we have shared so many large family dinners on Fridays and weekends, using it for roast lamb, chicken and beef. With so many fond family memories shared at the dinner table, ours has quickly become an heirloom to be treasured.
Suitable for all cooktops, including induction, Staub cocottes are perfect stove to oven to table cookware.
Whether you have owned a French Oven for years or this is your first Staub Cocotte, in order to achieve the best cooking results and ensure that your new treasured cookware piece lasts a lifetime, we recommend you follow these tips below:
Preparing your Cocotte for cooking
Step 1 - Preparing for first use Remove all labels, rim protectors and ribbon from the cocotte
Step 2 - Clean the interior
Give it a good wash with some soapy water to clear out dust and debris that may have remained from manufacture in France until finally delivered to you
Step 3 - Baste the interior with vegetable oil or similar
Choose a very light vegetable oil or similar for seasoning and wipe it across the entire interior. This will be the first stage of your Staub's interior developing its beautiful non-stick patina that gets better over time as cooking oils are absorbed when cooking.
Now it is ready for cooking!
Cooking with your Staub
Step 4 - Preheat the cocotte and bring to heat gradually
As with all cast iron cookware, to avoid damage from heat shock, start with low heat and gradually bring it up to medium heat for cooking for approximately 3-5 minutes. Staub recommends that you cook at a maximum of 250°C to avoid damaging the cookware.
Step 5 - Add cooking oil for searing
The black matte interior allows for superb searing, simply heat the cocotte on a medium heat with some oil. Add your meat, poultry or fish and sear for approximately 3-5 minutes.
Step 6 - Bring to a preheated oven
Add your remaining ingredients, place the lid on top securely and place in the oven. The heavy lid features basting spikes that will collect cooking aromas and moisture when cooking and continually baste your food while cooking within the oven
Step 7 - Serve!
As mentioned, these look absolutely incredible in the centre of a table ready for serving. Remember these get very hot as cast iron retains heat incredibly well, so be sure to have a suitable trivet. Staub also makes clever magnetic trivets that are designed specifically for their cocottes.
To avoid any damage or scratches to the interior, we strongly recommend the use of silicone tools. If you aren't a fan of silicone then a nylon or wooden cooking utensils by Epicurean are a great alternative.
Looking for more French Oven options? We have a wide range of collection from big brands like Le Creuset and Chasseur.
