Le Creuset enamelled cast iron dishes are the stuff of culinary legend. From their versatility to cook pretty much anything, to their exceptional durability making them the perfect heirloom, it’s easy to see why they are so popular. But with such an investment piece that could be in your family for generations, it’s important to make sure you choose the right size to suit you and your lifestyle so we've created this Le Creuset Size guide to help you do just that.

Which size is right for you?

Le Creuset dishes come in lots of different diameters with the smallest starting at 9cm going all the way up to the largest at 30cm. The easiest way to decide which size is right for you is to first think about how many people you usually cook for and also what meals you enjoy the most.

Prefer to keep it intimate with a meal for the two of you? The 18-20cm pots are ideal for serving 1-3 people. They are perfectly sized for so many uses. From making sauces and gravy to cooking rice and roasting veggies. Whether you need to throw in ingredients for a quick weekday one pot after work, or slowly roast a delicious cut of meat for a romantic date night, the versatility means you can do it all.

If you love nothing more than having friends round for dinner parties or hosting big family feasts we recommend a 24-28cm round, 29cm oval or a 30cm shallow dish. These will allow you to cook bigger portions for 4-8 people. From rich chilli to smooth soup, whatever you are cooking, take it from the oven straight to the table and serve from the pot.

Generally, the larger the size, the better as stews and pot roasts need space for heat and moisture to circulate around the ingredients. And remember you can always put less in more but not more in less. It's also very useful to have two sizes to cover all dishes and needs.

So now you know what size you’ll need, what about the shape? Each Le Creuset pot features innovative design that will help you create show-stopping dishes bursting with full-on flavour.