Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Bread Oven, 9.5 inch, Licorice Review (2026)

What it is built for

This is the Le Creuset round bread oven in Licorice, a deep black colorway on the same two piece enameled cast iron baker built specifically for round sourdough loaves. Le Creuset's specifications list a 9.5 inch top diameter, 7.5 inch base diameter, 7 inch height with the lid attached, and roughly 12.75 inches overall length with the handles, giving a 1.75 quart capacity. The low, wide base leaves room for a boule to expand during baking, while the tall domed lid traps steam early in the bake to help the crust crisp and the loaf rise fully. The shape is built around round loaves only, so bakers who regularly shape batards will need a different, longer vessel.

Construction and finish

The bread oven is cast iron with Le Creuset's signature enamel coating, here in a deep black Licorice exterior over a dark enameled interior. It is rated oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, enough for the high initial heat many sourdough recipes require. Ridges on the base help the bottom crust brown evenly and leave a faint ring impression on the finished loaf. Combined weight with the lid on is close to 9 lb 12 oz, so the cast iron holds heat steadily through a long bake but makes the piece heavy to handle when moving it in and out of a hot oven with dough inside.

Everyday use and cleanup

Because the interior is enameled, this bread oven skips the seasoning routine a raw cast iron combo cooker needs, and cleanup is closer to normal enameled cookware than bare iron. Le Creuset lists the piece as dishwasher safe, though hand washing is the recommended approach for keeping the enamel and exterior finish looking new over years of use. Flouring the base before setting dough down still helps loaves release cleanly, since the smooth enamel is not a nonstick surface on its own. The dark Licorice finish has a practical advantage here, since flour dust, browning marks and light scorching from hot bakes are far less visible than on a pale colorway.

Presentation and durability of the finish

A dark, glazed enamel exterior like Licorice tends to look presentable for longer between deep cleans, since the color naturally camouflages the small marks that build up from repeated high heat baking. This makes it a practical choice for bakers who use the vessel often and want it to still look good after regular use, and it works well for serving bread directly from the base at the table. As with the lighter Le Creuset colorways, the glaze should hold its color over time far better than an unfinished cast iron surface would.

Who should buy this

This bread oven fits sourdough bakers who bake round boules often and want a finish that hides everyday wear better than a pale enamel color, along with the durability and steam-trapping shape Le Creuset's design is known for. The oven-safe rating, enameled interior and manufacturer warranty support long term use, and the black finish suits kitchens that favor darker cookware. Given that this is one of the more expensive options in the category, and cast iron combo cookers can bake a similar loaf for less, it makes the most sense for buyers who specifically want the bread-oven shape, Le Creuset build quality and a dark, low-maintenance finish rather than the cheapest path to baking a boule.

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