Le Creuset Precision Pour Saucepan - The reason most sauce recipes begin with "In a heavy saucepan?" is because sauces need to simmer slowly and evenly. Le Creuset's cast iron construction ensures consistent heating, resulting in slow and even simmers. The porcelain enamel interior is perfect for high-acid sauces because the non-metallic coating does not react or leach into your food. The weight of cast iron lids ensures a tight seal to retain moisture. Traditional Le Creuset's saucepan designs have a flat base, a pouring lip and cast iron handles. Each pan is well balanced, comfortable to use and stable on most heat surfaces.

Beautiful enough for the table, durable enough to outlive its lifetime warranty against defects, this heavy 1-1/4-quart covered saucepan is made of cast iron clad in two coats of Le Creuset's famous hard enamel. As cast iron is unexcelled for heat distribution and retention and enamel is impervious to acids and odors, the pan cooks food evenly and gently without hot spots and can be used for marinating. It goes safely on any stovetop, including induction. The pan's heavy, tight-fitting lid has a tiny hole for venting steam. Its round handle tapers at both ends for comfort and is made of a tough plastic that is ovenproof to 400 degrees F and textured for slip-resistance. Opposite the long handle is a helper handle. A chrome hanging hole permits storing the pan where its rustic appeal can be appreciated. Like all Le Creuset cast-iron cookware, the pan was made in France using a one-of-a-kind mold that ensures each piece's uniqueness. --Fred Brack