The Best French Kitchen Brands

This gorgeous enameled cast iron French cocotte, also called a Dutch oven, is perhaps the most iconic piece of cookware from Le Creuset. We tested the 7.25-quart version and found it perfect for slow-simmering stews, sautéing vegetables, browning meat, and cooking rice. We like the smaller versions for baking homemade sourdough, as the material can withstand and retain heat well. The light enameled interior lets you monitor fond (the caramelized bits of food left on the pot), and it provides a relatively nonstick surface for sautéing aromatics and searing. It’s compatible with just about any cooking surface, including induction, and it’s easy to clean by hand. While it’s a splurge, it’s worth it — these ovens are built to last a lifetime with proper care.

Another Le Creuset classic tops our list of Best Enameled Cast Iron Skillets. While you can certainly find a well-performing cast iron skillet at a lower price point, this model performed beautifully in our tests, from sweating onions to making cornbread. We also created a nice sear on beef chuck and cooked golden crepes thanks to constant, even heating across its surface. It’s also compatible with induction cooktops. Two pour spouts make it easy to pour off excess liquids without spilling, and the handle feels comfortable to maneuver even with oven mitts on. We think this pan is worth the investment, and adds a bit of panache to your stovetop.

While Le Creuset is best known for enameled cast iron, we can’t overlook its collection of stoneware, like this 4-quart covered rectangular casserole. It can be used in the freezer, fridge, microwave, or oven (up to 500°F) to serve as the perfect vessel for baking lasagna or presenting homemade tiramisu. The lid helps protect the dish’s contents until you’re ready to serve, and it has a handle that’s easy to grab even when wearing an oven mitt. Its non-porous glaze is essentially nonstick and cleans up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. And, like the rest of the Le Creuset line, it comes in a plethora of colors.

Staub’s signature round cocotte topped our list of the best Dutch ovens after breezing through our tests, allowing us to achieve a crisp sear on chicken and cook the perfect pot of rice. Made of enameled cast iron, it heats exceptionally well and can handle temperatures up to 900°F. You can use it on all types of cooktops, including induction. One of our favorite features of the Staub cocotte is the self-basting lid: little nubs on the underside of the lid help collect condensation and send it back down over the food to keep meats and other foods from drying out while cooking. With proper care, it can become a timeless kitchen item or a family heirloom – and you get your choice of Staub’s stunning colors, any of which give you a kitchen item that doubles as decor.

This splurge-worthy skillet from Staub has the same durable construction and enameled finish as the brand’s signature cocotte. Its silhouette is deeper than other cast iron models, lending itself to shallow-frying (preventing splatters) and baking cornbread. We liked how evenly its surface heats as well as its natural nonstick properties — it released a piece of crisped skin-on fish easily in our tests and proved easy to clean, too. This 11-inch model provides plenty of room to cook and features two spouts for drip-free pouring.

This sturdy carbon steel skillet is used in many professional kitchens in France, lauded for its versatility and responsiveness to heat. Carbon steel is thinner than cast iron, but is similarly durable and can handle high heat for searing proteins. It’s available in two sizes, 9 and 11 inches, and features a securely riveted handle for safe transport. Unlike the regular Mineral B skillet, the Pro version is oven-safe — perfect for finishing dishes under the broiler. Like bare cast iron, it requires a little bit of extra maintenance to keep up the seasoning that builds up over time, but it will last a lifetime with the right care.

While many nonstick pans are built with thin aluminum bodies and coatings that are easily scratched, this model from deBuyer boasts a thick aluminum base and a five-layer traditional nonstick coating. This versatile pan is ideal for gentle cooking over low and medium heat, like making the perfect French rolled omelet or soft scrambled eggs. It works on all stovetops, including induction, and lets you have an easy release without relying on a lot of cooking oil. While this pan is on the pricey end as far as nonstick skillets go, its high-quality build promises a much longer lifespan than less expensive versions.

Carbon steel pans are kitchen workhorses, and this one from Matfer Bourgeat offers excellent performance at a great value. Slightly less expensive and lighter in weight than the deBuyer version, it too distributes and responds to heat well, and it’s available in sizes ranging from 8.5 to 17.75 inches. The smooth surface will develop seasoning and become more nonstick with use, allowing you to cook delicate items like skin-on fish and eggs with ease. Its carbon steel build means it can withstand high temperatures on the stove and oven, and can be used on just about any cooktop, including induction.

After testing out nine sets of copper cookware, this showstopping set from Mauviel remains one of our favorites. With classic silhouettes, stainless steel lining, and a high-shine exterior, these pieces are more than their good looks: they also feel nice and balanced in the hand and are easy to maneuver. The pans conducted heat almost too easily during our tests (you’ll have to monitor your heat carefully), but we achieved a nice sear on chicken breasts just on medium heat. While copper pans require a little extra upkeep to maintain their luster, this high-quality set is worth splurging on.

You’ll find these traditional gratin dishes in brasseries and bistros across France, beloved for their ability to withstand heavy use. Made of multiple layers of stainless steel and an aluminum core, these pans are perfect for baking scalloped potatoes or roasting smaller birds like cornish game hen. They’re safe for use on all cooktops, including induction, and can go in the oven and under the broiler — you’ll be surprised at how efficiently and evenly they heat. While they are not dishwasher safe, the smooth surface is easy to clean by hand, and any stuck-on food can be soaked and sloughed off with a non-abrasive scrubber.

There are many cutlery brands whose name includes “Laguiole”, but these Laguiole en Aubrac knives are the real deal, topping our list of the best steak knife sets. Made in southern France, this set features sculptured olivewood handles and razor-sharp, stainless steel blades that cut through meat effortlessly. In our tests, we found them very comfortable to hold and efficient at cutting through New York strip steak. We didn’t even mind having to hand-wash them. They also come in a cushioned, protective wooden case for storage. While the price tag is high, bear in mind that these are investment pieces; you can get them sharpened when needed and use them for a lifetime with proper maintenance.

Renowned cutlery specialist Laguiole en Aubrac may be known for its knives, but we also love its heritage-quality corkscrew, made by a single craftsman from start to finish in the brand’s southern France atelier. Designed similarly to a Swiss Army knife, it features a small blade with a bottle opener, spiral corkscrew, and cork push-piece, all of which fold for compact storage. While this corkscrew comes at a high price, this handcrafted tool is made with meticulous care and is available in a variety of materials, like horn, turquoise, and olive wood. It’s a great gift for wine lovers.

Emile Henry is best known for bakeware pieces made from high-fired Burgundian clay, which is not only durable but also retains heat for efficient, even cooking. It also resists thermal shock, allowing you to take the dish directly from the freezer to the oven without worrying that it’s going to crack. This baker is the perfect vessel for lasagna and other casseroles, but works well for roasting meats too (it’s oven and broiler-safe up to 520 degrees). Simple in design with a scratch-resistant glazed finish, it’s also easy to clean by hand, but can be put into the dishwasher if needed.

The original food processor was developed by Robot-Coupe, the company behind this large-capacity Magimix. Equipped with three BPA-free work bowls and two metal blades, you can easily switch between 6-, 12-, and 14-cup capacities. It also includes a blender attachment, dough blade, egg whisk, and two grating and slicing disks — all the attachments you could seemingly want in a single appliance. All the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, and it runs fairly quietly considering how powerful the motor is.

You may know the Peugeot name as an automobile manufacturer, but the company has been making pepper mills since 1874 (its first car rolled off the line in 1891). This 7-inch salt and pepper mill set is made with the brand’s patented milling system, which allows you to select the exact coarseness of your grind to suit whatever you’re cooking. The stainless steel burrs are treated to protect against corrosion, so they stay sharp after years of use. With a classic silhouette and a wide variety of wood finishes (and a stainless steel option), these mills are not only functional but also beautiful on a tabletop.

Opinel debuted this classic folding knife in 1890, and it’s still a must-have for any household that wants quality, easily portable cutlery. It features a solid wooden handle and super sharp stainless steel blade that is ideal for cutting just about anything — perfect for making paper-thin rounds of cured sausage, slicing cheese, or cutting fruit at your next picnic or barbecue. The blade is held into place with the Virobloc safety ring that activates with a twist. When you’re finished, wash the blade by hand and dry thoroughly before folding it for storage.

Also from Opinel, this vegetable peeler offers a lot of versatility to help speed up food prep. It features two stainless steel blades, one with micro-serration that helps grip even the smoothest or thinnest of skins that are usually hard to peel (like mangos and kiwis), and another that can create julienne strips with a single stroke. The polymer handle is dishwasher-safe and has a spot to rest your index finger for optimum leverage. There’s also a built-in cutter to help dig out potato eyes or remove unsightly or damaged parts from your fruits and vegetables. It’s also backed by a limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

While you can find excellent kitchen towels anywhere, these are designed and woven in Vosges, France, by Garnier Thiebaut, a linens manufacturer known for top-of-the-line quality since 1833. The tea towels hold their color and stitching better than many other brands and look great even after years of use, drying hands or dishes. They are also machine washable for hassle-free maintenance. Excellent host gifts, the tea towels come in dozens of whimsical designs, from delicate toile patterns to bold botanical and culinary prints.

The Napoleonic Bee is arguably one of the most iconic symbols of France, and it’s the motif of these 9-ounce tumblers from La Rochère, a glassware manufacturer for over 500 years. A stylish, French-country addition to your table, this set of six is made from soda lime glass, a durable material that holds up well to everyday use. This size is perfect for juice and water, but if you want a bigger version, it comes in an 11-ounce tall tumbler as well. The set is dishwasher-safe for effortless cleanup.

This simple and elegant dinnerware set comes from Pillivuyt, a manufacturer of top-quality porcelain since 1818. Made of exceptionally durable high-fired porcelain, these pieces are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and can even go into the oven up to 660°F. The Coupe collection features clean lines that go with just about any decor and allow your cooking to be the center of attention. The 20-piece set includes four place settings composed of dinner plates, salad plates, mugs, cereal bowls, and pasta bowls. While these dishes are pricey, they can certainly be handed down to the next generation.