Long appreciated as both a cooking and serving dish, the terrine was traditionally used to compact a forcemeat mixture like pâté (resulting form is also referred to as a terrine). Some terrines include a weighted press that molds the mixture from all sides. As the meat cools, the fat contained within it begins to set, helping the terrine hold its form. Drawn from early Le Creuset designs from the 1930s and 1940s, this cast-iron pate terrine also works well for baking cakes, breads, and lasagna, or for assembling a frozen dessert of sponge cake and ice-cream layers. The elongated rectangular-shaped dish measures 4 by 12-2/3 inches and can hold up to 1-1/2 quarts. Like other pieces in Le Creuset"s line of enameled cast iron, the cookware"s exterior features a colorful, long-lasting enamel that resists chipping and cracking, while its durable, nonreactive sand-colored enamel interior offers a smooth surface for cooking and an optimal palette for food presentation. As cast iron is unexcelled for even heat distribution and superior heat retention, and enamel is impervious to acids and odors, the dish cooks food uniformly and gently without hot spots and can be used for marinating, cooking on the stovetop, or finishing in the oven. The cookware also provides traditional scalloped side handles for a secure grip during transport and a tight-fitting handled lid, which helps keep food hot or cold until served. The cookware can be safely used at any oven temperature, under the broiler, and on any stovetop, including induction. Best of all, it moves gracefully from the oven to the table for serving to the refrigerator or freezer for storing leftovers. The cookware carries a lifetime limited warranty and should be hand washed for best results.