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Le Creuset: Is it Worth it?


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Old 12-08-2010, 06:24
Lushness
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I'm thinking very seriously about buying one of these pots. I have no problem in spending the money but I just want to be certain that they are actually worth it, or can I buy something cheaper for the same results?

I'm wanting to make a lot more soups, casseroles, curry, chilli etc this winter and I'm looking for a decent and substantial pot.

I'm aware that they're heavy which isn't a problem.
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Old 12-08-2010, 07:28
breppo
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They are expensive but worth every penny.
Even better, but equally high priced is Skeppshult, a Swedish brand.
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Old 12-08-2010, 09:46
Frood
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Le Creuset are more expensive, and quite heavy but do an excellent job whether on the hob or in the ovem.

I've had one for years and the eveness of the heat distribution remains excellent. This can be an issue with cheaper comparable items.

They have a good name and, as far as I'm concerned, they deserve it.
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Old 12-08-2010, 10:01
indianwells
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Definitely worth it. I wouldn't be without my Le C casserole! As long as you don't drop it it'll last a lifetime.
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Old 12-08-2010, 11:15
sazzleperkins
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Absolutely. I can't praise them highly enough.

And I got mine tax free because I was living in army accommodation in Germany so we didn't have to pay the duties. A veritable bargain! The NAAFI were good for some things.
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Old 12-08-2010, 11:19
eeyore2ok
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They're super, I have the casserole dish, had it for years and it's still as good as it was when I bought it. Pricey - but worth every penny
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Old 12-08-2010, 11:39
deejay
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I recommend the Tesco Finest Stockpot. The quality of the pot will never be as good as Le Creuset but the food will be exactly the same.

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-9034.aspx
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Old 12-08-2010, 12:40
ejak
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I recommend the Tesco Finest Stockpot. The quality of the pot will never be as good as Le Creuset but the food will be exactly the same.

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-9034.aspx
I have a 2 Le Creuset cassarole dishes and also the tesco pot and can honestly say the tesco one is used only on the BBQ, as I'd not treat the Le Crueset ones in the same way .
The tesco one is ok but the lid doesn't fit snug no matter what way you turn it there is always a gap. The Le Crueset ones are way better both the lids fitting nice and snug.
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Old 12-08-2010, 12:57
Ellie666
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they have a few le crueset outlet stores so you can save a few bob if you look carefully
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Old 12-08-2010, 13:00
stud u like
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Le Creuset are simply fanastic and last years. Extremely good value for money.
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Old 12-08-2010, 13:37
divingbboy
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Le Creuset make a very good product, but is vastly overpriced when one looks at comparable products. Vogue make a lot of very similar pots, and they're extensively used in the restaurant industry, for a fraction of the price.
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Old 12-08-2010, 13:45
jazzyjazzy
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I would not give them kitchen space.
A few years ago I always wanted the wooden box set and my OH bought them as a suprise present along with the large casserole dish.
Dropped the lid off the casserole and it smashed - when I complained was told it was not part of any guarantee, only the pans.
Then one of the pans cracked on the inside - again no reasonable explaination and no replacement.
Number 3 - hung a Le Creuset frying pan on a kitchen hook and one morning went to the kitchen to find the handle on the hook and the pan on the floor. At least John Lewis replaced that for me.
I gave them to my son and bought myself some good non-stick German ones which I have had for a long time and still look like new.
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Old 12-08-2010, 14:03
indianwells
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I would not give them kitchen space.
A few years ago I always wanted the wooden box set and my OH bought them as a suprise present along with the large casserole dish.
Dropped the lid off the casserole and it smashed - when I complained was told it was not part of any guarantee, only the pans.
Then one of the pans cracked on the inside - again no reasonable explaination and no replacement.
Number 3 - hung a Le Creuset frying pan on a kitchen hook and one morning went to the kitchen to find the handle on the hook and the pan on the floor. At least John Lewis replaced that for me.
I gave them to my son and bought myself some good non-stick German ones which I have had for a long time and still look like new.
You dropped the lid and it smashed? And then you complained? How is that Le Creusets fault?
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Old 12-08-2010, 14:39
Lushness
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Thanks guys - that's all the encouragement I need!!
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Old 12-08-2010, 14:45
Goodwin
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Another vote from me. Many times I have left the saucepan on the heat to burn to buggery. A normal saucepan would just perish but after a good clean it comes up as if to say 'you will have to do better than that to get rid of me' That's if a saucepan could talk that is.

Built like a brick outhouse. If there is a downside though, it's that they are heavy bstds. Especially with a full load.
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Old 12-08-2010, 14:46
hobbes
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I have gathered my collection up over many years and I love all my Le Creuset from the little heart ramekins to the massive stockpot. My only regret is that some were given to me and some inherited and I now have some in dark blue, some in volcano orange and some in dark red!

I wish you could send them all off for a respray- loving the teal blue and aubergine colours!
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Old 12-08-2010, 16:32
whackyracer
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You dropped the lid and it smashed? And then you complained? How is that Le Creusets fault?
exactly what I thought! i don't think that is what the guarantee is meant to cover
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Old 12-08-2010, 18:22
Inkblot
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You dropped the lid and it smashed? And then you complained? How is that Le Creusets fault?
Was it metal? You wouldn't expect metal pans to break but I've got a metal Le Creuset casserole where the lid handle broke and the actual pan has a hairline crack down one side. It kind of oozes liquid as it's cooking.
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Old 12-08-2010, 19:16
GaseousClay
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Was it metal? You wouldn't expect metal pans to break .
You would if it were a cast iron lid. Cast iron is extremely brittle.
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Old 12-08-2010, 19:24
Barbella
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I was massively disappointed with my Le Crueset saucepans.

They are far too heavy to be used safely in a busy kitchen, I have to use two hands to lift the medium and large pans off the cooker .

They also burnt and did not come back looking like new, in fact the interiors are tarnished. The lids also chip quite easily .

TBH I think they are overpriced and 'just a name'.

I'm gradually replacing mine with Circulon pans, which I can at least lift off the cooker without fear of dropping.

Sorry for the negativity, but I really do feel I wasted my money.
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Old 12-08-2010, 19:24
Inkblot
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You would if it were a cast iron lid. Cast iron is extremely brittle.
It's like black, unfinished metal, so probably cast iron. But I still don't think you'd expect an expensive metal cooking pan to crack.
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Old 12-08-2010, 19:49
GaseousClay
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It's like black, unfinished metal, so probably cast iron. But I still don't think you'd expect an expensive metal cooking pan to crack.
They are cast iron without a doubt, and I would expect them to break. As I say cast iron is extremely brittle and couple that with the fact that they have to manufacture the product to be as reasonably thin as possible for weight reasons/ heat dissipation and not forgetting cheapness to increase the profit margins, this all increases the likelyhood for them to break easily.
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Old 12-08-2010, 20:25
hobbes
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They are cast iron without a doubt, and I would expect them to break. As I say cast iron is extremely brittle and couple that with the fact that they have to manufacture the product to be as reasonably thin as possible for weight reasons/ heat dissipation and not forgetting cheapness to increase the profit margins, this all increases the likelyhood for them to break easily.
Mine were my Grandma's so must be nearly forty years old as she got them in the early seventies. Still look like new!
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Old 12-08-2010, 20:31
whoever,hey
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They are cast iron without a doubt, and I would expect them to break. As I say cast iron is extremely brittle and couple that with the fact that they have to manufacture the product to be as reasonably thin as possible for weight reasons/ heat dissipation and not forgetting cheapness to increase the profit margins, this all increases the likelyhood for them to break easily.
If anything the word you are after is cost not cheapness. They aren't exactly trying to fit the cheap niche are they?
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Old 13-08-2010, 00:05
Mrs Rivers
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I was massively disappointed with my Le Crueset saucepans.

They are far too heavy to be used safely in a busy kitchen, I have to use two hands to lift the medium and large pans off the cooker .

They also burnt and did not come back looking like new, in fact the interiors are tarnished. The lids also chip quite easily .

TBH I think they are overpriced and 'just a name'.

I'm gradually replacing mine with Circulon pans, which I can at least lift off the cooker without fear of dropping.

Sorry for the negativity, but I really do feel I wasted my money.
..I agree with this. Although I've kept my large Le Creuset casserole and just made a delicious Coq au Vin in it, which turned out beautifully but it's so heavy and as you get older you just don't want that any more. I'm struggling with it as I love my casseroles but I wouldn't get another if it broke.

Also I now have an Induction hob and they don't work on it, so it's oven only.
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