Cast Iron Cooking Pot

[SandysMam]

I can't afford a Le Cruset and am thinking of ordering a VonShef.
Am totally aware that this will not be as good but the VonShef is £25 and I really need a new pot! It has to be non stick so I can brown on the hob then pop in the oven. Any experience or recommendations?

[Weedsnseeds1]

TK Maxx often have left Creuset if you aren't too fussy about the colour.

[Weedsnseeds1]

Le not left as auto correct is insisting!

[SandysMam]

Really?? I will have a look! Thank you!

[DandelionAndBedrock]

Dfinitely check TK Maxx, and there used to be a LeCreuset outlet at Bicester. I've used ecookshop to buy seconds in a china pattern that I couldn't find anywhere else and they seemed ok, but haven't ever bought Le Creuset from them.

I wanted a cheaper version for doing Dutch oven bread and Coca Cola ham (I was being a bit precious because my big pot was new) and bought this Argos one. More expensive than the one you have found, but I can confirm it works well on the hob and in the oven.

[BlackForestCake]

If you really, really want a Le Creuset then save up and get one. It will last forever after all, it’s not like you will have to buy another soon. You don’t want to be thinking “I wish I had a Le Creuset” for the rest of your life every time you look at your casserole dish.

OTOH other cast iron pots are just as good if you can get over the LC “prestige”. You might grow to love your VonShef.

[PinkGlitter17]

Mine is great, from Sainsbury's.

[Weedsnseeds1]

There's an outlet store in Clarke's village in Street as well, but the prices seem more than TK Maxx ( although the wierd colours are cheaper than the classic colours)
My le Crueset is older than me and still going strong.

[Rumplestaleskin]

Good to know Pink. I bought one from Sainsburys this weekend. I think it was half price as bought it for £22.50. Not tried it yet though.

[Sunbeam18]

You can get second hand Le Creuset on eBay cheaply

[fairiedemon]

I agree to save up. I still have my mums Le Creuset which was a wedding present in the early 80s and looks good as new!

[foodiefil]

Sainsbury's is very good for affordable cast iron stuff

[Weedsnseeds1]

How much would the postage be though sunbeam? They weigh a ton!!

[PumpkinSpiceEverything]

TK Maxx and also if you live anywhere with designer outlets, Le Creuset has great sales on discontinued colours every now and then. I got a smaller one (already had a large) from Tesco using those stamps a few years back, and it's actually really decent (I forget the name of the make but it only set me back £30 with the stamps).

[Sunbeam18]

I got a cool yellow big Le Creuset on eBay and they didn't charge much postage! Not sure how that worked?!

[Aquiver]

BlackForest is right in that LeC are excellent - even my DH (who rarely cooks) is impressed with its abilities and how easily they clean.

That said, I also have a couple of Sainsbury's cast iron items and they are also excellent - robust, even heat distribution and a variety of lovely colours to rival even LeC (e.g. neutral cream, vibrant red and a luscious orange colour too).