A question for Le Creuset lovers

[BiminiBonGoulash]

I’ve got a friend who has been dreaming about owning a Le Creuset casserole dish for months. She’s had an absolutely shit year and it’s her birthday coming up so I’d love to buy her one and cheer her up. We usually spend about £15 on presents, so it would be a bit much than usual!
On the Le Creuset website, there’s this 18cm one for £185 www.lecreuset.co.uk/en_GB/p/cast-iron-round-casserole/CI1177.html

I was a bit shocked by the price as I’m not a Le Creuset user myself so I naturally had a quick look around the internet to see if I could get one any cheaper. Only thing I came up with was this Le Creuset dish on TKMaxx for £29.99 www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/home/kitchen+dining/baking+ovenware/27x22cm-orange-stoneware-casserole-oven-dish/p/78135989
Although I can visually see that the handles and the lid knob look different - are they otherwise very similar?! £29.99 seems too good to be true compared to the £185 one - is it a not as good version?! Because there’s no point in buying her a slightly shit version of her dream, I’d rather fork out for the dream. But I’d also rather save 100 quid if they are basically the same! So could any Le Creuset users help me out please?
And i know there are knock offs out there that are just as good, but her dream is Le Creuset so it’ll have to be a Le Creuset one. Thank you!

There's an outlet in Street- clarks village if that's anywhere near you

I got mine from Lakeland at a sliver of that price. Really good too as I use it every day nearly

I have a small cast iron one which I use a lot but I also have a big one. Do you know what she wants to use it for? £185 is an awful lot to spend if it’s too small for her to cook what she wants in it.

anyway, that said I would try and get to a shop. They always, always have “specials” on in the shop (even the non outlet ones) so if you’ve an open mind on the colour then you might get a really good deal. The little one I bought was only £99 on offer!

They are bloody heavy,gave mine away and got a super glass casserole dish. Changed my le crueset pans for a good decent set of aluminium ones.

I have a cast iron one. Very heavy. The only pot/ pan that I KNOW will last me for years! It's been burned and dropped and still looks perfect. I’m saving for more.

I've got far too many, they're worth every penny IMO as they last for life if you treat them well. I really like the shallow casserole dishes - I've got the 26cm one as well as the larger 30cm one. It's hugely versatile and I use mine for omelettes, stir frys and casseroles as well as frying. House of Fraser have them on offer:
www.houseoffraser.co.uk/brand/le-creuset/shallow-casserole-dish-799008#colcode=79900822

I have. a le creuset cast iron and 2 Sainsbury's own brand cast iron. Sainsbury's is as good. However if your friend has her heart set on Le Creuset then.....

I bought mine second hand - they aren't for everyone so I'd definitely consider that.

I also have a massive Aldi pretend one and honestly it's a perfect dupe. I like le Creuset but after buying an Aldi one I'd never buy Le Creuset full price.

www.aldi.co.uk/red-20cm-cast-iron-casserole-dish/p/717479573442400

You can actually buy replacement knobs so one could probably even switch that out for a le Creuset one. Seriously worth popping into Aldi itself as there are other sizes of the other colours.

Sainsbury's is another great idea.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/roasting---casseroles/sainsburys-home-cast-iron-casserole-dish-orange-33l-131408196-p

Really is basically identical including in the flesh.

I definitely use le crueset to refer to those types of cast iron pans - like I refer to a hoover not a vacuum cleaner. Is it the brand for her do you think, or the object?

There's also an outlet shop in Essex as well depending whereabouts you are if the brand is essential.

A couple of years ago I bought a LC casserole dish with a glass lid and a frying pan on an offer but I can't remember where from - I want to say QVC !! . They are both non stick and dark grey. They are used nearly every day and I think the 2 were less than your £185 and are both bigger than 18cm I think.

Cheshire Oaks have an outlet shop.

I have a French cast iron dish, some Le Creuset, a Sainsburys & an Aldi one. Actually prefer the latter as they have a metal knob, so can be used at higher temperatures.

All work fine, look good, lovely present idea. Pick a nice colour. 😊

Not if she has her heart set on the OG. As good as that can be it will never be the OG. Its like wanting a chanel handbag and getting a very similar, maybe even better, bag. It isn't the same.

Ahs sorry meant to say, like you suggest if it is the brand she is after rather than generic.

The 20cm one would be better/more useful, I know it'll be more ££. But I guess you want to know this stuff so you buy something she will get lots of use and enjoyment from.

My one was bought around 1986 and still going strong. The bigger family sized one (26cm) we used so much it got holes in the enamel on the bottom. I ended up replacing it, was a lot of money but I knew we'd use it all the time.

The cast iron one is very small, especially if she has a family, I have a shallow 30” enamelled casserole which I love and use almost every day, size wise its perfect for a family of 4, so the one on your link is super small.

Not if she has her heart set on the OG. As good as that can be it will never be the OG. Its like wanting a chanel handbag and getting a very similar, maybe even better, bag. It isn't the same

Agree. Getting her something that's quite like what she wants, but not actually what she wants, is worse than getting her something totally different.

18cm is barely more than a ramekin. Aldi have lovely 28cm shallow cast iron casseroles in sage green at the moment and their cast iron is excellent but it’s not Le Creuset and if she has her heart set on it then don’t get her a knock-off.

TBH OP if your usual gift budget is £15 then spending this much is likely to make her uncomfortable, even though your intentions are very kind.

Have you seen this one?

www.lecreuset.co.uk/en_GB/p/cast-iron-oval-casserole/CI1178.html?dwvar_CI1178_color=cerise&dwvar_CI1178_size=29cm-l4-7

23 cm / 2.6 litre oval lidded casserole.

That would be big enough to cook a meal for 2 persons (allow 1 litre per person).

Volcanic (orange) is an early colour, but the cerise has been around a long time too - I have a 1970s cerise oval casserole inherited from MIL.

(You can get also the volcanic version at the same price).

30”?! 2’6”?! 30cm, surely?

Get her the tkmaxx one. She'll love it.

I’d buy her a Le Creuset mug for £15-they come in all sorts of colours and are fabulous!

The second one is ceramic, not cast iron.

You can get far cheaper enamelled cast iron casseroles which are just as good as Le Creuset but a quarter of the price, from Sainsbury or John Lewis.

I think “volcanic” is the classic colour. I had a look around and Amazon have some discounted. If it’s sold by Amazon themselves and not a third party seller it will definitely be genuine. Bigger size and cheaper price.

Cast iron is very heavy. I chipped my granite worktop and broke my le creuset saucepan in a spectacular double a while ago! 😂

Image was a bit small so have zoomed in…

There was a programme on TV recently about TK Maxx and LC was discussed in great detail. Its worth watching. It explains all about Tk Maxx range of LC cookware. Get it on catch-up.