Le Creuset dupes

[MrsMitford3]

Help!!

I have my MIL's old Le Creuset dutch oven-I think she bought it in the 1970s so it has had a good innings.

I use it almost daily and I love it.

But the finish is completely gone on the bottom and everything sticks and burns. Apparently they don't re-finish them anymore but would be glad to be wrong on this

Just love it so much but £375.00 for a new one feels like madness-anyone have a good alternative?

Another vote for the Sainsbury's dupes.

MrsMitford3

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I would definitely contact Le Creuset directly and upload pictures of the damage.

In 2021, I had a 24cm cast iron casserole (which was 20 years old!!) replaced by Le Creuset because the external and internal finish had significantly degraded.

Their customer service is excellent.

what/how is bleaching it????

Do tell about this sorcery

I agree it’s unlikely that the enamel has come off. Apparently something called Barkeeper’s friend is good to clean them. Or if you’re near an outlet shop the reductions are pretty decent.

Ebay is your friend. I have bought second hand Le Creuset casseroles. They aren't super cheap but obviously much cheaper than new.

I've got Argos ones - they're great and much much cheaper.

I cannot take credit. It was someone else on another MN thread. I would never have thought it was possible.....but, yes, a solution of bleach left for a couple hours. It is, indeed, magic 😊

Another vote for sainsburys

I think Le Crueset have a lifetime guarantee 🧐

Bleached as in Domestos type bleach?! I'm excited! Will you tell me how you did it, please?

Isn't Barkeeper's friend abrasive? I wouldn't want to use anything abrasive.

Le Creuset sell their own enamel cast iron cleaner.

I liked the idea of Le Creuset, and other cast iron pans, but found them far too heavy even when empty.
I've found the cast aluminium casseroles from Lakeland much better and so easy to clean!

I’d clean it with the scrub daddy paste on the soft side of the sponge. It’s like toothpaste and should clean it to perfect.

Is the inside of the dutch oven just stained? Can you post a picture?

As others have suggested, old Le Creuset pops up regularly on Ebay.

I've a set of saucepans and a casserole dish from the late '80's/90's that are going strong (pans used 4-5 days/week). The non-stick stuff of the 90's is/was useless. They all have wooden handles, so maybe that handwashing helps?

I have a Staub dish that was the top of a fondue that is quite stained (similar age).

I have a 30cm Aldi casserole (had to buy a new nob-Le C ones fit-that is still doing nicely), but hasn't had much use.

I got a really lovely set from John Lewis a couple of years ago in a beautiful teal colour. Heavy cast iron, lovely quality.

Sterilising fluid will take away stains

i unusually prefer any of the heavy type pans, reguardless of brand.

@Madcats feel deep shame as looks grotty but this is after spag bol and a scrub. It’s def gone through layers of finish

Hmm MrsMitford3. Admittedly I've not had a pan that bad but try to get hold of some rhubarb (yes really) and stew it for a while. It ought to at least clean the brown stains up.

I've never found any that performed as well as the original. I had a Denby one and binned it.
Yes they're expensive bit it's a lifetime investment in real quality.

It isn't pottery. Enamel is made by fusing powdered glass to metal, and you can't do that in a pottery kiln.

Scrub daddy

Bicarb and vinegar cleaning method

don’t waste money on dupes, they are never as well made as the original ones, which have at least three layers of enamel , that’s why your MIL one lasted for almost 50 years.

Le creuset are always on sale in Slefridges and John Lewis on Black Fridays , Boxing Day etc.

and there are always so many unwanted new in box gifted ones on EBay.

@MrsMitford3 This was mine, which they replaced