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?

Did they make you show proof of purchase? I tried to get a trashed non stick LC pan repaired or replaced and they would not do anything without proof of purchase, which had been at least 25 years ago.

OooPourUsACupLove

No proof of purchase required from me. They sent a form asking utensils I'd used, stove-top or oven/both use etc...

This was in 2021 though, may be they've changed policy?

Actually, have just taken this from their site, so not changed wrt workmanship/materials.

www.lecreuset.co.uk/en_GB/guarantee/lp004.html

"The lifetime guarantee covers faulty workmanship and/or materials when the product is used in normal, domestic conditions and in accordance with the care and use instructions provided"

Lidl had some in the other week

People like the Sainsburys ones

My DM gave me her Le Creuset shallow casserole dish and nothing cooks as well as it does in there

Only stoneware though

I've bought Le Creuset mugs from TK Maxx & factory outlets. The Cheshire Oaks shopping outlet store has a large range of Le Creuset - definitely not just stoneware.

I bought one at Aldi last year, but its already chipping, from minimal use.

Le Creuset have outlet stores, so if you can't get a replacement via warranty, maybe look at the outlet website.
Clearance | Le Creuset UK

Mine don't work on my induction hob... Is this a problem with the hob? I thought they should be OK. Are there any Le creuset style casserole dishes that go on an induction hob well?

If you aren't fussed on colour they sometimes go on sale on Black Friday on Amazon, I got one half price one year on there

I found the customer care team really helpful, ask them what they could suggest but honestly that’s a scrub daddy paste situation.

MrsJamin

If it's the cast iron casserole (not ceramic) it should definitely work on an induction 🙂

Le creuset pans in Black Friday sales etc are probably the way to go, particularly if you're flexible about the colour you have. Some online stores will have special offers for different colours at different times, so worth keeping an eye out. I've bought a few over the years and they've always look like new.

Another good brand is Valira. I bought a cast aluminium casserole from a Lakeland clearance sale for about £15. I wish I bought more than one, because I think they sell for quite a bit more now. It's got a base that is usable on induction and is in still much better condition than fake le creuset pans than have long had to be disposed off.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping/591872-i-have-burnt-sugar-onto-the-bottom-of-my-le?reply=12065050

This sparked a memory! This is a really old thread (2008!) but TheDevilWearsPrimark's advice on how to clean the pan was spot-on.

My IKEA casserole is absolutely identical in quality (and colour) to our Le Creuset pan set. It even has 'Made in France' in the lid.

It's model 20538. I bought it a few years ago - I don't know if the current IKEA model is the same - but there are some on Ebay.

I have a le creuset and a Sainsbury's.

The le creuset sticks less and after 6 years the Sainsbury's is starting to rust around the top.

Other than that no real difference.

You don’t need a new one, just ask Le Crueset to refinish it. They come with a lifetime guarantee on the product not the buyer

I have one of those.

It's heavier than Le Creuset, at least it seems heavier to me, so I don't use it as much as I use my Le Creuset, which I've had for over 20 years. Not sure I'll pay today's prices though.

Fair enough!

I had Sainsbury's ones but they went rusty around the edges and pitted in the dishwasher

I've now got Pro-Cook, more expensive than supermarket ones but way cheaper than Le Crueset, around £100 for the big

I just make sure they are hand washedone

We haven’t got a dishwasher, so have only hand washed the Sainsbury’s ones. They’re still great, several years in.

Have you tried filling it with a bio washing powder solution? My MiL also swore by Sterident tablets.

I suggest you contact the UK customer service team in Andover. They are incredibly helpful in these situations.

Dishwasher tab worked on ours when dinner was neglected in the oven, hot water, add tab or biological washing powder ( also tested, DH very particular about cleanliness, he can’t deal with cast iron interiors!) bring to boil, long soak then easy to clean.

There’s a FAQ on their website which says they DO work on induction jobs. Might be worth emailing them?