Le Creuset - middle class nirvana or unnecessarily heavy con?

[PersonaNonGarter]

The Le Creuset from my wedding list (10yrs) is coming to it’s life end and tbh it hasn’t been a great ride. Each one is stained, with chipped handles, horrible to clean etc.

Do I repurchase at £££ or is there something better out there?

OP could you post a photo of your knackered pants so we can see the damage?

PANS ffs

Look at Lodge for ceramic cast iron. Quite affordable.

OMG essential, I’ve got so many lovely pierces I’ve had for years

I have a big casserole dish that's about 70 years old - still in great condition

Did you use it everyday and use metal scourers or something?

I would give away my children rather than my Le Creuset. Bye kids.

Oh and I don’t consider myself middle class. I just like good quality kitchen items.

1982 wedding gift ,loved my big Le creuset ,it outlasted the husband
and much more....so sad I left( mistakenly )the elec cooker ring on under it all day ,only last week, the surface bubbled and blister not good.
called Le Creuset ..if I had purchased it within the last 20 years they would take it back and resurface ! sadly they can't do it if not part of this
deal. but 40 years not bad life hey
I will be putting a new one on my christmas list if not this year deff next

I have both the genuine article and the Aldi knockoff and can say I love each of them. The Aldi ones don’t come in such lovely colours though.....had them for 4 years and still in fab condition.

@pettyprudence

Have mixed feelings about my cast iron pots - dont know if they are better than other cast irons? The bottom ALWAYS burns on my ceramic hobs and they are so heavy and hard to wash. I utterly love my Le Creuset tri-ply plans though. 10 years in, used daily, look like new and the bottoms never burn.

Try an induction hob. My Lakeland pan is great on an induction hob. Perfect dishes no burning

I have le creuset and Sainsbury’s - no difference as far as I can see, although Sainsbury’s casserole is fairly new, so can’t say how it will last.

I’d buy another

Others have also said but Sainsburys do a very good one. I've had both and nothing in it tbh.

If your Le Creuset is stained, then it's pretty easy to clean it.

You just put it on the stove, add some water and bring to the boil, then add some bicarbonate of soda (it will bubble up, so be careful not to put too much water in), then keep it simmering as you rub away the stains with a wooden spoon. Clean afterwards as you would normally, but using a more abrasive sponge/cleaner to get rid of the last of the marks.

If it's really bad - or that doesn't work to completely get rid of it - you can use bicarb and water to make a paste and leave it on overnight. Then scrub the next day.

Mine have always come up beautifully using this method.

Don’t buy the Sainsbury’s one. Although cheap they mine only lasted 2 years, I then got a proper le Creuset so it was definitely a false economy

I love my large orange LC casserole dish.
When my 16 year old one chipped inside (while I was making a chilli) I was quite upset so emailed the company with a couple of photos. I explained that I didn't have a receipt and the shop had since closed.
They asked to see the dish and sent me a prepaid sticker so I could post it to them.
Two weeks later they sent me a brand new one!!
They explained that it wasn't a good idea to put it in the dishwasher (oops), or scrub away at any stains (double oops) or even use it on a high heat when browning off meat or onions (the enamel layer is essentially a glass layer so you do have to treat it with care).
But they still sent me a shiny new dish so I love them for it

Wow almost hoping mine chips so I get a new one

Jokes, I love the idea of using the same pot for 30 years.

I have two small and one large casserole. Use them all the time and would not be without them. Was brought up with them.
Le c caused a huge argument with my dp who took an d small one to the dump during clear out - there was nothing wrong with it just 30-40 years old inherited from my mum. I was furious. Still am.

I have 2 casseroles which are heavily scored and chipped, mainly because I put them in the dishwasher 🙄. I was thinking about buying another but treating it well. However, they have almost trebled in price. I like the casserole pots but I think the single handled pots are too heavy.

Wouldn’t be without my Le C casserole dish, had it nearly 30 years. The only lidded pan I own that can go in the oven. However I never use the saucepans - just too heavy and food tends to stick.

I got the le creuset stainless steel pots and they are amazing! Come with a lifetime guarantee. I also love my casserole dish, they are meant to discolour but not crack.

I bought a copy cat make for a fraction of the cost 25 years ago and they are still going strong. There is absolutely no reason to pay Le Creuset prices.

@KillingOksana1

Aldi had some Great cast iron pans a little while ago. Not le cruset quality but as they were fraction of the price it doesn't matter

I have the Aldi shallow casserole dish and it’s used most days. Sits on the hob for strorage and is most certainly as good as LC (had one) 👌

Cast iron washed in the dishwasher!? *clutches pearls

No wonder it’s knackered.

My big le Creuset died 😕 The only thing that could chip my granite worktop! I miss it. Are the John Lewis ones good? I have looked at the teal ones this afternoon