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?

@ItsJustTheOneSwanActually

I prefer Staub (I have one of each)

Me too! I have both. Staub is a similar price but just seems to have an edge over LC. I also have LC steel and non stick pots and saucepans which haven’t lasted and need replacing.

Really? I have my dads old pan from when he was in his twenties. He's 74 now... pan is still fine, some slight stains.

Ive a green LC griddle pan. Weighs a ton and gets too hot for my induction hob.

I have a set of Meyer pans that Ive had circa 20 years that are fab - still like new even with everyday use.

My most frequently used LeCreusets are over 30 years old and still going strong. I have some from the 50s/60s which were passed on from family members all still doing well, including Enzos and Loewys (sp?). They are various styles and colours because I like the variation and some were from charity shops.

Mine are casseroles, marmites, skillets, frying pans and an old fondue set but I prefer stainless/copper for general saucepans. The casseroles, marmite have been dishwashed many times over the years without trouble

@CuteOrangeElephant
Even got DH some of the Star Wars specials

The Darth Vader? I had to sit on my hands to resist that one, I sometimes still regret it, I am envious

Don't rate the stuff at all- have used it over the years, and don't bother now- never really non stick and murder to wash up, and weighs far too much!

Pretty much anything is better. I had some for years but let my ex keep them. I could barely lift them when full and yes, they were a pig to clean. I have a mix of circulon and cheap pans with vented glass lids which are great for boiling veg and stuff without it boiling over and putting the flame out.

love my LC casserole dish but for saucepans and frying pans I have Meyer. I find them easier to clean, quicker to heat and so much lighter.

We had the silver coloured ones. They marked like fuck. Wouldn't recommend.

There is a good le creuset outlet store at cheshire oaks.

I have just bought the aldi copies. Well the casserole pot.

Feels weighty enough to be a good contender.

My LC casserole pots and saucepans are between 20 and 35 years old and still going strong. I don’t put any cast iron in the dishwasher as it can cause staining on s/s cutlery (can’t put the saucepans in as they have wooden handles anyway).

LC stoneware oven dishes were bought as seconds over 25 years ago and whilst a bit cracked and chipped are still fine to use.

No so impressed with LC frying pans, I have a Hairy Bikers brand one now which is perfect.

I own a full set of saucepans that were all bought second-hand. They're old enough that they have the wooden handles. All except the larges one are flame orange and I painted one kitchen wall to match!They're still going strong and I love the way they spread the heat and just so durable.
I also have two casseroles (bought new) and they are fab for my batch cooking. They are great for starting a casserole off in the stove top and then being transferred to the oven - and they still look good on the table if you want to serve from them.
Yes, they're heavy, but I will only give them up if I can no longer lift them (I have arthritis).
I did buy a Sainsbury's paella pan with a lid that's also cast iron, and it's also very good.

I have a Le Creuset frying pan and I hate it , it’s so heavy and everything sticks to it.
Keep saying I’m going to Chuck it but never do

Had loads of it as presents.l love it but it is too heavy to use for regular cooking type stuff .

I hate my saucepan set. Does my head in-such a waste of money. The saute pan especially winds me up, my most used pan and it is such a disappointment
Too heavy, non stick has started sticking. Just awful.

Like the casseroles though.

Wow op I love my Le Creuset, I have one large (orange) round cast iron casserole, it's so good on the hob or in the oven. I have had it for about 30 years and I use it every week. Ds2 is a bit of a cook and was looking at getting one for when he goes to uni - he was a bit taken aback at how much they cost! I wonder if the quality has dipped if yours is not so good. I mean, mine is a bit stained inside but then I cook veg curry or sausage casserole in it once or twice a week.

I have to instruct any users not to drop it - I reckon the floor would suffer. No dishwasher here but I wouldn't put it in anyway.

I love my Sainsbury's copy! Also bought in a sale.

I've got a LC casserole pot (deep) a shallow pan, a griddle, and randomly some soup bowls that I inherited. All of ours are many years old and still going strong but have never ventured outside the casserole/griddle arena so can't comment on saucepans or tangines or other whatnots!

Have a large casserole. It is v heavy but good for lamb shank and oxtail braises. I don't find it a joy. Pans are v high quality stainless and I have some small and large stainless dishes for casseroles which I much prefer. All nearly 30 years old. Dropped a me cruiser on a stone floor once. It broke.

I love my Sainsburys casserole dish copy. Has been going for years and I got it for £26 in the sale. I have a Le Creuset griddle pan and hate it. It's a nightmare to clean!

@C8H10N4O2 sadly the budget only stretched to the R2D2, C3PO and BB8 cocottes

I would have got the Han Solo roaster if I had the budget...

A decent family size casserole pot is useful. All the size graded saucepans and matching accessories is a bit much.

I would have got the Han Solo roaster if I had the budget...

That was very cool, but eye wateringly expensive for something I really didn't need. I still have tinges of regret for that range, they cost even more second hand!

I have 4 which I have had for 25-35 years. They go in the dw and I use one or two every day . The handles on the lid are a bit broken but otherwise they have been trouble free. It may well be that there are options at a cheaper price now .

I have some from these folks, not had it as long as 10 years yet but loving it so far:

www.procook.co.uk/shop/cast-iron/turquoise-cast-iron-cookware

Nirvana in c. 1975. These days everyone had light pans that are easy to cook with.

I had them when I cooked on the aga but in those days you couldn't put them in the dishwasher them. When I started using a gas job I switched to stainless steel but spent on le crueset non stick. They looked stunning: much lighter. Still didn't risk the dishwasher but the coating started lifting around the edges anyway. So disappointed. I still have a couple of the sauté plans because the bubbling didn't spread more than an inch from the edge all the way round, but I'd never buy LC again. My main saucepans now are just standard sandwich bottom stainless steel, dishwasher safe and no signs of ageing at all.