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Original poster

'La Creuset' range of cookwear are they 'worth the money'....?

54 replies

willweeversell · 12/08/2008 20:50

Have fancied buying some for ages, but they are obviously quite expensive! Are they 'worth' the money, ie do they cook really well and do they last?

Also as i will not be able to buy the whole range at once, am I taking a risk buying the nice orange coloured ones or do they change their colour ranges quite quickly?

Thanks

OP posts:

JackieNo · 12/08/2008 20:52

I think the orange colour is the 'traditional' colour, but others come and go. They last for ages, but are very heavy. Casserole dishes are good. Frying pans good, but v difficult to manoeuvre, due to weight.

cthea · 12/08/2008 20:54

They are very heavy. I wouldn't worry about the colours, unless you want to have them on display. We bought some off eBay but the seller lived nearby, otherwise the postage would have been v expensive.

lazaroulovespastries · 12/08/2008 20:54

They last, but they are very heavy, and not good for cooking scrambled eggs in!
casserole dishes are your best bet. I don't think you aresupposed to put them in the dishwasher, butr after years of not doing it I just thought 'oh bugger it, get in there' and they came out ok.

hippipotami · 12/08/2008 20:54

I don't think they change their colour range too often. The orange has been around for decades and seems a constant.
I bought a blue casserole dish 12 years ago, a matching pan 10 years ago, a matching kettle 7 years ago, and they still have the same blue in the shops now.

They last for ages, htey really do. But don't drop them on your tiled kitchen floor!!

cthea · 12/08/2008 20:54

I forgot to say that my DH likes them. he does the cooking. I used the frying pan and a little pot a few times and I don't see much difference.

notasheep · 12/08/2008 20:55

Agree way too heavy
My saucepans have lasted 22 years so far!
No need to buy creuset

cthea · 12/08/2008 20:55

Also no scouring pads for cleaning them, only soft cloth.

traceybath · 12/08/2008 20:56

I've got the casserole dish and its fab - really easy to clean.

Have just got 3 of the saucepans for my birthday which i'm very excited about .

They're heavy i guess but as i'm used to having a 7 month old on my hip most of the time don't seem that bad to me.

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 12/08/2008 20:57

Yes they are worth the money.

beansmum · 12/08/2008 20:57

They last forever. I have just inherited a casserole from my granny via my mum, it's still in really good condition and lovely to cook with.

PavlovtheCat · 12/08/2008 20:59

Erm, yes. Defintely worth it. Orange is fine, you can always get that colour, even in charity shops as I found out when my friend showed me a large pan which cost a fiver!!!

TheOldestCat · 12/08/2008 20:59

I think they're great (only got casserole dishes, not saucepans, mind you).

If you've got a TK Maxx near you, they often pop up in the homeware section - with pretty good discounts.

pollywobbledoodle · 12/08/2008 21:00

casserole dish is great....saucepans too heavy to lift and strain veg comfortably...frying pan ok but shouldn't fry on high heat, so no caramalised onions!

JudgeNutmeg · 12/08/2008 21:00

I have three main pieces that I have bought over the years, all different colours. I use one or more of them every day and they look lovely to me.

I am presently saving for a new 'teal' casserole. Gorgeous.

theyoungvisiter · 12/08/2008 21:01

the orange colour is the original and has been around forever - I doubt they will ever discontinue it.

The casseroles, oven dishes and pans last for literally decades but you do have to look after them as they are designed to be used over a lowish, even heat, and an uneven or too intense heat can crack the enamel on the inside, which isn't the end of the world but does mean that food tends to catch on it.

The best pan in the range (IMO) is the marmitout - picture here - which is a great one to try out to start as you can use it in the oven as a casserole dish, on the hob as a saucepan, and on the hob/in the oven as a frying pan/gratin dish. It's incredibly versatile and the best value in the range, I think.

Whether they suit you will depend on what type of cooking you do - if you do mostly flash-frying and few slow cook dishes they are probably not worth the investment.

Also I'd say don't waste your time buying the frying pans or anything in the non-stick range - whatever they claim, the non-stick simply doesn't last long enough to justify the price of the pan. I've worked my way through several and have reluctantly given up - a heavy stainless steel frying pan is much better all round.

Califrau · 12/08/2008 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

willweeversell · 12/08/2008 21:04

OOhh, thank you all for the replies, wasn't expecting so many!

notasheep, any particular reason why you say not to buy?

Ammat the stage in life where I want to buy stuff to last and by the sound of it they will definately last, and they do look nice!

Will confidently go for the orange then as can add to it over a few years.

OP posts:

sandy4 · 12/08/2008 21:05

dp swears by them, he does nearly all the cooking. i don't use them as they are too bloody heavy.

DonDons · 12/08/2008 21:10

we have a small and a large casserole plus the large frying pan (in green). The casseroles get used 2 or 3 times a week and are always put in the dishwasher. We've had them for about 10 years and they are still as good as new. The frying pan I find a little too heavy - DH uses it more than I do.

Fanlight · 12/08/2008 21:11

I have a lot but it's all second hand...various colours, white, dark green, orange, duck egg (!) even yellow. Mind you some of it is Le Creuset and some a similar style stuff, French, you kneau, eet ees very goood.

It prob cost about a quid per item tb. I wouldn't pay £65 for a casserole but if someone else was offering I'd say yes please

Oh to get married....

lovecamping · 12/08/2008 21:13

we (thankfully) got some for our wedding and i love them. i have the small round pan with lid, 20cm pan and the smaller one that you can use the lid as a frying pan. love them to bits and use them loads. a day or two's soaking and they clean up really well. otherwise dish washer. they now do a tough stain cleaner also which is fantastic.

discount outlet centres, TK Maxx should have some great bargins.

ranting · 12/08/2008 21:15

I think they're absolutely fab, I have a big blue one and they are the dogs gonads. I have never needed to scrub it clean either, I just soak it in the sink for 10 minutes in hot soapy water and the gunk just wipes off. Handy for avoiding bingo wings too.

Fanlight · 12/08/2008 21:15

I bought a baking dish the other day from Tesco direct. I thought it was like the ones i'd seen in the shops, it was reduced to £10.50.
Well it arrived and it is miniature version...about 6 inches long by about 3.5 wide!

Very very sweet but no thankyou..could about cook a small sparrow in that

harpomarx · 12/08/2008 21:17

as with just about everyone else here, I would definitely recommend the casseroles/cocottes. They are brilliant. I wouldn't bother with the saucepans personally, or the frying pans. Better heavy stainless steel saucepans and professional non-stick frying pans. But if you are buying cos you love the look of it then go for it.

morocco · 12/08/2008 21:19

i got a nice cast iron casserole dish from morrisons for a tenner,not sure if it will be as good quality as le creuset - anyone else know if there's any actual difference? my le creuset pans have lasted from my mum so about 20 years old and going strong but yo don't half need good biceps to use em

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