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

[willweeversell]

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

My mum has some actual french casseroles that aren't branded le creuset but I can't tell the difference and they've lasted her years.

We have quite a few of the pans and casserole dishes, which we like.

We also had the conical cooker top kettle, this went rusty on the inside, Le Creuset said it should be emptied after each use, to allow it to dry!?!

I still have an orange le creuset casserole from years ago, but early on dropped the lid and the handle broke. It's still usable though.

I love them too and have mixed colours but not exactly on display. Only because the cupboard shelf is broken. Not good for non-stick but great for stews etc.

One of mine - very ancient but great - now has holes in the enamel - apparently caused by the enamel 'popping' when cold water is poured into very hot pan. Has anyone repaired theirs?

Ours are Invicta, bought in a French hypermarket. Less expensive than Le Creuset, but 10 yrs later I have no complaints.

OP just too heavy for me

Worth every penny. Have had ours for 15 years and they are used all the time - show no signs of wearing out so far and they clean really well, even when (ahem) burnt..

Definitely worth the money. But don't pay full price - they're often on sale in department stores and I think other places. I saw some about a month ago at 20% off (I think) in Elys in Wimbledon. Orange and blue.

IKEA do a 'Le Creuset' style range. Its a lovely limey apple green and half the price of the real thing.

I have a big oval casserole dish in cream which I use endlessly and also a lasagne/pie dish thingy. I also like the cute little ramekins.

Wouldn't touch the saucepans or frying pan though, they'd break your wrist.

Try the Chasseur range. I got mine for 1/2 price on Amazon and, I think, they are very similar to Creuset.

I've got a casserole dish and I love it.

I have a big oval one which i can do stews, curries, casseroles and roasts in and a marmitout. if you are only buying one but the marmitout - the lid doubles as a frying pan and is great. I have a smallish one and i use the pot for lasagnes, moussaka, etc.

Absolutely brilliant !! My parents always raved about them (although mum moaned about the weight but she's a bit of a weakling !)and now I've got some too....
Seeing this thread actually reminded me that I'd lost the whistling top off my Le Creuset kettle, so I've just rung to ask if I can BUY another whistle and they're sending one out FOR FREE !!!!!!!! Now that's service for you !! (I didn't tell them I got it for free in the first place off an Alpen box about 5 yrs ago !)

Got a full set of pans and casserole dishes upto 30cm, love them.

I have a casserole round thing goes in the oven a small saucepan with lid and a griddle pan love them all

even the ceramic lasagne dish is great

I have 3 items, casserole, lasangne dish and saucepan with lid.
I love them
They were my mums and now have 40 years cooking use and are all still in good condition

Just want to agree with Maidamess, I got my cast iron casserole pot from IKEA and it is great. Mine in the apple green one too, it is very large and cost around £30 I think.

They are very heavy - especially the bigger ones when filled with food. I have a set and they do look nice but are also hard work to scrub. They also take longer to heat up because they are so thick - good for making jam in though.

I do like the John Lewis kitchenware though -although I would like the meet the moron who designed them with metal handles. I thought -'they won't get hot, surely - who would design pans with handles that get hot'. Oh but they do!

Just got a new griddle pan (from JL) and am happily griddling eveything I can at the moment. It is great!

After reading last para I feel I need to get out more!

I have lots of Le Creuset casseroles and pans - wedding presents mostly. Recently dropped one on the tiled kitchen floor, as hippo says not to above. It cracked and a large chunk of the glaze came off. Le Creuset is under lifetime guarantee but not for accidental damage, and their lovely customer services person said that they are "brittle". I think this would be true of any similar brands though, because the glaze is made of glass. For cooking they are excellent though - I'd still recommend them.

I am a huge Le Creuset enthusiast. My Mum, sister and I all cook with them. They look great and consistently produce good results. I had a problem with chipping on a casserole that I acquired about 15 years ago. They asked me to return it (using freepost), tested the enamel, pronounced that it wasn't up to standard and gave me a new casserole worth £130. Le Creuset everytime - I can't recommend them enough.

I was given a casserole dish like this 22 years ago - I still use it every week and it is lovely to use.

Not sure that I would have spent that amount of money on a casserole dish for someone - but it has been worth it, it was far cheaper 22 year ago!

Also have the three saucepan set - though mine aren't as small as these they are slightly bigger, I use them but not that often and I have a fry pan but rarely use it.
www.amazon.co.uk/Le-Creuset-Enamel-Interior-Saucepan/dp/B000RK2DMQ/ref=sr_1_15?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1333114497&sr=1-15

Another vote for the casserole dishes with lids. I've accumulated several different sizes down the years and they're really good for oven to table... nice looking and hold their heat well. For pans I prefer something a little lighter in stainless steel. Last (orange) Le Creuset I got was from a shop in the Galleria outlet mall. Still pricey but much cheaper than I've found it elsewhere.

They do discontinue occasional colours - I have Racing Green and can't get more now. Even though I have loads - 5 pans, 3 gratin, 2 roasting dishes, terrine, cocotte, frying pan, omelette pan and 3 casserole dishes I'd still buy more.