Le Creuset disaster! What do I do....? Help!

[claricebeansmum]

Help! I made fudge in my Le Creuset casserole. Except I did not make fudge but a huge burnt glob that has now removed - yes actually removed - the enamel on the inside of my pan
Is it possible to have a Le Creuset re-enamelled? Help!

I'm sorry, but that pan is fucked.

Next time, get Le Chasseur. It's made in the same factory, and much cheaper.

I think you can have it re-enamelled.

It might even be free.

hang on will look.

it has a lifetime guarantee so perhaps Le Creuset will replace it

Wow. Note to self not to use new le creuset casserole to make fudge. Sorry, unhelpful.

Hope you find a solution. And while the experts step in, does anyone know if it's possible to have the non-stick surface re-applied on a le creuset pan after it's degraded?

link with details of re-enamelling company

FIFTY QUID for a 3mm chip?!

I love my Le Cresuet pans, they are the best present I have ever recieved.

I have got a griddle pan, which hasn't been washed in the years I have owned it, so has a lovely non stick surface (in reality baked on grease but hey ho).

My stepson was trying to be helpful a couple of weeks ago and washed it for me with a brillo pad.

I could have cried - it goes rusty now.

I know, i wouldn't bother.

I would just try and get a new 'un from le Crueset.

Failing that, OP, try a outlet shop. We have a Le Cruest bargain basement shop in Gloucester, usually 30% off the price you would pay in debenhams or whatever.

I have a couple of Chasseur pieces that are terrific. Haven't washed my griddle pan since I bought it, as per instructions to wash and then season it.

Le creuset, for the price you pay for them, should send some minor royalty round to collect it, re-enamel it with dodo beak, and return it to you via magic carpet.

I've had my Le Creusets for donkey's years, and so are a totally different design to those sold now. This thread (and the re-enameller!) has now been bookmarked!

I managed to get some spare wooden handles not too long ago - they cost a fortune too, but at least I've got them if I set fire to any more and there's one pan with a slightly too-porous enamel. I usually use that one for deep-frying so it gets re-proofed at the same time!

I actually cook in slightly chipped le creuset pans with no probs. LOL at colditz but i reckon they're worth the money (you can get them 2nd hand for pennies in France!)

Not pennies but about 5or 6 euros

Fudge is evil. Just buy it. Don't make toffee either. Or honeycomb.

It will still be functional.I've got one that ha been chipped for years. Still fine.

I don't think the guarantee will work sadly - they tell you not to use their pans on a high heat so burnt fudge probably counts as voiding the guarantee

I have been using a slightly chipped one for years and it's fine. Massive chips? Hmm... dunno. Probably chuck and put it down to experience.

And, as I've learned from my own mistake, NEVER NEVER NEVER buy nonstick le creuset. Non stick coating is simply not meant to last in the same way as enamel. And it doesn't.

yes they make good plant pot holders (or pots for water loving plants) when completely knackered. I agree totally about the non stick ones.

I have two non-stick LeC. The tiny omelette pan which with a fair bit of scrubbing has almost got back to the original surface, but isn't terribly n-s any more and the wok. This I am very careful about washing properly, as I doubt I'd ever find another one for £50! But even that one is no good for stir-frying noodles...

i didn't know they made woks moonbells. Where did you get the new wooden handles from and are they easy to replace? the burnt handles are the worst part of LeC IMO.

GetOrf - I have a Le Creuset griddle pan and have been washing it with fairy liquid and water . Is this very wrong of me? I can't imagine not washing it because when cooking anything like steak or burgers the fat drips down between the ridges.

ppeatfruit Wok is huge but I love it. Needless to say it's rather heavy! Mine has a metal lid; new ones are glass.

I can't find where I got the handles - my email system seems to have failed! Unless I ordered them by phone... possible.

They were very hard to find some years back: I assume it's worse now. Easy to replace a handle; you just unscrew the loop bit (put a chunky fork through and use as a turning aid if necessary!) and put the new one over, then screw it back on.

Phenolics don't look nearly as nice but I suspect when my next handle gets burnt needs replacing I'll be looking at replacing with the phenolic. At least I would be able to shove the pans in the dishwasher...

Flibber - after cooking I soak it in water, then empty the water out and wipe with a j cloth. When dry rub in some oil. Don't go anywhere near it with a scourer or fairy liquid. Over time it builds up a really resistant non stock surface. Mine was great, until it was scrubbed with a scourind pad. It now rusts

Ooops sorry ppeatfruit didn't do my research right. ebay has someone called Works in Wood who makes wood handles to fit Le C for £15 plus £1.20 P&P. This is less than I had to pay for my last proper one (which I needed because the original was turning round and round!)

Failing that, it might actually be easier to buy a small second-hand pan off ebay and pinch the handle!

Thanks a lot moonbells. Yes ebay sounds a good idea or i can look in Imeaus (I'm in france quite alot) where as i said you can get good ones for very little.

Hi Moonbells
wondering where you got your spare wooden le creuset handles from? We are housesitting and as I am unused to the wooden handle/gas hob combination I have burnt a handle or two...I'd like to replace them before owners come back!

thanks for your help!