Is Le Crueset worth it?

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

thinking of getting cast iron casserole dish and perhaps a frying pan - is it worth forking out for the above, or will any cast iron stuff be good?

Creuset even

Yes. I've had mine since 1985 and it looks almost like new.

Yes.

I have two casseroles of different sizes, and I'm saving/begging for more!

I have a Le Creuset casserole (with lid) and it is fab. However, we needed a bigger one (for when we have guests) and baulked at the price. We bought a Sainsbury's Tu casserole (with lid). Both are iron cast. Both are easy to clean. Both do the job. However, the big Sainburys one was only apx £40 (don't know exactly how much the LC one was, as it was a v.kind gift).

I often covet LC things, so do tend to keep an eye out for them. One of our best bargains was a seconds pack of 3 LC oven dishes (in Asda). Still going strong X years later.

I have loads of the stoneware, it's worth it for the looks alone.
I love it.
I really want the kiwi casserole that Ina Garten has, but can't afford it

I really loved mine. We had to get rid of it after a fire. The replacement was a cheap version from Lakeland (reduced from about £60 - £20). I will by myself another Le Creuset one day.

Casserole dishes - yes, definitely. We have a collection (mostly wedding presents, so over 17 years old) and they are great, and used all the time.

Frying pans - less so. We have a huge non-stick saute pan (with the metal handle so that it can do in the oven) and we use that lots, but the actual frying pans which we got as wedding presents are long gone - we have gone back to using cheap aluminium ones and replacing them reasonably frequently.

I find their stonewear (the ceramic stuff) chips really easily, though, which is disappointing.

The stonewear and casserole dishes are definitely worth the money. I have a couple of casseroles which were my grandma's and they are still in really good condition.

I covet one of the huge oval ones. But they are about £250, so it will have to wait :)

Casserole dishes - absolutely and totally worth it. Love mine!!

I have one le creuset saucepan which I use every day. Was it worth it? Undoubtedly, as it cost £1.50 in a charity shop.

But, much as I lust over the casserole dishes (which has to be a sign of middle age) I've never been able to justify the money, even in the sales. I look every year. So I guess, despite loving the stuff, I don't think it's worth the money.

Have u tried TK Maxx? I have got a load of Le Creuset casserole dishes from there.

I bought a second hand 26 cm casserole dish from ebay for £30 - still had the label on when I got it. So pleased as could not have afforded a new one

I have lots, dh bought me a set the first Christmas after we started seeing each other - I was a bit ant the time but 12 years later I'm still using them every day. Pans and casserole dishes are good, I wouldn't bother with a non-stick frying pad. The surface of mine started peeling almost immediately.

I have small medium and a large oval kiwi ones that I bought in out local outlet for a fraction of the full price, but you don't get "this seasons" clours, if that martters! I love them, but the purple ones are delish

it's so worth it

it was the only thing we kept when decluttering overseas for a massive move across the world

so glad we kept both pots - have used them for:

• sterilising baby bottles
• soups
• casseroles
• choux pastry prep

-subsitute deep fat fryer

• risottos
• anything really

you really get a different feeling when cooking with them, from the moment you start to brown the onions...it just calms and comforts and no i dont work for LC, am SAHM!

Get yourself to a Le Creuset outlet if you can. There is one near us and it's fab. There are quite a few- look on their website.
I have some but to be honest I only use the enormous casseroles.

I have loads but all from TK Maxx, I love it

Love my casserole dish and use it to death. The stoneware is nice but don't pay full price for it - got to an outlet or TK Maxx. We got our non-stick frying pan replaced under warranty and the non-stick is coming off the new one, though, so I don't recommend those (although they are actually very nice pans).

I'd love LC ones, n

I'd love LC ones but couldn't afford them, I felt flash buying mine from house of fraser, they are linea ones, they are only three years old though so not sure if they are excellent quality, I'll let you know in another 20 :-)

Bicester village has a LC outlet.

I have a stoneware utensil pot from TK Maxx but I havent seen the proper cast iron stuff in there much.

Le Creuset outlet in hatfield galleria

Good pans are so worth it, if you cook, and you don't need lots. I have 3 Le Creuset cocottes, 3 copper bottomed saucepans, a cast iron girdle and a cast iron frying pan (unbranded), that I got for, I think my 18th and 21st birthdays. Never needed anything else in 12 years and it seems unlikely I will in the next 12.

I use my cocottes all the time, and I don't look after them at all, just bung them in the dishwasher, which is apparently wrong but hey ho. You can use them for everything. I even bake my cakes in mine.

have you got very strong wrists?

Oh that's a good point, you know. They are bloody heavy.