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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Is Le Crueset worth it?

52 replies

IcouldstillbeJoseph · 27/09/2012 17:27

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?

OP posts:

headfairy · 27/09/2012 18:41

My Le Creuset casserole dish is my grandmother's, bought in 1950 something and it's still going strong. It's fantastic!

PigletJohn · 27/09/2012 19:21

DP can't manage the ironware. I have an arm injury at the moment and can't do it either.

Hooray for stainless.

Original poster

IcouldstillbeJoseph · 27/09/2012 19:41

Piglet - if only you could see my wrists! They are the most spindly, weakest things....

OP posts:

1805 · 27/09/2012 20:41

Although I liked mine, they got way too heavy for me (weak arms) and have now bought John Lewis pans instead. I actually like these more than my original LC stuff!

Try holding them and imagine them full of water before you buy some.

1805 · 27/09/2012 20:42

Le Creuset stuff for sale........

moonbells · 27/09/2012 21:41

I adore mine. I got my first casserole reduced 20-odd years ago when I needed something that would go on the hob and in the oven so I could make proper cassoulet. Then one day I saw a set of the same coloured pans and a stand in a sale, which was much cheaper than the RRP, and if I got a store card it was another 10% off. Now I've also got round and oval shallow dishes, a small omelette pan and somehow found the wok for £50 when it should have been over a £100.

Only thing I'd say is to not bother with anything non-stick; my omelette pan's coating has mostly had it and if you heat it up, oil leaks out from the crackled surface. I only use it for fish fingers as a result. One day I'll find a replacement in a sale!

Yes they're heavy. I use my large 22cm pan for arm exercises, and can hold it out one-handed at arm's length. Just not when full of water!

moonbells · 27/09/2012 21:42

1805 what colour?

MarshaBrady · 27/09/2012 21:43

Yes I think so. All mine are Le Creuset, it's good.

Look for sales.

FamiliesShareGerms · 27/09/2012 21:48

Yes to a casserole dish. Not bothered about the griddle pan (we don't use it much, and I think it's the sort of thing that you need to use a lot to get the best from it). Non-stick frying pan is rubbish and the coating came off far too soon. Pans are lovely, but heavy, have chipped in a couple of places, and take a long time to heat up (especially if you have a ceramic or electric hobs).

LadyPeterWimsey · 27/09/2012 21:50

Hmmm. I do love Le Creuset's colours, but I bought my massive (6 litre? 8 litre?) cast iron casserole in a Hypermarket in France for about £40 years ago and it is still looking fine, and cooks like a dream. And most people seem to think it is LC anyway.

LadyPeterWimsey · 27/09/2012 21:50

Sorry, should explain it is not in fact Le Creuset.

FizzyLaces · 27/09/2012 21:52

I love mine. I have a teal coloured casserole and I also have an orange frying pan and pot with lid which my MIL got me at a car boot. Love it all but have a very small kitchen so won't be getting any more until I win the lottery.

MrsApplepants · 27/09/2012 21:53

I have a le creuset oven mitt. It's the best one I've ever had. Can't afford any of the cookware sadly!!

fluffiphlox · 27/09/2012 21:54

We had two casseroles for wedding presents - still going strong after 27 years. I would think twice about saucepans if you intend to boil spuds in them, I'm not sure I would I could it lift them one handed!

LostInWales · 27/09/2012 21:57

I use mine nearly every day and I got it for my 21st (traditional Yorkshire 'bottom drawer' present, to take into marriage ) that was 17 years ago, I love it though, useful for so much and still looks beautiful. bloody heavy though

sparkle12mar08 · 27/09/2012 21:58

Invicta and Chasseur are equally as good and about half the price. We've got several pieces of each, and fwiw Invicta is very common in french households. I'm actually going off cast iron in general though because it's just so damn heavy - I can't lift our 30cm round deep casserole when it's full, dh has to do it. I do like doing pies and puddings in the round deep gratin dish though, that's just a brilliant piece. But the deep casseroles I could take or leave tbh.

TheSteveMilliband · 28/09/2012 22:35

I'd second chasseur, I was given a fantastic frying pan which I use all the time. Le creuset is fab for casseroles, not sure how others compare but would be worried supermarket ones might not be as even / lid fit as snugly. Factory in Andover has a warehouse sale twice a year where you can pick up some real bargains, definitely worth a visit if you're near ( though leave kids at home, is a real scrum)

travellingwilbury · 28/09/2012 22:40

Casserole dish and the griddle pan are def worth it but the frying pan I found a bit rubbish and you really do need strong wrists if you are planning on ever cooking something which needs draining from the pans .

Catsmamma · 28/09/2012 22:43

I used to have a set, but I have delicate spindly wrists and can barely lift a martini glass to my lips!

Sooooo I do like them, but just wouldn't be able to lift one if I had one big enough to cook for the family.

Pourquoimoi · 28/09/2012 22:44

Yes I think the casseroles, saucepans and particularly the oven to tableware are worth it. I definitely wouldn't go for the frying pans though, I really didn't get on with them.

With regard to prices, you can get stuff cheaper online than in Le Creuset outlets, even the factory ones. I can't remember the website but I just googled cheap Le creuset or something like that and found 30-40% off rrp. That was about 6 months ago and I bought lots of oven to tableware for about £80 (can't remember but about 5-6 large dishes).

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 28/09/2012 22:52

Headfairy I was reading this thread thinking "12 yrs, 15 yrs" meh - Youngsters!

My father is a (retired) chef & I think he has had his oval LC roasting dish since his 20's - he's nearly 67 now & it's still going strong so 40 yrs old.

It's orange ( no other colours available then ) & every so often he attacks it with a Brillo pad - still no chips.

But your gran's is nearly 60 - must be a record! You should contact the co - haven't people got new vw's when their beetle has done 1 million miles - you never know, maybe you will get a full new set!

starfishmummy · 28/09/2012 23:05

I have had my le c frying pan for almost 20 years and it is still going strong!!
Seconding what others have said - look for discontinued colours in sales.

theroseofwait · 11/10/2012 18:15

I'm not impressed with the oven to table type dishes, I've thrown two that have cracked away within the past year, and also had trouble with frying pan coatings.

The cast iron stuff is bomb-proof, however

NettoSpookerstar · 11/10/2012 18:35

I got the butter dish yesterday, as a gift.
It's beyootiful

ArthurShappey · 11/10/2012 19:21

I have my parents old set in lava. They're very good... But too heavy. The big one when full of, oh I don't know, boiling potatoes is unliftable.

I've recently invested in WMF pans and they're far superior IMO.

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