Has anybody ever had enamelled cast iron pans (le creuset style) resurfaced?

[duchesse]

And if so, where? I knackered mine making marmalade in them before I owned a jam pan. The surface is very badly pitted - back to the iron in places- and discoloured and nothing seems clean them, not even my mother in laws' trick of boiling cloths in them with washing powder. Any tips?

bump?

If they're Le creuset - get onto them direct and ask - they have a lifetime guarantee on their pans.

You may find it cheaper to replace the pan though.

Also saw this old thread which has some helpful info

Are they actually Le Creuset? They have a lifetime guarantee, so will repair damaged if possible, presumably as long as you didn't to something monumentally awful to damage them! Just contact them through their website. Not sure what they do if a repair isn't possible - replace with like?

Le Creuset Guarantee

You can also buy DIY cooking-grade enamel repair kits online. I think Aga ones in cream would be suitable - Aga kit

Oops. Slow typing! That's a great thread, doradoo.

Thank you! Two of them are Le Creuset- picked up cheaper in sales, the third is a very reasonable French supermarket version.

Do you think making marmalade in them would count as "monumentally awful"? They are about 20 years old as well. It seems a shame not to be able to resurface them. I just picked up some very nice replacement pans in Sainsbury's on sale, in a slightly smaller size as our older children are leaving home in droves at the moment.

I think tbh that they are fucked and the damage after 20 years would probably count as normal wear and tear...

Well lookee here - Kingfisher Enamelling

Quick search for re-enamelling company took me there. I bet there are others too, but can't say how cheap they'll be. Le Creuset I would consider repairing, however I have a ginormous cream Sainsburys cast iron casserole which cost me £26. Even when not on offer it would just be cheaper to buy a new one!

Do contact LeC, you never know what they'll say. Personally I'd describe making marmalade as normal cooking, nothing particularly unusual, so worth a try!

Yep, Sainsburys is the business for cast iron ware right now. Love their stuff. A my dad says, it's only pig iron, LeC are making a mint out of very basic materials.

Ah smegs, I rang a very local company that re-enamels agas and they flatly refused to even consider doing my pans.

I've got a Le Creuset skillet - about 10 years old. Used to belong to someone else. The middle of the cooking surface looks as though the enamel has been worn away somewhat. Is it still safe to use?

Regarding Le Creuset, the "Lifetime" warranty is BS. They won't warranty it. I had a 1.5 cm round chip in the center of the pan, not sure what happened, but they told me "Oh no, it's not covered but we can sell you a new one."

So save your money if you're think the considerable extra cost is justified by the lifetime warranty, you'll find that when you need it, it's a marketing ploy.

Le Creuset have just agreed to replace my large oval casserole. It's been very regularly used and is about 15 years old. It had two or three chips in the enamel and would have cost me £230 to replace. I sent them photos of the damage and they are going to send me a brand new one. So there life-time guarantee is exactly that! I can't praise their customer service highly enough.

their for there!