Le Creuset - Worth it?

[Hippopotas]

Just wondering if it is worth investing in some Le Creuset items or if they aren’t worth it.

I’ve hankered after a Le Creuset casserole dish for years and recently watching more cooking shows and they all seem to use Le Creuset.

I have a le creuset casserole dish that was a gift 32 years ago - still absolutely fine. The Sainsbury's cast iron casserole I've not had for as long has a couple of chips in the enamel coating.

They're too heavy, especially the frying pan as I like to be able to tip and shake it, and they don't go in the dishwasher. I got rid of mine and bought a set of Stellar stainless steel pans that are still brilliant 25 years later.

Too heavy, I gave mine away.

I have 3 sizes of casserole dishes in Kiwi and a yellow grill pan. I really love them, has them about 20 years and yes they looked used but they do get used at least twice a week and are brilliant. They are heavy!

I have the 3 ply stainless steel instead and I love them

I have one le creuset and one house of fraser, both good! though the house of fraser one is VERY old and coming to the end of its life now so I may look to replace it soon. I use them both a lot especially in the winter.

I also have le creuset stainless steel saucepans and they are fabulous. Lifetime guarantee too. Sometimes it's worth spending a little extra.

I’d get plain cast iron pans - no enamel. They don’t look as nice but they work better and are easier to clean. Really heavy though.

I have a small one and a huge one. It is heavy but I manage OK. My kitchen floor is stone so I lift it onto the floor to stir. Wouldn't do that if you have lino!

Totally worth it.

I have the 3 ply stainless steel saucepans, use them on an induction hob. Love them and have got rid of all other pans. Bought them online on Black Friday last year with considerable discount. I also have a casserole dish , I agree it’s extremely heavy and I think I’d be just as happy with a cheaper one , or a 3ply chefs pan. I’ve also got some of their baking trays, I use them with a Lakeland magic liner. I just wash the liner and wipe the tray. They are good as new underneath. IMO some things are worth it and others you can get just as good elsewhere. I would but an item that I know I would use a lot and then after a few months decide .

I have a set of saucepans and frying pans and pancake pan in the non stick le creuset range for induction. I love it!

Love mine. Getting another for Christmas. I do put mine in the dishwasher though which I know I shouldn’t. Use them all the time.

Nope from me. Too heavy and difficult to clean.

I gave mine away, too heavy for me even when empty!

I've had them for years and loved them until I developed arthritis in my shoulder. Not so keen on them now because of the weight. They are all mismatched because I bought discontinued colours in sales, one or two at a time, as I could afford them.

I don't know why someone said they're hard to clean; mine come clean easily. I have both enamel and non-stick interiors. Admittedly one of the non-stick frying pans has some wear and sticks a bit but that's after years of use.

I have the huge casserole pot and I've had it 16 years, it was second hand.

It's still ok - although some parts of the bottom inside have flaked away. It has been heavily used in the 16 years I've had it. I did read that cooking tomato based dishes corrodes stuff over time, don't know whether there is any truth in it though?

I noticed that the kitchen in a Landmark Trust holiday home I rented had Le Crueset pans. I suspect that means that they are worth it. Landmark are a pretty serious outfit, and a charity to boot. They’ll have decided this for good reasons.

My mum’s had hers for around 35 years and uses them most days and they’re perfect so I’d say yes. I bought the knock off ones from Sainsbury’s about 8 years ago and apart from a little staining they’re like brand new. I’d buy Le Creuset if £250ish per pan is nothing to you but otherwise opt for the cheaper version.

I've got a big oval very old original orange casserole, passed down from DM, I've had it 20 years, I think it was 10/15 years old when she gave it to me. Yes, it is heavy, but I love it, and it cooks really well. No marks on it or anything, and I use a brillo pad to clean it every so often.

Yes, I'd say worth it.

It's really just because the cast iron stuff is indestructible. It washes so well and looks brand new. Think I got my first one over 10 years ago and it looks like new.

I had a set when we first married, but they were soooo heavy

When we moved I flogged them off and bought JL classic pans...I specifically wanted ones, all metal, with handles on each side and with handles not knobs on the lids and they were about the only ones around then. I still have those pans now, thirty years later and they are almost pristine.
I might buy some of the smaller casserole type dishes now it's just me and dh, for teeny tiny pensioner portions. :o :o

I have several le creuset casserole dishes in varying sizes and use them all the time and they come with a lifetime guarantee. I have their stainless steel saucepans not their cast iron ones as I agree they would be too heavy.
I would definitely recommend the casseroles.

The casserole dishes are lovely. The pans tend to develop holes in the enamel after 7-8 years and you can’t get them repaired. So they don’t exactly last a lifetime. The frying pans stick to everything because they’re cast iron and not non-stick.

My mum bought me a LC casserole when I first moved out. Still going strong. I have had to replace the top knob when I dropped the lid and chipped it but otherwise still looks and cooks like new

DD1 has just moved out and I carried on the tradition and bought her one. She was thrilled and uses it constantly

I have two red Le Cruset casseroles, large enough for two and large enough for eight. Both bought more than 25 years ago, both get used regularly and both still look like new. They've survived 5 house moves, assorted kitchen rebuilds and all the different types of hob.