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Original poster

Cast iron casserole dishes - le creuset likealikes

49 replies

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 26/03/2023 11:29

I bought a used le creuset casserole off eBay and it's great but I'm thinking if treating myself to a new one heavy casserole

Doesn't need to be a fancy brand, just some that will last a decade or two.

Any recommendations?

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 26/03/2023 11:32

Sainsbury's. They're often in the sale. I think mine was something ridiculous like fifteen quid in a half price sale.

CC4712 · 26/03/2023 11:33

I have bought them from both lidl and aldi before. I've only had them a year, but so far so good. My only issue is that the largest one is really heavy when full and awkward to get in and out of the oven.

cathyandclare · 26/03/2023 11:33

Tk maxx often has some good

ditalini · 26/03/2023 11:33

I've got a John Lewis one, and a Sainsbury's one. Both as good as my Le Creuset for what I use them for.

To be fair, my 2 le Creuset casseroles are 30+ years old and the other two are newer, but they've done 5 years so far and still look good.

JustJamie5 · 26/03/2023 11:36

Got ours from TKMaxx, it is in that faded burnt orange colour the Le creuset do too. Only difficulty with TKMaxx & homesense is that it’s such a mix of stuff! Cannot guarantee that you’ll get what you want!

Yesthatismychildsigh · 26/03/2023 11:36

My le Creuset is over 30 years old and some bits have already gone to the kids, who expect to get another 30 years from it. I also have some Denby, which is great, but I don’t think it’s quite as good. Apparently the Lidl ones are fantastic.

ditalini · 26/03/2023 11:38

John Lewis:
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-cast-iron-shallow-casserole-31cm/p4055687

Sainsbury's one was about half the price and very similar in weight/sturdiness but the interior enamel may not be as thick.

amaretti1999 · 26/03/2023 11:39

My son uses a Procook one we bought him about 4 years ago. It's still going strong.

Floralnomad · 26/03/2023 11:43

I had a Sainsbury one , I gave it away as it was just too heavy to use .

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 26/03/2023 11:44

I have a mixture of Le Creuset and other brands. I have to say that I think Le Creuset are ultimately better value for money, because they last forever.

Marynotsocontrary · 26/03/2023 11:47

Does anyone know if the interior enamel can be replaced? I have a Le Creuset one and an Aldi dupe, but the enamel on the base is wearing badly in both. It did wear off more quickly in the Aldi one.

QuillBill · 26/03/2023 11:51

Floralnomad · 26/03/2023 11:43

I had a Sainsbury one , I gave it away as it was just too heavy to use .

Anything cast iron is going to be heavy.

I've got the sainsburys sauté pan and I love it. I use it all the time. I've also got le crueset and it's just as good so far. I've had it about five years and the le crueset probably twenty years but I've probably used them about the same number of times.

toastofthetown · 26/03/2023 12:04

I have an enamelled cast iron casserole dish which I bought from Waitrose for about £20 ten years ago. It’s still absolutely fine, and I can’t see it failing any time soon. I considered a Le Creuset one, but figured I’d need a new dish every ten years for the next hundred years before it balanced out in favour of the Le Creuset.

WeAreTheHeroes · 26/03/2023 12:08

I've never known the enamel wear off on any enamelled cast iron wear. Is it not just discoloured from use?

The supermarket stuff is fine and much better value imho. Beware buying from Homesense/TK Maxx as most of the Le Creuset stuff they sell is ceramic rather than cast iron.

lovemelongtime · 26/03/2023 12:24

Lidl one has lasted us years

Marynotsocontrary · 26/03/2023 13:34

I've never known the enamel wear off on any enamelled cast iron wear. Is it not just discoloured from use?

No, not discoloured from use. Well a bit, but that's not the problem I'm talking about which is that the enamel seems thinner after use. You can see black (the cast iron?) through a very thin layer of enamel now.

Timeforabiscuit · 26/03/2023 13:41

My enamel wore off after 20 years with le creuset, I was indignant as I thought they had a lifetime guarantee - but alas no!

I keep an eye open for the sainsbury ones.

Gargantuaetpantagruel · 26/03/2023 13:43

Another vote for the Sainsburys ones. I got mine in the sale and have been very impressed with the quality.

MedievalNun · 26/03/2023 13:44

I have 2 lookalikes - one from The Range and the other Aldi. The one from TR has a bit of staining in the enamel but it's now 4 years old and gets a lot of use. The Aldi one is the same age (smaller size) - not a blemish in the enamel. I keep watching the local Aldi as I'm going to get another the next time they come in.

mynameiscalypso · 26/03/2023 13:45

Sainsbury's one here too. It's great.

MoongazyHare · 26/03/2023 13:47

Another vote for Sainsburys in the sale. There’s no difference in the performance against my Le Creuset, and it’s lasting just as well, for less than half the price.

Lorrymum · 26/03/2023 13:48

I have always loved the look of them but they are far too heavy for me to lift.

Letsnotargue · 26/03/2023 14:02

I have one from Ikea at least 10 years ago and it’s looking as good as new. It was around £20 I think. It’s not enamelled on the inside but once we seasoned it we’ve had no issue with sticking. I love it.

magicstar1 · 26/03/2023 14:09

I have the Aldi casserole dish. My brother paid over 300 for his Le Creuset dish and I honestly can’t see a difference. I’ve used mine a lot and it’s still like new.

loudbatperson · 26/03/2023 14:10

Another vote for the Sainsbury's ones. They are fantastic.