Le Creuset - yes or no?

[nkf]

I need some new saucepans. Children have burned out too many making popcorn. Shall I buy Le Creuset?
Positives
a)they don't burn like that
b) they are strong
c) they last for ever

Negatives
a) they are heavy
b) they are expensive

I have one already - a casserole pot - but are teh smaller saucepans a good idea?

Buy them, they are great

Don't think they are worth the money for small saucepans. Anything that's going to go from the top of the cooker to the oven - like a casserole dish, yes, but I think they are too heavy and unwieldy for saucepans.

The are beautiful though - I feel like a proper bunting-cupcake mum when I make a casserole in my one Le Creuset pot!

Which colour do you have, Seeker? I know what you mean. They feel very real and traditional.

The orangy-red colour. I've had it for 20 years and I use it about 3 times a week - which I suppose answers your question about whether they are worth the money!

I have Fissler stainless steel saucepans that we've ne buying in sales over the years - they are wonderful. We have a range, so we need very eavy based pans, and the Fissler ones manage to have heavy bases but are still manageable. They have very long handles, which makes them much easier to handle.

Le Creuset only for casseroles in mine house. Get the 26" so you can make a large batch and freeze. This 26" is on my christmas list this year. I still have the small caserole dish from bachelor days (15 years) The rest of my pots are from John Lewis fab (wedding present) Le Creuset, I find burns food on top of hob, only suitable for oven really. Oh! not dishwasher friendly or child put away friendly.

I love my Le Crueset casserole dish, it is truly fabulous, but decided against the pans because of the weight.

I havo got the Le Crueset stainless steel pans. They are v good and worth the money.

I love Le Crueset, i havn't got any but have used them at work, i want some for christmas, Amazon were selling them half price (not sure if they still are), defently worth the money.

Yes they are superb, if a bit heavy. John Lewis were doing them at 25% off earlier this week, part of their sale of branded goods. Which all the dept stores seem to be doing at the moment.

good god yes. bought them 3 weeks ago (green 3 pan set) and they are the fabist thing we have bought in years.

Dh burns everything and yet it comes clean very easily after warm soapy water wipe with a cloth. I use them everyday and the small one 3 times a day for milk.

They are heavy but I seem fine with them.

• the lady in the shop said you can put the whole saucpan in the oven so you don;t have to buy the casserole dishes as well. (not tried it though)

I've got the pans and 3 casseroles. The casseroles cannot be beaten for sheer durability and flexibility but I do regret the pans. yes the body of the pans are in good shape - but the wooden handles are all split and most of the lids chipped or cracked. I have had them for over 10 years and i don't know if another pan set would have lasted that long, but frankly I wouldn't recommend them for everyday use. They are two heavy for draining pasta from or pouring sauces.

I bought my mum a set of John Lewis stainless steel pans with heavy copper bottoms a couple of years ago and I wish I had them instead.

the new ones don;t have wooden handles. They are 'Phenolic' heat resitant.

here

I still wouldn't buy the pans again - but I will certainly add to my casserole collection anytime

We have Le Creuset and use them every day and they are fab, i'd recommend them.

some are half price on amazon at the mo..

Well I have a set of Argos stainless steel pans that I bought for about £30 in 1996 so I am looking to replace them. I am never sure what is good in a pan. One of the troubles I have with them is that anything milky - milk, white sauce, custard, even mash always burns on and is a pain to get off. But then non-stick probably wouldn't last as long and people do criticise it.

do you all have matching colours? Amazon have some great deals but not in the colour I have. I think I'm a bit anal about having the same colour.

I use my small le cruset for amilk 3 x's a day and have made gravy in it. Dh has stuck sauces (he doesn't sir enough imo but won't be told!) but all have washed off. I also like the enamelling (sp?) on the back of the pan as this means it always seems to wash totally clean unlike other saucepans I've had.

i like the black hate the orange!

Now I don't know what to do. Maybe the way to go is Le Creuset for casseroles and oven to table type pans. But something lighter for veg etc.

I have the classic orange ones and use them every day. The best pan they ever did was the Marmitout which had an omelette pan as a lid and the whole thing can go in the oven. For some reason they stopped doing them a while back but if anyone ever sees one for sale or if they bring them back, they're unbelievably useful - decent-sized pan, small frying pan and casserole dish all in one.

All my pans are Le Creuset apart from a big frying pan (can't afford a Le C yet) and a small light non-stick one for doing things like frozen peas quickly. I think they're well worth the money and you soon get used to the weight.

Found the Marmitout on a US website. I think it's well worth it, if you can afford it (they were significantly cheaper than that when I bought mine).

That does look useful.
Do you use the heavy Le Creuset for things like pasta. It's the weight that puts me off. I'm totally convinced by the enammelling and the not stick etc.

I have the casserole dishes but no pans. I have a cheapo set of 3 M&S SS pans that I've had for 10 yrs that look as good as new.

I find them far too heavy and expensive