I want a le creuset style hob to oven big stew pot.

moggylover

Not sure how much the weight worries you Mrs E! Personally, I loved mine - but I got to the stage where I could not lift it in and out of the oven when full without risking life and limb and in the end I sold it, along with all the others I had, and replaced it with stainless steel.

If you are fit and healthy, and want to make sure you never get "bingo wings" then they are wonderful:D - but lifting them around is very much like a weight-training session:o

ETA: and do not just mind your toes! I once dropped my very large casserole whilst trying to dry it up - the two floor tiles it directly hit did not stand a chance:eek: - and two others were chipped by the bounce;) .

Definitely try the empty weight before buying, and I suggest having something like bags of sugar with you and standing those in the dish and then trying to lift as well! They are not for the faint hearted!

mummysaver

I love my le creuset pans and casseroles and stock pots. They are used constantly, and I've had the pans for 20 years and they're still going strong. I use my huge casseroles on the hob and they are heavy to lift when full, just need to make sure I've moved the oven shelves around in advance to fit them in if I'm transferring them.

They are certainly worth the money, but if you are concerned about the weight you might want to practice lifting a few in the shop, they are heavy when empty!

Also might be worth looking out for a le creuset seconds shop, as they are usually about a third cheaper in there, we have one near us in Clarks Village in Street, Somerset, but other shopping outlet centres probably have them too.

Naseby

I love my Le Creuset tri-ply saucepans and my cast iron casseroles. I have got the 20cm and the 28cm ones. The 28cm one is really useful for large roasts and for soupmaking but it is VERY heavy when full. http://www.hartsofstur.com is a useful address because they usually have them a little bit cheaper. I have also noticed that John Lewis as well as selling Le Creuset also sell their own cast iron cookware and it is a bit cheaper than Le Creuset. Don't know what it is like though in comparison to the real thing but their own label is usually good.

Careful_with_that_Axe

I add my vote for Le Creuset. They really are fabulous. When I hsad them I (stupidly) burned the !!!!! out of them several times, but once washed, they always came up like new.
They are an investment purchase, but will last a lifetime.

HelzBelz

Ikea do something very similar to Le Creuset, but cheaper.

I've go one of their large stew pots which seems fine, but I've only had it a year so I can't comment on durability, but unlike a lot of the "like" Le Creuset cookware the Ikea pots and pans are a good heavy cast iron

Nelski

Mrs E if you live anywhere near a McCarthur Glen discount shopping centre you will find a Le Creuset discount shop - they are gorgeous and will last forever - and if a burglar happens to get into your kitchen you can fling it at him and its a guaranteed killer:D :whistle:

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/map.html

Bargain_Rzl

Is Le Creuset ok to put in the dishwasher?

Buffy_the_Vampire_Bat

Self-confessed Le Creuset fanatic here...

4x cast iron cocottes (the big round casserole pot that I think you're referring to) - 1 is originally my Mum's and is 30+ years old - My Dad bought her a new one last year and she was going to throw the old one out :eek: There is nothing wrong with it so I rescued it...1 was my grandma's and is something like 21 years old now, the biggest one Mr BTVB and I bought when we got married 6 years ago, and no.4 I bought last year in Downtown at Grantham for £30 less than the Amazon price at the time!

1x griddled cast iron frying pan - does beautiful tuna steaks in no time (with lovely griddle marks on the tuna...how sad am I? :rotfl:)

1x cast iron roasting dish - I use this for all sorts of things from a joint to lasagne.

6x small bean pots (stoneware) - we usually use these for soup, but they can be used for all sorts of things like individual casseroles

2x heart shaped ramekins (:grinheart) An anniversary present one year.

All of the above goes in the dishwasher APART from...the frying pan and the cocotte lids (the lids don't go in in order to protect the handle/knob on top - Mum used to put her lid in the dishwasher and it discoloured...Grandma's cocotte lid has never been in the dishwasher and still looks like new)

On the subject of where to buy - I bought my b-i-l some small bean pots in Satin Black last week from a company called Harts of Stur in Dorset - Some of the Le Creuset stuff was on special offer, and my order was dispatched really quickly and VERY VERY well packed. mummysaver has already mentioned the Le Creuset outlet in Clarks Village, I think there is one now in the Galleria at Hatfield, plus I know Downtown at Boundary Mill just off the A1 at Grantham stocks Le Creuset at good prices.

Happy shopping!

mummysaver

Mine goes in the dishwasher, takes up a fair bit of space though, and you need fairly strong baskets! I don't put my saucepans in though, as they are quite old and have wooden handles, unlike the newer ones which don't have the wood!

denise_h_2

One of our local retail outlets, Royal Quays, has a Le Creuset store, and have a special offer on on some of the pale blue pans

http://www.royalquaysoutletcentre.co.uk/NewsEvents/SpecialOffers/LeCreuset/Specialoffers/tabid/411/Default.aspx

I don't know if you can contact them and order over the phone, or if these offers are available elsewhere