Cast iron cookware makes food taste better.

valk_scot

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

My Le Creuset exploded on the hotplate of the AGA :eek: Literally all the enamel popped off!

You didn't take it out of somewhere very cold and put it straight onto the hotplate, by any chance?

Penelope_Penguin

hex2 wrote: »

IBTW Saw the thread title and knew it was you Triker.

Me too

Triker wrote: »

Am I really that transparent?:rotfl:

Yep

I, too, love Le Creuset :blushing: Most of mine is cerise, but I have a couple of items in volcanic and green

I think the reson food tastes better is that you can cook long and slow, without using a SC :cool: and enough of the liquid evaporates (unlike a SC) to give a rich sauce.

Have you tries Woll Pans? My in-laws bought us one and it's fabulous - the handle comes off for you to put it into the oven, so is much easier to manouevre.

Penny. x

greenbee

valk_scot wrote: »

You didn't take it out of somewhere very cold and put it straight onto the hotplate, by any chance?

I was always taught as a child to put things onto the simmering plate first to warm up, and then move onto the boiling plate. Mind you, the kettle was always sitting on the corner of the aga so it was warm anyway...

Valli

I saw this thread and thought of you, too.

Much as I like the look of Le Creuset et al I am thrilled with my pans some of which are *cofs* 25 years old. And they do NOT look it...they are Prestige Stainless Steel copper bottomed. They were not cheap but they have stood the test of time. I got some 'new' ones when their owner went to the great kitchen in the sky...

Mind you if I wanted to use a cast iron pan to cook peas I would boil the water in the kettle.

simples *cheeps like meerkat*

greenbee

Valli wrote: »

Mind you if I wanted to use a cast iron pan to cook peas I would boil the water in the kettle.

simples *cheeps like meerkat*

Yes... but you then put the boiling water into the COLD cast iron pan, and have to bring both the pan and water back up to temperature. So it's not an efficient way of doing it... They're great for things that you need to warm up slowly and hold heat, but NOT for things that need to be done quickly! (Bear in mind that my collection of Le Creuset is nearly as extensive as Trikers ... I even have three bits here in the holiday cottage, which I'm contemplating taking home...!), so I'm fairly commited to it, but have come to the conclusion that I need a combination of different types of things for the different types of cooking I'm doing!

thriftlady_2

Triker wrote: »

Oooh what colour have you got?

I have an oval cocotte in volcanic which I've had for nearly20 years and a really big round pot in volcanic. I also have a ridged grill pan in volcanic.

In blue I have a medium sized pot which I use a lot. I've also got two stoneware gratin dishes in blue.

I really fancy one of these too.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I love Le Creuset too,I've been collecting it for years and have a lot of both cast iron and stoneware.
I collect the cream,granite and pale blue.
I just love the look of it and it stays looking good.
Trouble is I have to stop myself now as I think I have almost too much.

fedupandskint

Another fan here of the cast iron! I love the Le Creuset casseroles, too big style!

I have a small Almond one, larger Volcanic one, larger blue oval one then a larger pale blue and biggest size of all pale blue one! Plus 2 shallow casserole in volcanic and massive granite one. Plus a blue pan with wooden handle.

Love love love them! Use them for almost everything - stews on the hob or in the oven. Frying in the shallow ones, heating soup or leftovers in the smaller ones.

Bought some tefal n/stick 3 pans which I don't really use that often now my Le Creuset collection is massive - they are less than 2 years old and the n/stick is wearing off! I always take good care of the pans too. I am looking for pan replacements in a few years time - s/s le creuset ones maybe? Don't think the cast iron ones will be that great for boiling potatoes

The casserole dishes are magnificant and I expect them to last for years and years and won't need replacing. I just need to stop buying them now as I have no more room left for anymore! I sold a JO large pan on ebay, plus a tefal stock pot as I no longer used them and they were in great condition, better off going to a new home to be used!

Just need to stop being tempted by the kettles now!

fedupandskint

thriftlady wrote: »

I really fancy one of these too.

They are great! I have one in granite which was on offer last year at £30-40 less than now - bargain.

I have to stop looking on there now to not be tempted!

rocketchimp9

Has anyone tried TK Maxx for Le Creuset, Im in Leicester and I bought my sister some soup bowls. They had lots of other things there aswell like casserole dishes think it was just the orange and cream colour though.