Are cast iron Le Creuset casserole dishes worth the money?

timefortea

I've never used a cast iron pan before, I have a rubbish selection of cheap pans at the moment and would like to upgrade. I make chili often (I'm a vegetarian).

Do you think the Le Creuset pans are worth the money? They're quite expensive and I'd have to save, but I'm considering buying one. Or do you think the cheaper alternatives are as good?

mildred1978

I have a few pans and a lot of their bakeware. I LOVE them.

maggi1

I was bought some and got rid of them, the frying pan (in my opinion) was totally useless. I also found draining water from the larger pan quite difficult as it was so heavy. I personally thought they were a complete waste of money and would have been upset if I had laid out the money.

Stephen_Leak

No.

They look fabulous. But, for a start, they weigh a ton empty, leave alone full of hot stuff. They aren't indestructible - they can crack if moved from hot to cold too quickly. They don't like being heated with little in them. The wooden handles can char with heat and don't like being soaked in water.

I've got stainless steel, with a nice heavy bottom to distribute the heat, so you don't have to stir things so much. They are the best VFM. You only really need two, 1 litre and 2 litre - capacity is more important than diameter. A lid is essential to keep the heat and steam in, and a glass one is nice so you can keep an eye on what's happening inside.

lizzyb1812

I know lots of people love them but I think they are over-priced and for hob cooking would go for good quality stainless steel with sandwich bottoms. One of my favourites is from Ikea and I've had it for well over 10 years and still fine. I do have a cast iron casserole which I start things off in on the hob then put in the oven but it's incredibly heavy when full and I don't use it much.

puddy

i used to have a griddle pan of theirs. i had to dump it. it was so heavy, god knows how heavy a casserole dish full of food would be.

wondercollie

OK, I have a mix of Lagostina stainless steel and LC pots, casseroles.

If draining water is involved of course I use the stainless steel. If I'm making stews or anything that involves long slow simmering type cooking (a couple of hours) I use the LC. It holds the heat well and I often turn the cooker off about 40 minutes before it's done and the heat in the pan holds it at the right temperature. I've never had any of the wooden handled ones, never even seen them in shops (I'm sure that sentence was gramatically incorrect).

Both lines of pots will last forever if cared for properly. My kids are requesting mine when I die!

I wouldn't invest in an entire set. Look at the ones in the shops and decide which one you want.

The only one I sort of regret buying is the square steak grilling pan. I can never really get it clean enough.

mandragora_2

I love cooking with cast iron, and hapily use it for hob top, frying and casserole type things, and have some Le Creuset in my cupboards BUT I think that while it's good value, it can be overpriced, and there are other alternatives around, if cast iron is what you want. At the moment I have:

• an ancient, really heavy-duty frying pan - fantsatic for steak and fish - found it at the tip, OH sanded it back to base layer at work, we re-proofed it, and it's brilliant - one of my best pans. Cost less than 50p
• A smaller Danish-made casserole dish - good for smaller casseroles, car boot, cost 50p:)
• A le Creuset large casserole - bought in a sale, with reduction, special deal, get into town early and snap it up job - cost £30, reduced from over £50

Over the years I've also found other Le C pans at car boots, jumble sales and the tip - I've picked them up for friends and family, though if the sellers want mad prices, I walk away - and never pay more than a fiver for anything.

If you find a pan marked 'Cousances', and it's something that you like and will use, buy it if the price is right - it's made by the same factory that makes Le Creuset. Finally, I think Aldi sometimes have good-looking cast iron pans in stock - certainly I was impressed by the quality of some they had in just before Christmas, for around the £20 mark - so that might be another one to look out for.

I don't have any cast iron saucepans (though I have bought them in the past, and passed them on to others who like them), as my basic piece is a really heavy-base stainless steel steamer, which I find really does a great job of cooking veg, isn't heavy to use, and goes into the dishwasher a treat!

Oscar_the_Pug

I have 2 casseroles which we use almost daily and they are fab (but heavy). We also have the non stick frying pan - good for dry frying but harder to handle so not used often.

Aldi occasionally have a version which looks pretty good - I'm keeping an eye out for them next time as I'd like a shallow casserole.

timefortea

Iiiiiiinteresting, thanks for your opinions all. I think I'll just look out for a casserole at boot sales, then if it doesn't work out for me I haven't wasted too much money.

puddy

my mum swears by circulon, but its very expensive.