Are cast iron Le Creuset casserole dishes worth the money?

sjprmc01

Chucking them in the dishwasher isn't an option for me anyway as I don't own one!

I was either that or a tumble dryer and as much as I hate using that, it is necessary sometimes!

Tbh I'm not sure I'd be able to lift the cast iron. And I'm not particularly weak!

floss2

We have 2 large & 2 small volcanic casseroles (car boot bargain £8 for the four) which I absolutely love. I really yearn for one of the saute-type pans but having seen the price I will have to wait!

We also have a full set of JL stainless pans - from tiny milk pan to large stockpot and most points in between, which are used daily.

Amaretti_2

I bought my cast iron deep and shallow casserole pots and griddle pan from Sainsbury's. Le Creuset are lovely but expensive, Sainsbury's are just as good.

I bought the lime green set.

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/home_and_garden/cookware/cookscollectioncastiron/list.html?sort=default&showAll=true&totalResults=26

Robert Dyas do cast iron too, if you like black.

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/C~200452~Cast-Iron-Pans

quintwins

no i would never pay le creuset money, i have a briliant judge sauscepan set i got as a wedding gift 6 years ago and i lov ethem they have really heavy bottoms and are in and out of the dishwasher, i do eye up cast iron stuff and think i'd love it but i bought this

http://www.tesco.com/direct/chasseur-26cm-round-cast-iron-casserole-bora-bora/215-9901.prd?skuId=215-9901&pageLevel=

for £20 in a glitch a few months back and it weights a ton , i do like it but i don't need it and still mainly use my other pans and my slowcooker, so it's put me off the notion.

janb5

lostinrates wrote: »

I like mine for casseroles, but never stews, and i have some little ones for eggs en coquotte, and they are very useful here, we have lots of eggs and i use them without lids for baked fruits in individual portions and all manner of other things. BUT, the bigger thiongs i can hardly lift most days and so have been given to friends.

I`ve always wanted to know- is there any difference between a stew and a casserole?

[Deleted User]

I have a couple of large le creuset casseroles which I find invaluable for anything needing a long, slow cook. I also had a set of saucepans many years ago that I just couldn't get on with. I found them way too shallow and even the largest one would spit water from the pouring spout whenever I used it. I use the casseroles to cook outside on our outdoor woodburner too, and they do just as good a job as in the oven.

wondercollie

When it comes down to the push, I don't mind paying the price. It's made in France, not China. Everyone complains about the downturned economy but does little to support industries in their area.

After the melamine scandal, poisoned milk and dog food, I'm not going there with Chinese made pots. My Lagostina is the old stuff made in Italy, not even it is made in China.

PipneyJane

wondercollie wrote: »

When it comes down to the push, I don't mind paying the price. It's made in France, not China. Everyone complains about the downturned economy but does little to support industries in their area.

After the melamine scandal, poisoned milk and dog food, I'm not going there with Chinese made pots. My Lagostina is the old stuff made in Italy, not even it is made in China.

Agreed. If we want our jobs to survive, it's better to pay a bit more for quality products made relatively locally than to buy tat from China/insert-current-cheapest-manufacturing-country-here. From my observation, that's a very French attitude, too. And most of the French people I have met are very OS (I've worked with a few).

Turning back to the topic at hand, I've owned Le Creuset pots since 1991. On a cost per use basis, I reckon "the big orange pot" comes out as one or two pence. I can date when I purchased it by where I was working and how I paid for it - that one was purchased using Christmas-bonus-gift-vouchers some time between 1992 and 1995 and cost approximately £70. It's used at least weekly.

alex21

I got one for a wedding present and it is still being used regularly. It has lasted way longer than the marriage and is wearing a lot better than either me or the ex!!!;)

00264167

i would NOT recommend aldi cast iron cookware. i had the cast iron frying pan with enamel exterior and within a year, what looked like an interior lining about the width of your fingernail started flaking off all around the rim and in large patches where some food had stuck to the bottom. the bare patches developed rust when wet.

this was not the normal patina that builds up from cooking but a specific coating that they never mentioned the pan was lined with.
its very difficult to see when new as its black, matt and so thin.

the coating must be to prevent rust for the many who do not know to dry cast iron and it prevented metallic taste being imparted to acidic foods (tomato sauces etc).
the pan also bowed quite a bit in the center.