Pete Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Do any other companies make enameled cast iron cookware similar to Le Creuset? I don't want to spend $150-$175 for a 6 quart french oven.
mdt Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Do any other companies make enameled cast iron cookware similar to Le Creuset? I don't want to spend $150-$175 for a 6 quart french oven. I am not familiar with other brands but you can sometimes find Le Creuset at a good price at TJMaxx or their home store.
bilrus Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 I am not familiar with other brands but you can sometimes find Le Creuset at a good price at TJMaxx or their home store. There is also a Le Creuset store at the Leesburg Premium Outlets. Their closeout section generally has some pretty good deals.
Al Dente Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 This calls for some rationalizations. Buy the Le Creuset. Hell, buy the biggest one you can find. Then tell yourself about all the cheap cuts of meat you'll be braising in delicious meals for yourself. Goodbye Porterhouse, hello pot roast! It'll pay for itself, right? No? Okay, consider how well it holds heat-- your electricity or gas bills will plummet. Oh yeah, you can also get rid of that gym membership because you can use it as weights! Thinking of buying an expensive home security system? Forget it, you can devise a booby trap with this pot over your front door to disable any home invaders. Do your children need football or batting helmets? Not anymore! As a bonus, if they use it as a helmet, it will give them strong neck and shoulder muscles necessary for intensly studying textbooks, getting superlative grades, and racking up the scholarship dough! All in all, a brand spankin new Le Creuset will save you thousands of dollars over the coming years. 2
monavano Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 (edited) Lodge enameled cast iron comes from a family on long proven cookware, for far less than Le Creuset (which hasn't impressed me as being hearty and long lasting) https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/prod...408&menu=enamel Staub also makes beautiful ovens. Not cheap though. http://www.staubusa.com/index.asp Edited July 12, 2005 by monavano 1
hillvalley Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Amazon often has really good deals that they don't advertise. Check out the Today's Deals and the Outlet section. Sur le Table, oddly enough, also has 1/2 price deals from time to time.
WayTooMuchFood Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Amazon definitely has good deals on Le Creuset but you have to look a lot. Check out their Friday sales. They usually have Le Creuset and All-clad in there. And the outlet in Leesburg does have a lot of sales. I definitely agree that Le Creuset is worth the money. I have one of the 5 Qt oval dutch ovens. You really don't need to buy any more then that. It can be used for everything!
hillvalley Posted July 14, 2005 Posted July 14, 2005 This is what I would buy if I had $349.99 lying around. French oven, omelet pan, roaster, skillet.....sigh
bilrus Posted July 15, 2005 Posted July 15, 2005 This is what I would buy if I had $349.99 lying around. French oven, omelet pan, roaster, skillet.....sigh We were given one of these sets - actually I think it had more stuff than this - by my aunt when we were married. But we had already gotten a set of Anolon so we returned the Le Creuset and bought crap like a bread maker and other miscellany. Wish I had that one back.
zoramargolis Posted July 16, 2005 Posted July 16, 2005 I was out at the Le Creuset store at the Leesburg Outlet Mall on Wednesday, and got a great deal on a dark blue enamel cast iron covered casserole--round, 12 inches in diameter and about 4" deep. I think it will be very, very useful. It was on sale for an extra 35% off. The regular retail price was $200 and I paid $85 for it--not a second, either. They have a "color of the month" on special discount, usually an extra 15 or 20% off. For some reason, during July, all the indigo blue cast iron is 35% off. I have an 8 quart Le Creuset pot that I got as a gift 30 years ago, and still use often--though more in the Fall/Winter for soups and braises. It is a very worthwhile investment, and you will live with it for many years, so get a color you like. Blue just happens to be my favorite.
laniloa Posted July 16, 2005 Posted July 16, 2005 I was out at the Le Creuset store at the Leesburg Outlet Mall on Wednesday, and got a great deal on a dark blue enamel cast iron covered casserole--round, 12 inches in diameter and about 4" deep. I think it will be very, very useful. It was on sale for an extra 35% off. The regular retail price was $200 and I paid $85 for it--not a second, either. They have a "color of the month" on special discount, usually an extra 15 or 20% off. For some reason, during July, all the indigo blue cast iron is 35% off. I have an 8 quart Le Creuset pot that I got as a gift 30 years ago, and still use often--though more in the Fall/Winter for soups and braises. It is a very worthwhile investment, and you will live with it for many years, so get a color you like. Blue just happens to be my favorite. I picked up my first Le Creuset that way and then started kicking myself for not buying more while it was on such deep discount. Then, magically, they sent me coupons for more.
V.H. Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I picked up my first Le Creuset that way and then started kicking myself for not buying more while it was on such deep discount. Then, magically, they sent me coupons for more. Last Christmas they were handing out coupons in the store for 35% off your whole purchase. I got a 7 1/2 qt bouillabaisse pot for about $100. Also kicking myself for not getting a couple of other pieces.
Pete Posted July 25, 2005 Author Posted July 25, 2005 Thanks for all of the great ideas. I went yesterday to the Le Crueset store at the Leesburg Outlets and picked up the 9 quart round french oven for about $160 (currently $250 on Amazon.com). FYI, if you have a AAA card, you can get an extra 15% off every purchase over $75 in the Le Crueset store (its pretty hard to spend less than $75 there ).
V.H. Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/...fm?PRRFNBR=9277 Tuesday Morning in Bailey's Crossroads currently has some of these in a deep red color for $120.
monavano Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/...fm?PRRFNBR=9277 Tuesday Morning in Bailey's Crossroads currently has some of these in a deep red color for $120. I saw them at the Tues Morn in the Rosehill shopping center in Alexandria. They're a good size too. I've used my 7 qut. Lodge enameled cast iron a handful of times now and love it.
bbq4me Posted August 5, 2005 Posted August 5, 2005 There is another brand I've seen them at Marshall's in Tysons, for about $40 if I recall correctly. Although Le Crueset is the gold standard, I can't justify the price differential. Frankly, I'd go with unenameled cast iron Lodge for a fraction of the price. I'd like to know what tastes better cooked in a Le Crueset that can't be cooked in a Lodge.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted August 5, 2005 Posted August 5, 2005 There is another brand I've seen them at Marshall's in Tysons, for about $40 if I recall correctly. Although Le Crueset is the gold standard, I can't justify the price differential. Frankly, I'd go with unenameled cast iron Lodge for a fraction of the price. I'd like to know what tastes better cooked in a Le Crueset that can't be cooked in a Lodge. I think the purpose of the enameling is to permit cooking of acidic based ingredients, such as tomatos. As I understand it, the acid in certain ingredients will interact with the metal in unenameled pots and affect the flavor.
jcc Posted August 6, 2005 Posted August 6, 2005 I think the purpose of the enameling is to permit cooking of acidic based ingredients, such as tomatos. As I understand it, the acid in certain ingredients will interact with the metal in unenameled pots and affect the flavor. ... and color, however keeping the iron seasoned with oil helps reduce its reactive properties - but not eliminate them entirely. It's a toss up at 20% of the price.
cjsadler Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 Anyone know if those new Mario Batali dutch ovens are any good? Only $99 for the 6 quart. At Crate & Barrel and Sur La Table. It's made by Copco.
Free Wilma Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 I noticed the other day that Target is carrying a line of enamled cast iron dutch ovens. They seemed pretty nice and MUCH more cost efficient (but I can't remember the exact price point). I'd have bought one by they were out of the size I wanted in Red.
mdt Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 Anyone know if those new Mario Batali dutch ovens are any good? Only $99 for the 6 quart. At Crate & Barrel and Sur La Table. It's made by Copco. I would think that current technology allows for the manufacture of decent quality cast iron pots. If they feel as 'heavy' as the le cruset I would say buy one.
bilrus Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 I saw the Target ones this weekend and they looked pretty good but didn't have nearly the heft of a Le Crueset piece.
cjsadler Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 I would think that current technology allows for the manufacture of decent quality cast iron pots. If they feel as 'heavy' as the le cruset I would say buy one. They did have pretty good heft, so I'll probably get one. I just tend to be wary of the 'chef line' stuff.
mdt Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 They did have pretty good heft, so I'll probably get one. I just tend to be wary of the 'chef line' stuff. I agree. I have heard good things about the Sur La Table stainless stuff. Take that for what it is worth.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 Wow. It looks like the weakness of the $ has really caused inflation in the price of Le Creuset. I got a 8 3/4 quarter Dutch oven about 3 years ago and I think I only paid about $125 for it. Now it looks like they are about 2X that. While Le Creuset is nice stuff, it is not that nice. It's smart to look at the alternatives of which there seems to be a plethora of right now.
Barbara Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 Also, the "heft" issue is a rather serious one for older folks. That's why I was able to buy a Le Creuset dutch oven in immaculate condition for $10 at a yard sale. When filled with food, it is difficult to lift out of a hot oven, especially for those without a lot of upper-body strength.
zoramargolis Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 I would think that current technology allows for the manufacture of decent quality cast iron pots. If they feel as 'heavy' as the le cruset I would say buy one. Many years ago, I got a "flame-colored" Descoware dutch oven, which was a then-popular, less expensive enameled cast iron alternative to Le Creuset. Within five years, the enamel inside had started to chip. I have had a Le Creuset pot that I have used regularly since 1975, without a chip in it. That's right: thirty years! The Descoware, which is still made, was plenty heavy, too.
JPW Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 (edited) Many years ago, I got a "flame-colored" Descoware dutch oven...... Within five years, the enamel inside had started to chip. This would be what I would most worry about with the lower end ones. Cast iron is cheap and it wouldn't cost these companies much to have the same amount of that as Le Creuset. (Go to your hardware store and marvel at the cheapness of that hunk of Lodge) Good enamel and its good application is what you really pay for with the LC. I haven't had any of mine as long as Zora has had hers, but I've put them through a fair amount of abuse with no chips yet (knock on wood). Edited October 31, 2005 by JPW
Jacques Gastreaux Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 Many years ago, I got a "flame-colored" Descoware dutch oven, which was a then-popular, less expensive enameled cast iron alternative to Le Creuset. Within five years, the enamel inside had started to chip. I have had a Le Creuset pot that I have used regularly since 1975, without a chip in it. That's right: thirty years! The Descoware, which is still made, was plenty heavy, too. While I have no experience with other brands of enamled cast iron, I can attest that I have a 5-quart Le Creuset that I have had for over 20 years that shows amost no sign of wear. Perhaps a little dulling of the enamel on the interior and some baked on crud on the outside that I refuse to use harsh cleaners to try to remove, other than that, cosmetically, it looks in very good shape. Perhaps they are worth the extra money. I expect that my children will inherit them.
crackers Posted October 31, 2005 Posted October 31, 2005 I expect that my children will inherit them. I inherited several pieces of le Creuset - '60's era orange flame type. Just last week the knob on the dutch oven went ka-POW! in the oven, scaring the bejeezus out of the cat which was napping closeby. One brief call to the toll-free number and a replacement is on its way, no charge, no questions asked. No, not a new cat, thank you very much. He is just fine.
oliveDC Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 I've decided to treat myself to a New Year's gift of a big ass round cast iron oven. My question is how big is big enough? I initially thought 7 or 8 qts but now I'm thinking bigger. I'd like to be able to make a hefty pot of soup and fit in some large cuts of meat. Guess I'd also like to be able to lift it though, too. Would 9 or 13 qts be absurd? (I'm prepared for the sticker shock...) Thanks for any advice...
mdt Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 I've decided to treat myself to a New Year's gift of a big ass round cast iron oven. My question is how big is big enough? I initially thought 7 or 8 qts but now I'm thinking bigger. I'd like to be able to make a hefty pot of soup and fit in some large cuts of meat. Guess I'd also like to be able to lift it though, too. Would 9 or 13 qts be absurd? (I'm prepared for the sticker shock...)Thanks for any advice... A 9 at would not be absurd! It is great for larger pieces of meat and a big batch of short ribs. I have a Le Creuset that I found at a TJMaxx for $150 (sticker $250 at William-Sonoma).
David M. Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 (edited) I've decided to treat myself to a New Year's gift of a big ass round cast iron oven. My question is how big is big enough? I initially thought 7 or 8 qts but now I'm thinking bigger. I'd like to be able to make a hefty pot of soup and fit in some large cuts of meat. Guess I'd also like to be able to lift it though, too. Would 9 or 13 qts be absurd? (I'm prepared for the sticker shock...)Thanks for any advice... IMO 7 to 8 quarts is plenty. I've got a 7.25 quart Le Creuset and have never thought I needed more. Just this past weekend, I made osso buco for six with a half-dozen shanks and they fit in the pan just fine. And you're right -- 13 quarts must weigh a ton (and, depending on your stovetop/oven, could be difficult to center on a burner comfortably and/or fit into the oven without being on the very bottom rack). Edited January 4, 2006 by David M.
Barbara Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 I've decided to treat myself to a New Year's gift of a big ass round cast iron oven. My question is how big is big enough? I initially thought 7 or 8 qts but now I'm thinking bigger. I'd like to be able to make a hefty pot of soup and fit in some large cuts of meat. Guess I'd also like to be able to lift it though, too. Would 9 or 13 qts be absurd? (I'm prepared for the sticker shock...)Thanks for any advice... You are right to consider the weight of the pot when it's full. I have a round LC dutch oven, not the biggest size but big enough, and it is REALLY heavy when it's empty. I bought it from a little old lady who just couldn't handle it anymore. I figured I had maybe 15 years left to muscle that sucker.
David M. Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 I have a Le Creuset that I found at a TJMaxx for $150 (sticker $250 at William-Sonoma). I second TJ Maxx -- both it and Marshall's can result in great deals. The only problem that I have encountered is selection is pretty hit-or-miss; my best luck has been at the Marshall's in Potomac Mills.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 I have 2 Le Creuset round French ovens, a 5 quart and a 9 quart. I find that the 9 quart is sufficient for everything I do. I have never maxed it out. I rarely use the 5 quart any more.
oliveDC Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 Thanks, all. I think I'm leaning toward 9 qt. I guess the stars would need to align though to find a 9 qt at TJ Maxx on the random day I go. Maybe I'll find out when their shipments come in like a serious shopper...
zoramargolis Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 Do yourself a favor and go out to the Le Creuset outlet store in the Leesburg Outlet Mall. The prices there are as good and often much better than at Marshall's or TJ Maxx and the selection is FAR superior. I just got myself a big oval pot at 35% below the outlet's usual price. For a major purchase like this, it's worth the trip.
Banco Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 Cutleryandmore.com has a great selection of Le Creuset. A 6.75 qt. oven costs $200.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 Cutleryandmore.com has a great selection of Le Creuset. A 6.75 qt. oven costs $200. I think I paid about $125 for my 9 quart a couple of years ago. I got spammed by an ad for a Le Creuset sale.
cjsadler Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 Do yourself a favor and go out to the Le Creuset outlet store in the Leesburg Outlet Mall. The prices there are as good and often much better than at Marshall's or TJ Maxx and the selection is FAR superior. I just got myself a big oval pot at 35% below the outlet's usual price. For a major purchase like this, it's worth the trip. How long is that 35% off sale going on?
Jacques Gastreaux Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 I notice a sizable price difference between the 8.75 quart and the 9 quart round french ovens on some of the online sales. The difference of one cup seems to matter price-wise. Perhaps the 8.75 has been discontinuned.
JPW Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 How long is that 35% off sale going on? Maybe permanently. This summer when I stopped by an LC outlet in NC, they had a bowl with XXX% off tickets for customers to try their luck at -- a kind of raffle. We went through the bowl until they found the one marked 35% off. They proceeded to make the fold they used to mark that one more noticable.
Pete Posted January 5, 2006 Author Posted January 5, 2006 Do yourself a favor and go out to the Le Creuset outlet store in the Leesburg Outlet Mall. The prices there are as good and often much better than at Marshall's or TJ Maxx and the selection is FAR superior. I just got myself a big oval pot at 35% below the outlet's usual price. For a major purchase like this, it's worth the trip. If you are a AAA member, stop by the customer service desk at Leesburg Outlets and get a disount booklet which includes a 15% discount off all items (including sale items) at the Le Creuset Outlet.
mdt Posted January 5, 2006 Posted January 5, 2006 If you are a AAA member, stop by the customer service desk at Leesburg Outlets and get a disount booklet which includes a 15% discount off all items (including sale items) at the Le Creuset Outlet. Wow! I will be going there soon!
zoramargolis Posted January 6, 2006 Posted January 6, 2006 Cutleryandmore.com has a great selection of Le Creuset. A 6.75 qt. oven costs $200. I just paid significantly less than the above price for that size oval pot. When the outlet store has sales, the price cannot be beat. I also picked up a small, covered cast iron casserole list price $140 for $35, on a 50% off table--the typical outlet store price is 1/2 of list price, and they were clearing stuff out at 50% off their store price. If you get on their mailing list, they send you notices about sales, like when they give 35% off anything in the store.
Banco Posted January 6, 2006 Posted January 6, 2006 I just paid significantly less than the above price for that size oval pot. When the outlet store has sales, the price cannot be beat. I also picked up a small, covered cast iron casserole list price $140 for $35, on a 50% off table--the typical outlet store price is 1/2 of list price, and they were clearing stuff out at 50% off their store price. If you get on their mailing list, they send you notices about sales, like when they give 35% off anything in the store. Thanks for these great tips. I didn't want to imply the prices at cutleryandmore were anything special, but their selection is exhaustive.
xcanuck Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Le Creuset? That's a damn good price.Red wine, bay leaf, black peppercorns, juniper berries, salt, and sliced onion for the marinade. It's worth finding the juniper berries. Bring to a boil, let cool, then marinate beef 2-3 days turning occasionally. Be sure to use gingersnaps for the sauce - homemade are better but store bought will do. Homemade spaetzle is a nice touch.I'd appreciate some help here. I see the Le Creuset 7.25qt french oven for $179 on Amazon. I also see the "Mario Batali" 6 qt dutch oven for $99 at Crate and Barrell.Can someone help me understand the quality/functional difference between the two? The Le Creuset is considered oven safe to 450F while the Batali is advertised as oven safe to 500F. The Le Creuset has a plastic knob where as the Batali has a stainless steel knob. They're both made of enameled cast iron. If it wasn't for my inherent distrust of anything with a celebrity chef's name attached to it, I'd think the Batali was a hands down winner. Is an extra 1.25 quarts worth another $75 or so? Does size really matter...that much?
Heather Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Does size really matter...that much?It depends on what you're using it for. Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Bigger pot roasts need a bigger pot. Plus, having some surface area helps if you need to reduce your sauce.
xcanuck Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 It depends on what you're using it for. Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Bigger pot roasts need a bigger pot. Plus, having some surface area helps if you need to reduce your sauce. So then here's the really interesting part. The Batali has a 13" diameter whereas the Creuset has only an 11" diameter. Considering the Batali holds less, one can only assume that it's not as high as the Creuset. So you can fit a longer roast and reduce sauces better in the Batali, but may not be able to put the lid on it. Notice how I tactfully refrained from making this a girth vs length comparison.
Billy DeLion Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Thanks for the feedback. It was a LeCreuset oven. I was worried about the oval shape fitting on my stoveteop burners, but that was no problem and comments I read seemed to indicate that the oval was easier to handle with a lot of weight and obviously would fit larger(longer) cuts of meat.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 I'd appreciate some help here. I see the Le Creuset 7.25qt french oven for $179 on Amazon. I also see the "Mario Batali" 6 qt dutch oven for $99 at Crate and Barrell.Can someone help me understand the quality/functional difference between the two? The Le Creuset is considered oven safe to 450F while the Batali is advertised as oven safe to 500F. The Le Creuset has a plastic knob where as the Batali has a stainless steel knob. They're both made of enameled cast iron. If it wasn't for my inherent distrust of anything with a celebrity chef's name attached to it, I'd think the Batali was a hands down winner. Is an extra 1.25 quarts worth another $75 or so? Does size really matter...that much? Le Creuset comes with a lifetime guarantee. The knob on top is not plastic, it is bakelite. I'm not familiar with the Batali model. I have 2 le Creusets, a 5 and an 8 3/4 quart. I've had the 5 quart for over 20 years and it shows very little wear and tear.If you're unsure, experiment with the unenameled Lodge. A 5 quart will only set you back about $30 at Sears. Ah, and I see that the Batali is made by Copco.
xcanuck Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Le Creuset comes with a lifetime guarantee. The knob on top is not plastic, it is bakelite. I'm not familiar with the Batali model. I have 2 le Creusets, a 5 and an 8 3/4 quart. I've had the 5 quart for over 20 years and it shows very little wear and tear.If you're unsure, experiment with the unenameled Lodge. A 5 quart will only set you back about $30 at Sears. Ah, and I see that the Batali is made by Copco. Thanks for the good data, JG. I found that the Batali (persimmon colour only) was on sale for $59. So I figured, what the heck? Just put it on order. If it sucks, well, there's still time to ask the in-laws for the Le Creuset for Christmas.
mdt Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Thanks for the good data, JG. I found that the Batali (persimmon colour only) was on sale for $59. So I figured, what the heck? Just put it on order. If it sucks, well, there's still time to ask the in-laws for the Le Creuset for Christmas. If you have a TJMaxx or HomeGoods store near you check them out as they have some crazy deals on Le Creuset from time to time.
cjsadler Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 Thanks for the good data, JG. I found that the Batali (persimmon colour only) was on sale for $59. So I figured, what the heck? Just put it on order. If it sucks, well, there's still time to ask the in-laws for the Le Creuset for Christmas. I picked up the Batali pot when it was on sale for about that price awhile back (with free shipping, it was a no-brainer). Been great so far. Who knows whether it will last like Le Creuset, but the heft and quality seem comparable-- the Batali pot looks and feels like it's very well made.
The Hersch Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 The knob on top is not plastic, it is bakelite. If you're unsure, experiment with the unenameled Lodge. A 5 quart will only set you back about $30 at Sears. To be totally pedantic, Bakelite is plastic. It was, in fact, the first plastic made from synthetic polymers (according to Wikipedia). Unenameled cast-iron dutch ovens have never made any sense to me at all. I actually had one many years ago. No matter how well seasoned I managed to get the thing by frying in it (which did nothing for the lid, of course), and treating it with oil and baking it, once used for braising the seasoning would be completely destroyed and anything braised in it tasted like rust. It was awful. How do you braise successfully in unenameled cast iron?
zoramargolis Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 Le Creuset comes with a lifetime guarantee. I've had the 5 quart for over 20 years and it shows very little wear and tear. I've had a seven quart round, used frequently for 30 years and other than the white interior being a bit discolored, it's as good as new. Periodically, I soak the pan with a bleach solution to brighten it, and I need to do it again. RE the lifetime guarantee, I've heard that they will send you another handle, if it ever breaks. I haven't had any experience with that, but did get several brand new Calphalon pots when I sent that company 25 year old anodized saucepans that had worn out their coating inside. Thanks for the good data, JG. I found that the Batali (persimmon colour only) was on sale for $59. So I figured, what the heck? Just put it on order. If it sucks, well, there's still time to ask the in-laws for the Le Creuset for Christmas. I have looked at these products at Sur La Table, and they seem quite nice. Good and heavy and well finished. And $59 seems like a steal. One caveat. Be sure you like the color. Because if it is as good as advertised, you will be living with that color for the rest of your life. My 30 year-old Le Creuset is chocolate brown. It was a gift whose source was not revealed, so was not exchangeable. It's not that bad, but all of the Le Creusets I have since bought for myself are dark blue. I like blue. Not that crazy about brown. I suspect the "persimmon" color Batali pots are on sale because not that many people are drawn to that burnt orange color. I noticed that the Batali pots that are being sold exclusively at Crate and Barrel are red.
legant Posted October 26, 2006 Posted October 26, 2006 Uhm, Zora... If you're still having problems "adjusting" to the color, I'd be glad to take the chocolate brown Le Creuset off your hands. Be sure you like the color. Because if it is as good as advertised, you will be living with that color for the rest of your life. My 30 year-old Le Creuset is chocolate brown. It was a gift whose source was not revealed, so was not exchangeable. It's not that bad, but all of the Le Creusets I have since bought for myself are dark blue. I like blue. Not that crazy about brown.
zoramargolis Posted October 26, 2006 Posted October 26, 2006 Uhm, Zora... If you're still having problems "adjusting" to the color, I'd be glad to take the chocolate brown Le Creuset off your hands. Oh, darlin'--the only way anyone could take that pot off my hands is if they were cold and dead. It's become a major piece of my culinary history. It may not match any of my other kitchen accoutrements, but it is in regular use and will continue to be. And, for the record, there is no larger meaning. Chocolate is my favorite food, too. The darker the better.
squidsdc Posted November 6, 2006 Posted November 6, 2006 If you have a TJMaxx or HomeGoods store near you check them out as they have some crazy deals on Le Creuset from time to time. Tuesday Morning's flyer shows Le Creuset on sale--I don't recall seeing a price however. Sale starts tomorrow at 8am (for those who may want to swing by after voting since there's already an excuse for being late to work) Their ad says everything is 50-80% off.
mdt Posted November 6, 2006 Posted November 6, 2006 ...says everything is 50-80% off. They are a discounter and that is the normal percentage off of retail. Still worth a look though.
ol_ironstomach Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 My one enameled piece for the longest time has been a round 26cm Cousances doufeu (~5.5 qt), found on sale at the Le Creuset outlet, but when used for baking Lahey's no-knead bread, I find that it's just a bit too wide and yields a relatively flat round loaf. So it was time to shop for a slightly smaller-diameter Dutch oven, preferably one with a better enamel than the relatively cheap and chip-prone pieces that flood the celebrity chef-endorsed aisles these days. Shapewise, I think I've found it: a 4.25 qt cocotte from "Fleur by Fontignac", from a firm now owned by Staub Group. Fontignac's "Vitriliss" finish appears to be a two-layer enamel instead of Staub's three-layer, and the newer pieces are made with a dark interior enamel a la Staub. The discontinued Fleur line, however, is described as sporting the slightly preferable cream-colored interior, but there seems to be some uncertainty about this...I see some customer comments that it's actually the dark interior. Sierra Trading Post says it's made in France - but their descriptions seem to be faulty; Wayfair says it's made in China. Who's right? Does anybody have any experience with Fontignac enameled cast iron? Sierra Trading Post shows the 4.25 qt round on closeout for a paltry $70, "almost gone". [2016-02-17 ETA: if an eBay listing is to be believed, parent conglomerate Zwilling Henckels is also clearing these out direct from their NY warehouse for twice the price, and lists them as made in France. From other listings, I infer that the Fleur name had previously been applied to a variant with a fleur-de-lis knob and the cream interior, but was most recently applied to one with a round knob and dark interior.]
pras Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 The Williams Sonoma outlet in Leesburg also has good deals from time to time. I was in the right place and the right time and lighting stuck, as I walked by the clearance rack as they were putting a 12 piece set on the rack. Because it was on the clearance rack, it was 50% off the marked down price, and on top of that we got the 40% employee discount, which brought to to something like $120. Oh, it was missing the square grill pan, but it did have the round frying pan, so I guess it was an 11 piece set. Bottom line, we love the pots, although they are too heavy for my wife to use. 2
DonRocks Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Do any other companies make enameled cast iron cookware similar to Le Creuset? I don't want to spend $150-$175 for a 6 quart french oven. For whatever it's worth, I did spring for a large Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and I still have it 15+ years later - it's like new. Now, granted, I haven't used it much, but it has weathered the years, even if it remains untested in terms of "number of times used."
pras Posted February 22, 2016 Posted February 22, 2016 I failed to mention in my post above that I love all of the pieces in the set. The round pot and the dutch over run circles around similar pieces in my collection from All-Clad.
ol_ironstomach Posted February 22, 2016 Posted February 22, 2016 The Williams Sonoma outlet in Leesburg also has good deals from time to time. That's how and where I ended up buying my doufeu. FWIW, the Fontignac oven arrived today, and is very nicely made indeed...a bargain. However, STP is now sold out.
ol_ironstomach Posted August 29, 2017 Posted August 29, 2017 FWIW, Sierra Trading Post currently lists a 5.5 qt Fontignac cocotte on closeout for $99 in red or blue. Unclear what the lid knob material is, but the specs say oven safe to 485 F. And to clarify earlier posts, these are made in France. I should say that the smaller one I purchased last year has been excellent so far, and I just came back from glamping with it for 1 1/2 weeks as my primary pot. The enameling may not be as glossy on the exterior as Staub's, but for performance and durability on the interior it has been first rate.https://www.sierratradingpost.com/fontignac-round-cocotte-with-lid-55-qt~p~223gp/
TrelayneNYC Posted August 29, 2017 Posted August 29, 2017 A bit OT but I thought I'd share. This is a pic from a place in the heart of the Castro that sells dishware and is also a hardware store. All of the Le Creuset pieces (which are easily identifiable I might add) are in the $25 to $30 range. The white ramekins are not Le Creuset, and so, don't count. I was especially surprised by the mortar and pestle. I bought an M&P at Bed, Bath & Beyond for 1/3 of that price in 2000 and had it up until my departure from New York City.
DIShGo Posted August 30, 2017 Posted August 30, 2017 On 7/12/2005 at 11:40 AM, monavano said: Lodge enameled cast iron comes from a family on long proven cookware, for far less than Le Creuset (which hasn't impressed me as being hearty and long lasting) https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/prod...408&menu=enamel Staub also makes beautiful ovens. Not cheap though. http://www.staubusa.com/index.asp I had a Lodge Dutch oven that lasted for years. The only reason I don't have it anymore is it was so heavy, I decided not to move it across country.
Sundae in the Park Posted September 1, 2017 Posted September 1, 2017 On 8/29/2017 at 7:35 PM, DIShGo said: I had a Lodge Dutch oven that lasted for years. Mine is almost 10 years old and still looks perfect. I like that the top handle is metal. Got mine on Amazon and love the classic design (more squared edges). A quick search today, however, shows that they've really changed their design to ape the Le Creuset look - I like the old look better.
ALB Posted September 1, 2017 Posted September 1, 2017 If anyone is interested- Le Creuset outlets are 40% off this weekend. (sept 1-5 2017)
Brian R Posted September 1, 2017 Posted September 1, 2017 Second on the Lodge. They have in the past occasionally put certain models with certain colors on really good online sales. I bought a 3-quart shallow casserole in red for about $60. Also found a green 7-quart round dutch oven for just under $100 at such a sale. I also have two Daniel Boulod Kitchen (DBK, long since discontinued) oval coquettes (3 qt and 5 qt) that my wife gave me as a gift, that I have really enjoyed for over 10 years. Like Lodge enameled, it was also made in China, and is not as stout as a Staub or Le Creuset on the enamel. But the price difference, and given how long they have lasted from heavy use, it's been worth it. I have found that I have pretty much only been cooking stove top on regular or enameled cast iron over time. I break out the All-Clad for a very few techniques, like searing scallops. I still lust after the Staub, though, every time I walk in a Sur La Table.
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