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i'm listening in. I have the same question! I registered for the deep baking dish, but feel guilty about the price! Is it worth it? Does it last forever and make everything even yummier? Please say yes...hehehe
I haven't tried other brands, so I can't really be objective here. That said... WE LOVE OUR LE CREUSET STUFF. LOVE IT. We have the buffet casserole, 2 petite casseroles, one grill pan and one heart dutch oven (that was cheaper than the round of similar capacity).
My best reccomendation is to go to a Le Creuset outlet store. The have firsts (no imperfections) and seconds (slight imperfections). We really truly love them. Would we love other products as much, I can't say. But we love the ones we have.
The Le Creuset dutch oven (oval) is great. You can braise and roast in it. Also, you can bake no-knead bread in it.
Totally worth it. They really are worth the extra money for the quality. And as long as you follow the care instructions and take care of them, they will last forever.
I haven't tried the other brands that are similar to Le Creuset, but I do have a couple Le Creuset pieces and have registered for a few more.
The ones I have are absolutely awesome and so durable. I've been cooking with them for years and they still look brand new and do a great job. I love the capability to take them from stovetop to oven and how nicely they clean up. I think they are also a great alternative to non-stick, which we don't use due to the health concerns associated with the non-stick coating breaking down.
We love to cook and eat at home every night of the week. We also entertain regualrly and cook a lot of fairly gourmet meals. So, for us, they are a totally worthwhile investment. If you don't cook a lot though, then I would say the non Le Creuset brands are probably fine - I'm just not sure if they are as durable, long lasting and high quality as Le Creuset.
I love all my Le Creuset pieces. I currently just have pieces of their stoneware but I registered for a lot more! They are durable pieces that look great.
I have a Le Creuset question - can they be used on ceramic/glass stovetops? Or only on regular burners? I'm afraid of scratching the stovetop!
Think of it as a lifelong piece - really, an heirloom piece. If you take care of it it will last FOREVER. I have four LC pieces and two of the cheaper stuff, and it doesn't compare - the finish on the inside is FOUR coats instead of one or two for the cheap stuff, and it really stands up - and in order for it to work right in the oven, the lid has to be very tight fitting and not release steam. LC customer service is also unbelieveable and its guaranteed for life.
Outlet is a good suggestion, but if you get a factory second, make sure you know what the damage is...
Yes! It is SO worth it. I use my LC dutch oven for everything. So much that I registered for a second one (in a different size) because I always want to use it when it already has stuff in it! I second the outlet recommendation - they often have good prices. You can also wait for a sale - I know Bloomingdale's and Williams-Sonoma have LC on sale right now.
If you really, really can't bit the bullet, look into the Lodge dutch oven (they have it at select Targets). Cook's Illustrated rated the Lodge dutch oven really highly a couple of years ago...
i JUST added the same one to our registry.. not sure if we will get it but i am really really excited.
If you want the best quality, le creuset is the best. You will not regret it. I would say it's worth it. See Mrs. Penguin's rave here.
If you really want to hunt for value, Cooks Illustrated did an equipment review on dutch ovens and recommends Tramontina as a low-cost alternative to le creuset.
@AnamCara: Yes, we have a glasstop stove and use our Le Creuset on it almost every day without any scratches.
Yes, it is worth it. Totally, completely worth it. It will last for a very, very long time. WORTH. IT.
@hergreenapples - thank you! I thought I read somewhere that it was a bad idea but I'm happy to hear that you are able to use it...now to start shopping! :0)
I have no idea if this is a good brand or not, but Lodge makes cast iron dutch ovens that are very similar in looks/colors to Le Creuset. The one linked below is $77 for 6-quart.
I'm a dissenter on this board. Granted, I have never owned Le Creuset, but the prices strike me as ridiculous. I have a combination of Lodge cast iron (the old fashioned kind without enamel) and actual heirloom castiron passed down from grandparents. I say go with traditional cast iron. Lodge is a great brand. They sell preseasoned which saves trouble. The nonstick properties are beautiful. You literally cannot damage them in any way that a little steel wool and bacon grease won't fix. You will pass these down to your grandchildren. Best of all is the price tag about $20-$30.
Lodge is a great brand - really it depends on how heavily you plan to use them. I have two Lodge pieces (braiser and small dutch oven), and have used them moderately (like 10 times a year) for about 5 years and have found that the cooking surface is not as durable as LC, but it still works very well, and if you take care of it, (and don't use metal utensils with it) itll last a long time.
I LOVE Le Creuset, and think it's definitely worth it. You won't regret getting one - I got a saucepan 9 years ago and it still looks like new. The enamel on the inside tends to stain with time, especially if you roast or braise, but that doesn't actually do anything to its performance. I also have the big wok, which I love and is amazing for stir fries. They keep the heat really well and are so sturdy and heavy that they don't warp. I say go for it!
According to America's Test Kitchen (on PBS) the Le Creuset is good, but there are other pots out there that do just as good of a job without the crazy price tag! Here are a few they liked:
I have to agree that while le creuset is beautiful (and I love my pan), the other cast iron pieces I also have seem to be equally high quality. As a previous poster said, some have lasted for generations already.
I love Le Creuset and I totally think its worth the money if you cook a lot. I cook really frequently as both a hobby but also as a necessity lately since weddings are so expensive, and we have had to save money by staying in! Le Creuset dutch ovens not only will last a lifetime+ if you take care of it properly, but they are also incredibly easy to clean. I have found that with cheaper versions the food tends to stick to them and its harder to clean off. Since I don't like to waste time and effort scrubbing off nasty food, I definitely think the Le Creuset is worth the hefty price tag. At least you'll only have to pay for it once!
YES. I think non-enamel cast iron is great if you don't mind re-seasoning periodically. Also, knockoffs often don't last as long - check reviews on Amazon before you buy a knockoff. Brands like Lodge are great, some of the Chinese brands not so much.
especially if you're going to braise - if even a tiny amount of steam can escape, it really compromises the results, so the lids have to be tight fitting, and that means perfect craftsmanship.
I have gotten several LC's with tiny cosmetic flaws for huge discounts at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. They almost always have at least a few pieces there.
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Ladies I need some help...we got mostly gift cards and money, so I'm trying to decide what to actually buy myself off the registry. I registered for a kiwi green Le Creuset dutch oven that I have been coveting, but now that I have to buy it myself, I'm wondering if its worth the money - Le Creuset is SO much more expensive than other cast iron stuff! For example, the 7-quart dutch oven I want is $275, but I can get the same size from Rachel Ray's line for $110, or one from Emerilware for $50! (Granted, Emerilware is the ugly black...but is it really worth over $200 just to have a pretty pot?!)
I'm torn and really want my awesome Le Creuset pot, but I need to know I can justify it because its actually better, not just that its prettier than the other options! Any thoughts?