Community Chat

[chickenbutt]

On 7/30/2014 soxfan said:

Buyer beware! Not all QVC's Le Creuset items are made in France. One example is K297135.

I've found LC items much cheaper at TJ Maxx. And no $$$ S&H

That's not enameled cast iron. ALL of their enameled cast iron is made in France. That piece is stoneware.

I have the 13.25qt one mentioned in the OP and it's handy, BUT it's ginormous! You could put a whole baby in that thing and it does weigh a ton, especially full of food. I lucked out and found it brand new, several years ago, on ebay.

LC enameled cast iron is pricey because it is far superior to Chinese-made enameled cast iron. I've seen countless recalls of Chinese-made cast iron (PD's brand was one, and there were others) because of the enamel either cracking, easily chipping, or just plain removing itself explosively from the cast iron (dangerous!).

The enamel is more than cosmetic. If you have chips in your enamel you end up with rusty cast iron and the possibility of moisture or other stuff getting between them. This is one reason that you want superior quality. LC has a Lifetime Warranty too.

[brii]

On 7/30/2014 deepwaterdotter said:

On 7/30/2014 brii said:

On 7/30/2014 deepwaterdotter said:

I bought an off-white Le Creuset Dutch oven at an estate sale many years ago for $15. It looks 'good as new' after many dinners of short ribs and beef stew. Always cleans up easy and retains heat evenly.

What a find...

The sale was being held in a small town by the departed woman's husband. I don't think he realized what it was worth. He was selling off many different kitchen items.

I'm sure he didn't . At least you bought it and are enjoying it. What if he threw it out?

[Burnsite]

I think that 13 quart pan is called "The Goosepot" because it is so big one could cook a goose in it. It's very big and probably weights 20 lbs empty.

I think about the goose-pot every so often when there is an Easy-Pay special, as a large pot would come in handy for family gatherings. But then I think, nah. I have a 2/12 quart dutch oven and the oval in 7/12 quarts, and use them a lot. I got both on sale at Cutlery & More (I think that's the name of the site). They sometimes have specials on Le Creuset. I prefer the original color, Flame.

The outlets (there is one a few hours' drive from me) have a special clearance on seconds every June--that would be a good time to pick up one at a discount. I always think I will get over there, but June tends to be a busy month and it didn't happen (again) this year.

I find the enamel cleans up beautifully. I've never had a flop cooking with either of the two I have.

[chickenbutt]

I also find cleaning them extremely easy. I noticed somebody mentioned them being difficult to clean and I've never had that experience. I can have something oven-simmering for hours and when you take it out, it looks like all kinds of stuff stuck to the sides, yet it comes off like a breeze. I wouldn't anyway, but you don't even need to use anything abrasive. You could swipe the food debris, even if it is baked on, with your finger. All of mine still look like new.

[NoelSeven]

On 7/30/2014 chickenbutt said:

On 7/30/2014 soxfan said:

Buyer beware! Not all QVC's Le Creuset items are made in France. One example is K297135.

I've found LC items much cheaper at TJ Maxx. And no $$$ S&H

That's not enameled cast iron. ALL of their enameled cast iron is made in France. That piece is stoneware.

I have the 13.25qt one mentioned in the OP and it's handy, BUT it's ginormous! You could put a whole baby in that thing and it does weigh a ton, especially full of food. I lucked out and found it brand new, several years ago, on ebay.

LC enameled cast iron is pricey because it is far superior to Chinese-made enameled cast iron. I've seen countless recalls of Chinese-made cast iron (PD's brand was one, and there were others) because of the enamel either cracking, easily chipping, or just plain removing itself explosively from the cast iron (dangerous!).

The enamel is more than cosmetic. If you have chips in your enamel you end up with rusty cast iron and the possibility of moisture or other stuff getting between them. This is one reason that you want superior quality. LC has a Lifetime Warranty too.

CB!!!

Speaking of stoneware, I scanned an email from Q on upcoming things they would have for the kitchen, and I saw two or three pieces of Polish stoneware.

NOT from Gloria, some other name. I made them bigger and, from what I could see, they looked cheap. The price was cheap, too, but not quality, imo.

I didn't find them on Search though.

[soxfan]

On 7/30/2014 chickenbutt said:

On 7/30/2014 soxfan said:

Buyer beware! Not all QVC's Le Creuset items are made in France. One example is K297135.

I've found LC items much cheaper at TJ Maxx. And no $$$ S&H

That's not enameled cast iron. ALL of their enameled cast iron is made in France. That piece is stoneware.

I have the 13.25qt one mentioned in the OP and it's handy, BUT it's ginormous! You could put a whole baby in that thing and it does weigh a ton, especially full of food. I lucked out and found it brand new, several years ago, on ebay.

LC enameled cast iron is pricey because it is far superior to Chinese-made enameled cast iron. I've seen countless recalls of Chinese-made cast iron (PD's brand was one, and there were others) because of the enamel either cracking, easily chipping, or just plain removing itself explosively from the cast iron (dangerous!).

The enamel is more than cosmetic. If you have chips in your enamel you end up with rusty cast iron and the possibility of moisture or other stuff getting between them. This is one reason that you want superior quality. LC has a Lifetime Warranty too.

Good to know. Thanks for the clarification chickenbutt!

[pickleslarue]

On 7/30/2014 catlover said:

I saw this at Macy's and it did look of very high quality-I picked it up and boy was it heavy!

I don't understand why they make one and then break the mold each time-seems silly to me.

It's a sand mold.

[Burnsite]

Just to correct my prior post--the "Goosepot," the largest made by Le Creuset, has an MSP of $600 and is 18+ quarts, and it weighs 25 lbs empty, so it is not the Q pot depicted, which is two quarts smaller.

Costs may be higher because tariffs with France have greatly increased, something I noticed b/c I used to buy French bras, Lejaby, which are mid-range in France but went way up in the US with a tariff change some years ago.

I meant to add in my prior post that people with smooth top stoves of glass cannot use these heavy pans. They can break the glass top, certainly the bigger pots if full of stew or soup.

[pickleslarue]

What do you all cook in yours? I got a Lodge brand because it was an amazing sale, basically half price, and I don't use it that often...don't make stews or other long-cooking meat dishes. I'd like to use mine more but so far it's bread, soups, and beans.

[Burnsite]

Hey, pickles, my favorite dish, but very rich so for feasting only, is the Alton Brown "Coq au Vin" recipe. In my little Le Creuset I make his baked beans recipe, also extremely rich and also very, very special. How does he keep his figure?