Kitchen

[Sooner]

@KentuckyWoman  Staub makes beautiful cookware too, and it is made in France.  You can often find pieces on sale at good prices at Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma too.  And don't forget the Le Creuset outlets!  They ship and have wonderful 50 off sales, and not all their things are seconds either.

But I have bought seconds from them sometimes, not finding really anything wrong! 

[peachesncream]

You don't need to worry about using enameled cast iron on a glass cooktop. I've been doing it for over 20 years and never had a problem. 

My enameled cast iron is by Staub and I really like that brand. But any brand should be fine.

Plain cast iron, without enamel coating, can scratch glass cooktops, if it's dragged across the glass or banged on the surface. But with enameled cast iron, there is no iron showing; the surface is smooth because of the enamel layer.

When I bought my first glass cooktop, the instructions that came with the stove said "don't use iron cookware"! I called the manufacturer. They said that only applies to plain, bare cast iron. Enameled cast iron is perfectly safe to use.

Enameled cast iron is great for slow cooking stews and casseroles, baked beans, etc. I wouldn't be without my Dutch oven. 

I wouldn't go out and buy a bunch of enameled cast iron pieces, though. It's heavy, it's expensive, and you don't know if you're going to love using it. I'd start with one piece, and see what you think of it. 

[KentuckyWoman]

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@Sooner wrote:

@KentuckyWoman  Staub makes beautiful cookware too, and it is made in France.  You can often find pieces on sale at good prices at Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma too.  And don't forget the Le Creuset outlets!  They ship and have wonderful 50 off sales, and not all their things are seconds either.

But I have bought seconds from them sometimes, not finding really anything wrong! 

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Thank you @Sooner.  I never thought about the outlets.  I 'll check them out. 

[KentuckyWoman]

Thank you @peachesncream.  I only want two or three pieces.  A dutch oven for sure and maybe a skillet with a lid.  I know they are extremely heavy but they cook beautifully.  I would like to have a saucier and a 2.5 qt. saucepan as well.

[RollTide2008]

For enameled cast iron on a budget, check out the Martha Stewart line at Macy’s. For my needs, it’s been perfectly adequate. It comes in lots of pretty colors, but many of them are only available online.

[novamc1]

I agree with @RollTide2008 that the Martha Stewart enameled cast iron at Macy's always seems to be a good buy.

After already mentioning in a prior post that my expensive LeCreuset has gotten scratches from being used on top of an iron-grated gas cooktop rather than the glasstop I used to have, I would purchase  cheaper brands of enameled cast iron if I needed it.

The cast iron aspect will still work for you even if the enamel on the bottom gets scratched somehow. Might want to try some of it out.  Macy's usually offers free shipping, too.

[aroc3435]

Macy's does have a minimum for shipping unless you are of a particular "star" level and/or card holder.  But if you add one beauty/fragrance/makeup item in an order you will get free shipping for the entire order.  They have a pretty good sale going on right now that I think runs through the fifteenth. 

[mimomof4]

I started with a le Creuset skillet with lid and fell in love.  It stays on my stove and is used all the time.  I stopped using my stainless steel pans except for cooking pasta.  Never had anything burn but I always cook on a lower than expected heat.

Now I have 5 different Le Creuset pans.  I have a large family so I can take full advantage of the large dutch ovens.  The outlet is Great!!

[chickenbutt]

Great ideas by Sooner & Mimom about the LC outlets.   I had forgotten about that.   I have one piece from the outlet in Gilroy and it's perfect.    It cost considerably less.

ETA - BTW, they also ship, if you're ok with one of the people at the outlet choosing your piece for you.   That's the closest outlet to me, and I had been in the store before, so I knew what a great bunch they were.

[Sooner]

@chickenbutt  @KentuckyWoman  I have had wonderful luck calling outlets and talking with the sales associates there.  We have a great outlet in Oklahoma City and the people there are great.  I go there pretty often.

I also recommend the big outlet in Yemassee South Carolina.  Very often the outlets have free shipping and they also have a lot of colors on sale at various times, or certain pieces, so call and find out what the hot deal is!  Ha ha!  I have actually had them on the line talking to me and checking out second pieces to see if the lid fits, color is good, etc.