gradient-colored cast iron: yea or nay?

loriqvc · ‎11-06-2011

Am I the only one who would answer "nay" here?

I am just not a fan of the gradient coloring on all the new cast iron around the Q—I much prefer a nice solid color if I'm going to pick up an enameled cast iron piece. I understand that the goal is to mimic Le Creuset in less expensive options, but no one is going to mistake one for the other. So why not make the Cooks Essentials and other brands stand out by showcasing the beautiful colors they offer in one solid swatch? I'm guessing this might also enable the Q to sell the pieces for even less, since there's not as much effort involved in crafting them.

x Hedge · ‎08-18-2016

Enamel can discolor over time, usually darkening from the base up due to heat. I have very old pots that were probably one color originally, but have taken on a gradient-look in two generations of stove time.

I suppose producing them this way is to both camouflage the deepening color and head off customer's complaints that the enamel is darkening at the base.

Just my guess.

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

Yay for me.

loriqvc · ‎11-06-2011

@x Hedge wrote:
Enamel can discolor over time, usually darkening from the base up due to heat. I have very old pots that were probably one color originally, but have taken on a gradient-look in two generations of stove time.

I suppose producing them this way is to both camouflage the deepening color and head off customer's complaints that the enamel is darkening at the base.

Just my guess.

That makes sense as an alternate to my theory about copying Le Creuset (which may have originally created its gradients for the reason you suggest). I guess the fact that all of my current enameled cast iron pieces are dark blue would make it hard to notice if they were changing colors over time.

blackhole99 · ‎08-22-2013

I prefer the solid, I have the Staub pots in the solid cream and a red oval pot the Q sold years ago. Now that brand costs as much as LeCruset. That being said, I would buy a LeCruset gradient pot if they made it in the truffle color.