When I was first married I yearned for a set of Le Creuset pans - just like the orange set my sister-in-law had but, unfortunately, they were just too expensive for me to buy. The years went by and I bought several different pan sets - each set lasting only a few years and then had to be discarded.
I ... Read review
Le Creuset enamelled cast iron cookware the market leader offers superb cooking results ... more
due to its excellent heat retention and distribution properties. Cast iron is one of the best cooking materials lending itself to a wide variety of cooking methods from frying casseroling and roasting to sautéing grilling and baking. Le Creuset is consistently used by the World's leading chefs all of whom appreciate its superb performance and good looks. Each piece is handcrafted to perfection. Please note: This item does not include a storage rack as in the image. Elegant and practical Le Creuset cast iron cookware set. The perfect way to present a selection of popular items. Includes: 16 cm Saucepan 18 cm Saucepan 26 cm Frying Pan 20 cm Cocotte
Advantages: Lasts for years and cooks food beautifully Disadvantages: Initially expensive (but worth it)
...yearned for a set of Le Creuset pans - just like the orange set my sister-in-law had but, unfortunately, they were just too expensive for me to buy. The years went by and I bought several different pan sets - each set lasting only a few years and then had to be discarded.
I think most of us are starting to think about the quality of the food we eat - there are many programmes on TV advising us about the food we buy. I know that I had ... ...had a promotion pack for Le Creuset kitchenware at £99 (plus VAT) and decided, after 30 years of ogling my sister-in-law's pans, that I would give myself a treat and buy one. And boy, am I glad that I did. I just couldn't be without my Le Creuset set now. My set is blue and gets used every day. I also started buying my meat and poultry from an organic farm shop (everything free from chemicals, drugs and additives) and my fruit and veg from the Saturday ... more
When I was first married I yearned for a set of Le Creuset pans - just like the orange set my sister-in-law had but, unfortunately, they were just too expensive for me to buy. The years went by and I bought several different pan sets - each set lasting only a few years and then had to be discarded.
I think most of us are starting to think about the quality of the food we eat - there are many programmes on TV advising us about the food we buy. I know that I had started to think how bland my food tasted - the flavour just seemed to disappear from the cooked food and I was using ready meals for quickness as I work full-time.
So, I made a determined effort to change how I bought and cooked my food. I began to change my "food" habits when, last year, whilst shopping in Makro, I noticed they had a promotion pack for Le Creuset kitchenware at £99 (plus VAT) and decided, after 30 years of ogling my sister-in-law's pans, that I would give myself a treat and buy one. And boy, am I glad that I did. I just couldn't be without my Le Creuset set now. My set is blue and gets used every day. I also started buying my meat and poultry from an organic farm shop (everything free from chemicals, drugs and additives) and my fruit and veg from the Saturday market. What a difference (in both price and flavour).
Until you cook with Le Creuset you won't be able to understand just how wonderful your food actually tastes. Every cut of meat, whether a joint or stewing steak, is cooked to perfection and melts in your mouth. Vegetables retain their flavour and taste wonderful. Chicken retains moisture and doesn't dry out.
The beauty of LC is that it cooks the food thoroughly which, at the same time, retains the flavour and nutrition of the food. Heat is absorbed slowly and then spreads steadily and gently throughout the cookware. The food browns evenly and my kitchen is filled with the aroma of the food. Another great aspect of cooking with LC is that the cookware doesn't absorb the odours and this is due to the fact that the cookware is vitrified so making sure they are thoroughly hygienic. LC is perfect for baking cakes and bread too, in fact, for absolutely everything.
One point I should make about LC however is that the cast iron items are heavy to handle - especially the pans. The pans are very heavy without contents and extremely heavy when filled with liquid. They do however have a "side assist" handle for easier lifting. The lids are fitted with a steam venting hole. Also, some of the cookware needs to be "seasoned" too before use.
However, another fact that I am so pleased about, is that every piece of my LC is so easy to clean. No matter how dirty the pan or container, it washes straightaway - I don't have to soak any item and so washing my LC is an absolute pleasure! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would say washing up was a pleasure!
As the name suggests, Le Creuset is French and is designed and made in Northern France. All items are hand finished and the majority of their range is porcelain enamelled cast iron. Apparently they say that when you become the owner of a cast iron kitchen product then the mould used to make that particular shape is destroyed after each use so you then become the owner of a unique item. They have very strict controls on their products.
The LC range of cookware is extremely versatile enabling you to take the utensil straight from the oven to the table and it looks good too. They have a good range of colours - pastels and bright - orange, blue, green, lavender, grey to name a few and a vast range of cooking products - some of which I mention below:-
Pans (including saucepans and frying pans) Casseroles Steaming pots Skillets Grills Knife sets Ice bucket Boxed cookware International range of cookware (eg. large karahi for balti, curry etc) Tagine
They have also introduced the new triVita stainless steel range which is made from aluminium core and then this is sandwiched by two layers of stainless steel thereby creating a fantastic distribution of heat from the very bottom of the base to the top of the pan.
One last thought, LC is expensive. I got a bargain pack from Makro - I'm not sure but I think there were 6 items in total. I have just looked on their website and believe that the six items I bought in the pack would have cost approximately £250 to buy separately. My daughter also bought the "bargain pack" from Makro and she now wants a larger casserole and has seen one in Asda (yes, apparently Asda are selling LC too) for approximately £80. So, not cheap. But, well worth every penny you spend. These products will last for years and years. In fact, I know my sister-in-law has had hers for over 30 years and at the weekend I was speaking to a lady who said she had been using her LC cookware for over 25 years.
To sum it up, your initial investment is costly but if you take care of it then it will last for years.
Advantages: Works well, looks good, cleans easily Disadvantages: Expensive!
...liked the look of the Le Creuset range of saucepans but had always thought that they were far too expensive, however I was feeling a bit flush at the time (the feeling has passed now sadly!) so I decided it was time to treat myself.
I bought the standard set of three saucepans, 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 litres in capacity, which currently retail at £109.99 in Argos, although I think I paid about £95 for mine a couple of years ago if I remember rightly.
... ...always does the trick.
Le Creuset also make a comprehensive range of cookware to match the saucepans, such as casserole dishes, sauté pans, frying pans, milk pans, soufflé dishes, open cooking dishes and even kettles.
I have since purchased the milk saucepan, which cost about £20 and the open oval cooking dish, which was a gift so I don’t know the price of that one! The milk saucepan is coated with a non-stick coating making it very easy to clean.
...
SusanLesley 22.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Le Creuset Cookware
Advantages: Good-lucking, even-heating, strong - just like my husband Disadvantages: Weighs a TON - empty
...wedding gift was a large Le Creuset skillet, about a foot in diameter, flame red on the outside and white on the inside. I don't know if it came with a cover, but that pan was the single most used item in their kitchen. It was used daily, to the point that its permanent home was the front right burner on their small stove; there was no point putting it away because it would just get hauled out for use again in an hour or two. Sadly, the marriage ... ...would get custody of the Le Creuset skillet? They both lusted after it and some haggling went on for a few weeks, but Sally finally prevailed, in exchange for which she took nothing more than her own clothes and personal belongings out of the house. I stood by and watched this drama unfold, marveling at the appeal of a skillet, fer crissakes, that was worth walking away from a marriage otherwise empty-handed. It's been 26 years since they got married. ...
DaisyRose 16.12.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Le Creuset Cookware
Advantages: The pinnacle of cookware. So versatile. A joy to use Disadvantages: Heavy, expensive (but last a lifetime). Can I sue for repetitive strain injury??
...and pleasantly surprised to find Le Creuset pots and pans heavily featured and discounted this year. The company originated in 1925 in St Quentin in France (and has branches across Europe and worldwide.) Each piece is unique as it is individually cast from molten iron in a sand mould. The range includes many shapes (oval, round, rectangular) and sizes of casseroles, saucepans, frying pans and other cooking vessels (there is even a wok and an African ... ...a dozen rich vibrant colours (yellow, blue, green, orange, red). The inside is enamelled and is fired to 700° Centigrade to give an exceedingly hard and durable surface. Some elements of the range, such as the frying pans, also have a proprietary non stick surface (Castoflon) added. The pans may have one of three types of handle: an integrated iron handle, wood or bakelite. The range is recommended for use on Solid electric, radiant electric, ceramic, ...
Newfloridian 27.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Le Creuset Cookware
Advantages: durable and even cooking temperature Disadvantages: heavy!
...kitchenware matches!
One of Le Creusets best assets is that the vitreous enamel cooking surface is completely hygienic and impervious to flavours and odours. They can be used not only for cooking but also for marinating/storing foods (raw or cooked) in the refrigerator or freezer.(Be careful in a small fridge though that the plastic shelving can take the weight! - I write with bitter experience here) You can get hold of Le Creuset cookware at most ... ...prices. Great, if you don't mind your cookware not matching or if you are on a less than generous budget.
If you want futher details on where to purchase the products then take a look at the Le Creuset website.
I wouldn't swap my Le Creuset for anything! ...
volpina 21.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Le Creuset Cookware
Advantages: Better for cooking than other pans, get's hot quicker and hold heat better Disadvantages: Very very heavy! Price
...lovely set of flame orange Le Creuset pans, the 5 piece set from Debenhams last Christmas whilst they had their 20% sale on, for £160.
He had been harping on about these pans for years and so I thought I would endulge him with them - he's a chef and they demand only the best tools for their trade, the sharpest knives and the best pans, even if you do have to go out and re-mortgage your house for them! Only kidding!
So once he had them in his grasp ... ...with lid plus a lovely Le Crueset branded stainless steel hangiing rack which holds all the pans and their lids nicely and neatly. Mine sits above the microwave, it's that compact.
The pans wash up really easily, they soak in the soapy water and then wipe off with a cloth and that's all there is - no scrubbing or effort involved. One thing though, it's a good idea and I do believe in the instruction leaflet it mentions this, to leave the pans to ...
danni_elle 21.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Le Creuset Cookware
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