Le Creuset

[perc-o-prince]

Especially when cooking large meals

Look for 5 and 6 qt sizes in your travels! I love making sauce in mine then freezing it. Also good for a good-sized pot roast!

Chuck

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

I have a number of Le Creuset pieces (the stores count the pot and lid as 2...).  I have bought all of mine at their outlet stores and the "discount rack" in the back, which were either discontinued or a "factory 2nd".  As a result, I've managed to buy mine from 30% to 50% off, especially when combined with one of their occasional sales.  

 

My last purchase, I was looking for a larger (than my 5.5 qt) Dutch oven and ended up buying a 15 qt, oval Dutch Oven (really a goose pot) as it was discontinued and just over 50% off.   However, when I got it home I first said "OK where in the hell am I going to put this thing" as it was HUGE.   I then tried to put it in my oven.  Wow, I had to remove ALL of the racks and put it in diagonally, that's the only way I could close the door...... so I returned it the next day!  I came home with a 9 qt round Dutch oven in "flame" orange instead.

 

I have hand washed them, but lately I've put them in the dishwasher.    I didn't know it will dull the finish, until now..... so back to hand washing!

 

Photos: #1 (L to R) a 2 3/4 qt, 9 qt & 5.5 qt Dutch ovens. 

#2 a 3.5 (4?) qt covered deep skillet and 3 1/4 qt braiser.

#3 the cast iron wok.  (With the new cooktop I installed 3 days ago, I FINALLY have enough BTU's (22K), which a wok really requires!  I posted more in the "shelter at home cooking" thread) 

 

Kevin

 

[tomturbomatic]

Many years ago, there was an article in a shelter magazine about retired restauranteurs in San Francisco who wanted to redo their kitchen to be able to have the same wok cooking capabilities at home that they had in the restaurant. They had to build an island with the wok burner in a stainless steel over cement pool that had be filled with water when the burner was used. Of course, the island had to have a hood with not only industrial exhaust capabilities, but also a fire suppressant system. The amount of waste heat that required all of this was tremendous.

 

[vacbear58]

le Cruset

I have had several pieces of Le Cruset that I bought around 1991, they are mostly similar to in style to those Kevin posted in reply #20. It has worked well (and was ideal when I changed to induction cooking) but it has dulled down over the years with washing in the dishwasher, the more often the washing the worse the dulling. Whilst I am pleased with its performance I do think its very expensive and would buy other, cheaper brands as well if they had the size of pots I was looking for

Al

 

[ozzie908]

Le Creuset factory on catch up TV

There is a program called " In the factory " and the one I watched last night was how these pots were made and its totally fascinating and after seeing how they are made you understand why they cost so much.

Austin