I know, I know. I have too many threads in this section. I do other things aside from hang around here, honestly. As soon as I type this, I'm off to hang up washing, and do the dishes ( So many dishes!).
Okay. Have been thinking about this for a while. And I want one! (A La Creuset pot or something similar, like a Le Chasseur?).
Have you got one? And if so, what size, and what can you fit in it (like what size joint or piece of meat), and how often do you use it? And, you can put the lid in the oven too, can't you (even though it has that little black handle)? Are they worth the investment? For example, I have a big Bessemer saucepan (one without handles, whatever they are called), with a lid that is the same depth as the pan, which I paid $5 for at a garage sale. That was worth my $5 investment, but I'm not sure I could convince myself to have forked out the several hundred dollars for a new one, IYKWIM. Considering that when I bought it, I only bought it for the Man's BBQ, and because it was 'tacky orange' (okay, I confess... I like orange in my kitchen... how ). It was only when a friend told me what it was (the base is so built up with black stuff that you can't see any writing at all), that I poached it back for the stove only!
And if you're like me, without one.... Do you want one....
I am sure it is overkill, but I think I would like to have a red 6.2L one. Not sure how well it might fit on to my stove, but I'm sure I could manage. I think I would prefer to use a pot like this as opposed to my slow cooker sometimes (because I am not happy with the sc results all the time), but having said that, it would probably not get used all that often with two small 'lids getting about, and I would use the sc to make sure they don't lean on the oven door. I don't even have a stock pot that I could use on the stove to get used to stovetop slow cooking. Should I start there? (After all, a good quality stock pot is still much cheaper than a la creuset...)
I have one! Cherry red LeCreuset french oven and much to my shame (and Cai's disgust ) I only started using it recently even though I have had it for around 5 years!!! I have no idea what the size is but its pretty big and oval.
I've made lots of casseroles in it, risotto, and it's great for slow cooked curries etc... You could fit a very decent sized roast in it and yep it goes from stove to oven no worries - that's what it's made to do.
I've seen the one I have on sale just recently discounted from $439 down to around $360ish- as far as value for money - if you use it then I would say GREAT investment and something like this lasts forever basically...
My DH used to work in homewares and all our really excy stuff like Analon and Scanpan (that are well looked after) still look new after 5-6 years of daily use. There is a thread around that I started a while back too that I will hunt down for you - there are some great recipes and ideas in there too!
ETA - Here is my receipe thread - might give you some ideas about what you might use it for!
Last edited by Beach Mama; October 6th, 2008 at 01:19 PM.
Tan, you were the one (and Cai too probably) that got me thinking about them. I remember the thread that you are talking about I think, and had to smile at Cai's reply. I think her instructions involved a car, your pot, and driving it to her house if I remember correctly?
The big one I have seen, I saw on sale for $369 (from 529), and its the round one. The cherry red (that's the colour!) risotto pot (6.2L also) is oval, and is $320 (not on sale). Plus $10 shipping from a place called kitchenwaredirect. They have some really lovely looking things....
Falguni, have a look at that site I mentioned just above.... I'm dreaming too..... ( La Creuset for Christmas, La Creuset for Christmas, La........ Think maybe if I'm good I'll get one?)
Oh Tan, also... Does it seem very heavy? Especially when its full of food, or you're taking it in/out of the oven? I'm not weak, but when I'm old I might not like it. I know, when I am too old and decrepit to lift it, I'll give it to Steph. If she's anything like me, she'll want it before then anyway!
Ah gotcha! The one I have is the French Oven - not the risotto pot, and I think it is the 5.3 l. It is heavy, even without anything in it but having said that I have lifted it in and out of the oven ok while pg. Old and decrepit might be different! That site has some great stuff on it and some great prices too!!! Good luck deciding! Maybe go check them out in the store and take prices and see if they will price match - if not, have a look at what you want and then buy it online!
Mmm, French oven..... What colour is yours on the inside?
If I go out somewhere with a kitchen store I will try to remember to have a touchy feely, but I will probably end up getting on online. Especially if I get one for Christmas, since the Man will have to get it for me. At least he is good at getting me the right thing if I tell him what it is I'm after.
I also want to get a good German? (brand) chef's knife. The last one I had was a cheap thing (but great size and weight), and the rivets ended up splitting. Wonder if the Man would take it the wrong way if I said I wanted a big chef knife?
I used my 21st birthday money to buy one! I have the 6.2L Le Cruesset (sp??!!) - it cost me about $300 back then but I also got a free 1.5L.
Its now 7 years old and is still like brand new - it even lived through my old flatmate leaving it ON THE STOVE overnight (I honestly nearly hit her ), it has even survived my husband! LOL
One of the best things I have ever bought, it will be wth me forever and we use it for everything. Well worth the money - much better than teh scanpan I bought at the same time which I have had to return!
The stew I cooked the other day only just fitted in to my largest pot. I didn't even have room to stir it, let alone add dumplings to it . The stew was okay, the smell of it lingered in my house for over a day, and the smell is still in the fridge! Anyway, I said to the Man over dinner that it only just fitted into the pot, and he got polenta (how the hell do you cook that stuff well?????) instead of dumplings because there was no room. ..."However I have seen a pot I really like, that is nice and big, but it is about $370"..... His reply... Well, guess you're not going to get that are you? Thanks darling. Will have to scrounge and save myself then I reckon. Trying to arrange our household finances a bit better, so maybe I can get some out of that.....
Muppity, good to know about the lifetime warranty if I ever get one...
Good visual! Yes... Household insurance... good idea....
Suse, haven't heard of them, but haven't been looking yet. I just know of a couple of brands through chefs I used to know. Nice friend with the lid!
I hate that lady (and fast ed when he is in the 'domestic' kitchen) on BH&G because they both have a large selection of le creuset.... Hmm, Muppity, your collection may be safe yet
Nic, apparently le creuset have an extra layer of enamel. I think. REad it the other day. I think maybe through kitchen direct website? Oh, and $$$ too.
I've got a big Le Creuset oval pot that gets used regularly - however if you can't justify spending the hundreds of dollars up front then just go to a camping store and buy a heavy cast iron dutch oven, once you have seasoned the pot according to the instructions it is 95% as good as a Le Creuset but only around 10% of the price.
A good thick bottomed stock pot is always a good thing to have around the place too...
Thanks Bear, I was thinking of just getting a cast iron pot from the camping store. I can see it getting hijacked by the Man when 4wding.... I can use that cast iron one to see exactly how often I would use a big pot, and if further down the track I can get a la creuset, then goody.
Yep, gotta get a stock pot! Might get an arcosteel one, as I have an arcosteel saucepan (my second largest one, but only just!), and I really like that one. Its got a thick great base.
We use ours when 4wding too - many of the recipes that you would make in your kitchen using a shiny enamaled pot work perfectly in a cast iron dutch oven around a camp fire.
Who has / Wants a La Creuset Pot?
As soon as I type this, I'm off to hang up washing, and do the dishes (
So many dishes!).
Do you want one....
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) I only started using it recently even though I have had it for around 5 years!!! I have no idea what the size is but its pretty big and oval.
La Creuset for Christmas, La Creuset for Christmas, La........ Think maybe if I'm good I'll get one?)
That site has some great stuff on it and some great prices too!!! 
), it has even survived my husband! LOL
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