1

I have LeCreuset, I know I looked at some other pretty high end enamel cast iron at Christmas but most of them didn't have a smooth inside surface and from what I understand, that can sometimes make them harder to clean. I stayed with the LeCreuset, it was a Christmas gift for my sis.

Reading some reviews on Amazon about Lodge and quite a few people complained about the enamel coming off, along with this review which is quite scary:

"I was sauteing some onions and all of a sudden I heard a loud bang. I ssw glass like chips all over my stove and floor. I was totally freaked out. I thought something exploded. It took me a while to figure out what it was because the bottom of the pot was the last place I looked. A large outer part of the pot shot out. I have always hand washed this pot and have never placed it in a dish washer. Don't waste your money on this pot. I have this pot for less than less than three months and have used it less than ten times. I have contacted the seller. I'm hopeful for a refund."

There were also a lot of good reviews but it sounded like it started out being made in the US and later ones are being made in China.

Lots of money for LeCreuset but you probably won't regret it.

2

I didn't know that Lodge made enameled cast iron ware; I have one of their large skillets, which I love except for its weight, but it's the old-fashioned cast iron that needed seasoning. I also hve had four LeCreuset enameled cast iron pans of different sizes, although I've downsized to one medium-size pan (about 2.5 quarts).

It seems to me that LeCreuset is almost always on sale somewhere, so I would suggest looking both in newspaper ads and on line for deals. I don't think that open-stock pans go on sale as frequently as sets do, but maybe I'm wrong. I don't think there's a better pan made, so I wish you luck.

3

The only way you'll know is to buy a piece of each and try it for yourself. Perhaps you won't feel the urge to get a full set of either -- using just one may satisfy the beauty with functionality lust, or turn out to be heavier than you want to handle daily.

I read all online reviews with a skeptical mindset; as nutrax's tagline says "the plural of anectdote is not data".

4

Yes, I would probably start with just one piece, although it I like I doubt that I will stop there. That is unless I found as set at a truly great price. With the difference in the guarantees and more reading I am leaning toward dishing out the money for the LeCreuset.

I am not really worried about the weight. I have one of the larger cast iron dutch ovens that lodge makes and have no problem when it is full of baked beans so I think I would be fine with the weight.

The also have factory second stores. If these are really the same product and carry the same guarantee I wouldn't mind going that way.

thanks for the input

5

Under normal circumstances the weight would not be an issue with me, either. I had back surgery in the 1970s, though, after which it was impossible for me to lift my largest covered LeCreuset pan, about 3.5 quarts, when it had food in it. I gave it to my sister-in-law. It's still in that household, where it fed a couple and their three growing children for all these years.

6

NA,

I can completely understand. The weight could be limiting for a lot of people. A have a lot of issues but (at least at this point) the amount of weight would not be an issue.

Thanks,
Stan

7

I like the enameled stuff and have one good dutch oven (not le Crueset brand), but I prefer the indestructible nature of my Lodge cast iron. And it only improves with age and heavy use!

And it's much cheaper.

8

http://www.lodgemfg.com/lodge-enamel.asp

Lodge does make enameled cookware!

9

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Color-6-Quart-Dutch-Emerald/dp/B0012N7G60

6 quart enameled dutch oven from Amazon for $49??? With free shipping? That's a no-brainer!

10

Lodge's enameled stuff is made in China, if it matters.