A poor man's Le Creuset...

Unfortunately I didn't get out after all, NA. But hopefully I'll get to shop for it by the weekend.

That IKEA one looks pretty nice for the money.

The House of Fraser own brand ones look ok, but they don't feel as durable as Le Creuset.

As I suggested in the original thread, the seconds in the factory outlets have imperceptible flaws and usually have 40-50% off the rrp. I don't think I've ever actually paid full price for any of their products. I have a decent sized collection at this stage, as does my mother. Some of her stuff is thirty-five years old.

I don't know if I said this in the original thread or just thought about doing so, but Le Creuset's customer care is excellent. About eighteen months ago I dropped my grillit on my tiled kitchen floor which caused it to shatter. I was entirely at fault, yet they replaced it for me free of charge. I doubt that House of Fraser would do so; John Lewis might. I'd pay the extra for that kind of service.

You could always ask for it as a Christmas present from one of your daughters. I like getting kitchenware as gifts, but my mam would hit me over the head with a frying pan if I bought her one.

They do a very good job but they're not aesthetically appealing, a bit like the 70's chicken brick.

Fair point, Donkey.

I like getting kitchenware as gifts, but my mam would hit me over the head with a frying pan if I bought her one.

I got both of my Le Creusets as gifts and was most appreciative.
I tried a Martha Stewart 'equivalent' at a friend's house recently and hated it, it really didn't seem to heat or cook evenly.

The only thing I would add is that pans/casserole dishes like this are very very heavy. That seems obvious, but as someone with bad wrists I actually turned down a La Creuset frying pan when it was offered to me.

The only thing I would add is that pans/casserole dishes like this are very very heavy.

I gave a very large Le Creuset dutch oven to my sister-in-law many years ago after I had back surgery. I could life it straight up from a surface, but the weight and angle were too much for my back if I held it out in front of me, as I would if putting it in the sink to soak (or to put water in it when boiling something). It took me a couple of years to recover, at which time I bought a newer one that was a little smaller.

I have two Le Crueset roasters, one very large that will hold a 20+ lb. turkey, the other a bit smaller, more for roast beef or a chicken and a Le Crueset soup pot.

They are very, very heavy.

I love them and bought all three at a store closing, so only paid $140 CDN for all three. That was about 1/3 of the retail.

They are best for conducting heat but the weight can prove to be a problem.

They are best for conducting heat but the weight can prove to be a problem.

Where one person sees a problem, another sees opportunity. A woman invites a man over for dinner. He arrives, and immediately comments on the wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen; she put a roast in to cook about an hour earlier. They sit down to drinks in a candle-lit room.

At the appropriate time, the woman leans close to her guest with her eyes half closed and whispers "Do you know the real reason that I invited you for dinner tonight?" His heart skips a beat, and she says "The darn roasting pan is so heavy I need help getting it out of the oven."