Cast iron - Le Creuset or...

[jamgy]

I want a couple of new cast irons casseroles

I've got a 20cm LC but it's too small to be much use now we're a family of 5, and a John Lewis own brand 31cm shallow, but the base isn't dead flat which is a pain on an induction job, as it doesn't heat evenly

I want to replace them with a 24cm casserole and same size shallow, enamelled cast iron

I've got some (non cast iron) ProCook gear which I've been impressed with, and their cast pans are significantly cheaper than LC, but don't want to cheap out and have the same issue as the John Lewis pan

Any recommendations for cost effective, quality cast iron cookware, or do I need to dust off the powerfully-built credit card and yield to Le Creuset?

[bigtomski]

The Guardian reviewed these recently. Le Creuset came first priced at about £300 or so but the Habitat one was second in the test at a price of £30.

[21TonyK]

Don't ignore the Lidl and/or Aldi stuff. It compares well to Le Creuset and Staub for a fraction of the price.

[PT1984]

I have some of the Sainsbury’s / Habitat stuff. For me it’s as good as my other LC kit. They also do good sales every so often.

[T697JVS]

Buy cheap, buy twice.

Le Creuset.

Had mine for years, far better than any of the cheap alternatives.

[normalbloke]

T697JVS said:

Buy cheap, buy twice.

Le Creuset.

Had mine for years, far better than any of the cheap alternatives.

Why? What other brands did you try and find so terrible and lacking, and it which way, before you bought your posh stuff?

[3din]

These sand cast iron pans are the epitome of high tech. You must buy the most expensive to ensure you're not getting shafted with cheap aluminium!

[Venisonpie]

I've a wide assortment of pots and pans but the ones that remain constant are LC. As I replace going forward they'll all be LC.

[danydan]

I'll second the shout for the supermarket brands. I picked up an enamelled cast iron casserole from Tesco a few years back when it was on sale, and honestly it cooks just as well as the posh ones my mum swears by. Heavy lid, no sticking, and stews come out lovely. Only thing I'd say is watch the weight if you have smaller hands, and the handles get very hot so keep an oven glove handy. For a 24cm one in that price range I'd just go for it.

[JimM169]

We got a cheapy Barbury & Oak off of Amazon a few years ago, does everything we want and performs every bit as well as the bigger LC we also have.

[Mobile Chicane]

My parents were given a Le Creuset casserole dish as a wedding present in 1964. I'm still using it.

[Steve H]

I have Le Creuset and Procook casserole pots, not sure of the price difference but no doubt it’s significant.

I bought the cheaper one to use for OTT smoked chilli made on the kamado so it didn’t matter too much if I wrecked it but it worked perfectly and cleans up like new, absolutely no complaints on the quality.

[jamgy]

Thanks all. I don't the quality of the LC stuff and that it will last for ever, just whether the uplift is worth it or just all for the brand (there's not a lot to go wrong!? Though JL manged it with our pan)

It's about £600 for the two we're looking at from LC or a shade over £100 for e.g. ProCook equivalent. It'd be a bugger to return any that aren't up to snuff, but even with the price difference there's still the opportunity to have a few attempts and be quids in!

The comments have given me the confidence that a cheapy option is worth a punt

[vaud]

LC are good - they have an outlet sale occasionally where the prices are pretty good.

[tog]

PT1984 said:

I have some of the Sainsbury s / Habitat stuff. For me it s as good as my other LC kit. They also do good sales every so often.

This. I've a Sainsbury's one I use all the time. Had it 15 years at least and it's lasting just as well as my bigger LC, despite far more use (as it's a more convenient size).

[craig1912]

Absolutely nothing wrong with John Lewis own stuff.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-cast-iron-rou...

[LunarOne]

I'm a bit of a brand snob and have some Le Creuset, but I also have some similar supermarket brand stuff (I think it might have been Tesco or Sainsbury) and it's been just as good over 15-20 years, if not as stylish. I wouldn't bother paying more unless the price difference is immaterial to you.

[HelenT]

If you are not bothered about the latest colours Dawsons Direct has good prices on Le Creuset
https://www.ecookshop.co.uk/ecookshop/cook-shop.as...
Unfortunately had to replace a 25 year casserole a few weeks ago and was shocked by the price of new ones but got a replacement from Dawsons at a big discount. My Le Creuset certainly gets lots of use and copes well with it.

[TIGA84]

I bought this reduced in Sainsbury's from its RRP to £30, then further reduced to £17 a couple of years ago.

https://www.habitat.co.uk/product/7290033

Faultless.

[Steve H]

Either the spybots have been working well, or by coincidence, I had an email from Procook this morning promoting their sale on cast iron cookware

https://www.procook.co.uk/shop/cookware-and-bakewa...