Le Creuset enamel coated cast iron cookware Review

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RudiXeno
Boca Raton, FL

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Le Creuset: French for one heck of a roasting pan

looking for durability, a lover of bold, rich sauces, cooking at home most days, willing to pay for quality, a person who demands quality cookware, an adventurous cook, lover of things that make cooking easier

Pros

sturdy, no seasoning required, even heating

Cons

expensive, too heavy for daily use

DEC

2007

When it comes to roasting pans your choices are broad, ranging from a $2 disposable aluminum pan to $200 for a clad stainless steel pan from a company like All-Clad.

Me? I prefer the heavy enamel coated cast iron pans made by Le Creuset at their foundry in Fresnoy-Le-Grand in Northern France.

In truth, I don't care much for Le Creuset as my everyday cookware. It's just plain too heavy for daily use. But, the culinary results it produces are stellar. My roasting pan measures 14"x10"x3" and weighs in at over 9 lbs. before I put my first ingredient into it.

The virtues of cast iron
Few materials retain and disperse heat as well as cast iron. Le Creuset makes it a little bit more practical by coating the cast iron with a hard, durable enamel finish. Ideal for glazing; durable enough to stand slicing a roast right in the pan; it is impervious to almost all damage but chipping.

More than a roaster
While I'll use it about once a week as a roasting pan, I'm likely to take it our once more to make either a casserole or a baked pasta dish. Baked Ziti has no greater friend than a Le Creuset pan.

The Cost
Some things in life come dear. This is one of them. This particular roasting pan usually costs about $169. At the Le Creuset Outlet located in NC I can sometimes find them for $99, a good deal but still pricey.

I have seen lesser or no name brands of enameled cast iron pans of this size for as little as $39. Are they any good? I can't say, but if I couldn't afford the real thing I'd be tempted to try one.

My Viewpoint
Once you've roasted or baked with enamel coated cast iron such as Le Creuset, everything else is just a cut below. If you love to cook you'd do well to treat yourself to Le Creuset.

Now go cook something good tonight.

Regards,
Rudi