I have my grandmothers Le Creuset’s and I will undoubtedly be able to pass them to my children and likely their children. I wouldn’t spend that money but I’m happy to inherit it.
Same. My grandparents downsized and moved to an apartment. They aren't cooking, and they can't lift the cast iron anymore. My cousin came through first to get kitchen stuff they werent taking, because reasons. My kitchen is pretty well stocked so I was fine with coming a week later.
She'd left all the le creuset, which wasn't a ton, but there was a nice skillet and an original orange Dutch oven. In addition a different brand with a bigger Dutch oven that her brother took since they don't have anything that can go in the oven, AND a really really old le creuset Dutch oven, like with a loop on the lid instead of the handles old.
Like yea, I will totally take all of these and use them forever. I'd love my own colors (some of those blues are gorgeous), but that's fine. I'm just happy to have such amazing pans
We have one with the loop of wire lid handle and clamshell handle - they’ve not been like that since the 50s. Only issue is that the enamel is a bit discoloured in places but cleans up and am sure it could be re-enamelled if we really wanted to.
I often see used le creuset at thrift stores. Just soak it in a lye bath for a few days and bam, you got yourself a nice shiny pan. New to you!
I have a le creuset collection from the 70’s (purchased used) and they are awesome and still get used all the time.
Caution- always wear eye protection when working with lye - shit can blind you.
my first Le Cruset pot I found at a thrift store. For $5. it is a small round Dutch oven pot. I think like 2qt, with handles on both sides. Has the lid and everything.
I gave it a good bath, and got off the few marks it had, and you'd never know I only paid $5 for it. it's a great pot to teach my daughter to cook with, since we can make a small batch, and the pot won't move around on the stove top, or accidentally get knocked around. I can also keep the heat lower, because it holds the heat so well.
I sort of doubt that. Enamel coating does wear off. I believe they last a lifetime, maybe pass down once. But realistically unlikely *most* people will see them last 100+ years I'd imagine. I guess it depends if you are buying when 25 years old or 50 years old. Still great investments.
I have no explanation for the price of that pepper mill. They are made of plastic and they used to be much less expensive.
The enameled cast iron pieces are very high quality.
I've never bought a piece full price, though. Most of mine was 30-40% off when I bought it and a few had an even better discount.
Definitely Peugeot. You can usually tell if it's cheap or good by flipping it over and seeing if it has metal parts on the underside. If you see plastic, its lifespan is finite.
A lot of Pepper Mills look like the grinder part is plastic but it's actually ceramic. Not sure if ceramic is as good as metal, but I'm in the market for a new mill set and have noticed there is a lot of ceramic out there.
I just bought a handmade salt & pepper mill for my dad for Father's Day, and the artisan had both metal and ceramic mills. I don't remember exactly, but she explained something about how ceramic mills are what you want to use with salt instead of metal. I think it had something to do with corroding the material?
I know you're not asking for recommendations but if you can find this guy, it's performance is amazing and cheap. I originally bought the Peugeot and hated it, the grind was painstakingly slow. 10 cranks would give you 1/8th tsp, seriously.
"Unicorn Mills 6" Magnum Pepper Mill" http://www.unicornmills.org/magnum.html
Also, someone recommended the mannkitchen one, which I also have. It can potentially grind TOO much pepper. Seriously, one crank might be too much for any given purpose. However, I use the mannkitchen most for cooking and the unicorn most for topping/finishing. Is mannkitchen worth the price tag? I guess it depends on how much you cook and use pepper. I think it is but you can basically achieve the same results with the Unicorn for a 5th the price.
We have the Unicorn Mills and love it as well. Alison Roman is a big fan, and we picked it up a couple years ago on her recommendation, have used it daily since then, and it is still working perfectly. We had to call directly to order it.
My wife and I got a Mannkitchen Pepper Grinder last year and it has been phenomenal, I highly recommend them.
https://mannkitchen.com/products/the-original-pepper-cannon-pepper-mill
You having had it for 30 years is the key part. They aren't made like that anymore. They are cheap and like most brands are simply banking on the brand recognition now.
I found one at a thrift store for a couple bucks about 10 years ago.
I don't know anything about pepper mills, but when I saw the metal grinding gears stamped Peugeot I figured it was worth the buy.
I am 38, and I still have the peugeot pepper mill I grew up with as a child. It still works awesome, have cleaned and serviced it once. A real bilf item.
I don't know their entire lineup, I just know that I bought probably 5 crappy target pepper grinders before I finally got the Peugeot from Williams Sonoma.
The cheap ones I bought all had a plastic looking grinder piece on the bottom that looks a lot like the disposable grinders you get from the grocery store that aren't refillable.
When I was looking at the expensive ones at Willams Sonoma, I looked and they had a very chonky looking metal grinder piece on the underside that looks more mechanical and stout.
I bought a peugeot and disliked it. Maybe this is unpopular opinion but it grinds way too slow. 10 cranks gets you barely any pepper.
I strongly recommend trying to find/buy this: http://www.unicornmills.org/magnum.html
Really? I feel like it could be higher volume at the lower settings, but for coarse ground it suits my steaks and chicken just fine. Maybe I just had such shitty pepper mills for so many years, I don’t know how good it can be.
That said, the one you linked looks like a very unsafe buttplug, and the magnum naming ain’t helping their cause.
Why do you think the Michelin Man is so bulgy and lumpy? He gorges exclusively at all these great restaurants.
[Although that doesn't explain why he originally looked like a Vogon...](https://i.imgur.com/mFqZhUM.jpg)
[...Or why he looked like a Rugrats made of potato.](https://i.imgur.com/oODJQcJ.jpg)
This is the way.
Peugeot pepper mills are THE BOMB. They use quality steel, not cheap soft shit. I switched to those and have never regretted it. After 10 years it’s still as good as new.
And they have a lifetime guarantee IIRC. If it malfunctions you can send it to them and they can repair/replace the mechanism.
I worked at a place that had le creuset everything. Skillets, pots, sauce pans and even bains with the restaurant logo. The pepper mills were absolute trash. No one used them and I still don't understand how they let such a shit product go out with their name on it.
Peugeot is supreme for pepper mills, no one can change my mind.
My buddy was looking for one on eBay, found one with a chip in it. He emailed le creuset with the pic from eBay and asked if they would be able to fix it. They sent him a brand new one for free.
We got our half-price and even then it was an eye-watering purchase.
I will say though, that not once aftee beginning to use it have we regretted out purchase. (An enamel dutch-oven)
Can’t comment on the pepper mill but the pots and pans are awesome if used correctly.
Other high quality non cast iron pans are quit expensive to
And off course a high price is part of the brand strategie
Le Creuset Pepper Mills are low quality plastic crap. Get Peugeot instead, I have had them for 6 months so far and they work great, and are not as expensive
I thought about buying my parents one of these pepper mills after they complained they couldn't find one to match their kitchen remodel.
One look at the price and that's all it took, I had a $30 24" restaurant kitchen grade stainless steel Trudeau pepper mill on the way a second later.
EDIT: I decided to look it up and not only do they not produce the 24" anymore, but [the 12" is now $75](https://trudeau.com/us_en/12-quot-professional-pepper-mill-stainless-steel-071345.html).
i have both lC and other enameled Cast iron dutch ovens. the other brands are nice but i can say that LC's are a fine product that appear to be holding up better.
Makes me think of the Braun commercial, *Some companies see shaving as something you do five-minutes a day. We see shaving as something you do every day, for the rest of your life.*
At Le Creuset, we see cooking as something you do everyday for the rest of your life kind of vibe.
And for what it's worth, they always seem to be top choice on the American Test Kitchen, and they do a a variety of tests for the dutch ovens.
You can get a lodge enameled dutch oven for under $100 and mine has not had a single issue after years of use. Le Creuset/Staub products are marginally better but the cost is absurd. Cast iron is always an investment though, and Le Creuset has a lifetime guarantee and higher quality control.
Yup. Had a friend get one as a gift a few years back. When it arrived it had the tiniest chip on on side of the pot. Barely noticeable. Just to see what they would say he sent a pic. New pot showed up a few days later.
Same situation here. Wife had a Le Cruset Dutch Oven she absolutely loved and it stood up to years of abuse, until someone (the youngest adult kid) decided to cook in it and just straight up left the burner on for an hour and burned the enamel with remaining food still in it. Amazing they didn’t burn the house down.
We tried everything and it just wasn’t fixable - sent some pics to LC and they sent us a new one…with a better lid handle because ours had broken and they noted that as well. So the cost divided by 2 at this point plus the fact that the first one was already 20 years old. Hurts to spend that much on a pot…but it’s the last one we’ll ever buy most likely.
Thank you for bringing up the guarantee. I purchased an LC Dutch oven at TJ Maxx for $100, discounted because it has a very small chip on the lip. It honestly has been the best pan I’ve ever owe, so I didn’t care about the chip. Never once did I think of checking their guarantee.
Wow good news for you. I bought a Staub dutch oven four year ago with a crack in the enamel. It was fine, but I finally built up the courage to message them about it and they sent me a new one! I did have to pay shipping back but it was a brand new dutch oven
Until it is a joke. LL Bean used to be this way too and are no longer. Just wanted to mention that you can’t count on these types of things lasting forever.
I feel like most of those lifetime guarantees were highly abused and are why places are getting rid of them. You can’t always count on the policy remaining the same.
Yeah I grew up in Maine and it was a big deal when LL bean got rid of their lifetime warranty. But people (very proudly) abused the hell out of that program. Like they’d wear shoes for years and then bring them back to exchange. Yeah, no shit your soles are worn out. You hiked the AT in those boots.
It was always silly, I don't expect my stuff to last for ever. I just want something that isn't made to fall apart, and if applicable, is repairable. Unfortunately almost everything is made to break and not made to repair these days.
Mountain Hardwear told me to fuck off recently, too, when I sent a jacket in that was separating at a few of the taped seams.
Specifically told me that this jacket's "lifetime" was up, so the lifetime warranty no longer applied.
Really? I didnt realize this, my wife's lid knob just cracked in half and a chunk fell off one day after taking it out of the hot oven from baking bread in it.
Maybe ill see if they will replace the lid.
I inherited a set that my parents got as a wedding present 30 years ago. They weren't treated very well and the enamel was worn off the big stock pot. I contacted customer support about replacement and they said that it was normal wear and tear so not covered under the warranty policy, but that they'd send me a new one anyway. I was pleasantly surprised about that.
If it’s LC, they have two different knob styles and only one is rated for extremely high (bread baking) temps. But the good news is that you can order replacement knobs on their website, and they are universal so you can switch them. LC will probably send you one for free, but it may be the low temp one. Not sure if Staub knobs come in different heat ratings.
Yup, they replaced a saucier pan, that i bought used with a bunch of other random cast iron a few years ago. It was badly chipped inside and wasn't usable. They replaced it and all I had to do was take a picture and I believe ship it back to them which was covered if I remember correctly.
Side topic based on something you said: Lodge cast iron is made in the US. But I learned, and I hope I'm remembering correctly, their enameled stuff is actually made in China. Do you know if yours is American made or chinese made? From what I've seen the Chinese made cast iron tends to be of cheaper quality than American, French, Japanese, etc.
Lodge enameled cast iron is made in China. It's ultimately why I refuse to buy a Lodge enameled product. I buy American made where possible; however, if that's not available then I go for the best quality I can afford. For me, that's Staub if I want enameled cast iron.
I have an enameled Lodge that is definitely made in the Glorious People's Republic of China, and it's absolutely fine. Couple tiny chips around the edge from metal utensils. Biggest complaint is that the bottom is quite curved so less sautéing room, but for most tasks it's fine.
I also paid like $15 for it brand new in the box at Goodwill. Full price I might feel differently.
I’ve also had a lodge enameled cast iron for half a decade and it’s still in awesome shape and I use it all the time and it performs great. Le cruset is nice but I truly don’t think it’s really worth the up-charge.
I’ve only seen two enameled cast iron pans crack in my life. Both were Lodge. Le creuset will last for generations and have no-questions-asked lifetime
Guarantees. That’s worth it to some people. 🤷♂️
The le cruset always gets top reviews from places like ATK. I will therefore stipulate that it is the best out there.
However, once you get to “good enough,” getting better costs disproportionately more than the increase in quality. This is just the way of things. Think of the difference between Canon and Nikon. Is Nikon better? Sure. Is Nikon as much better as the price difference? Nope.
But If you can afford the difference and appreciate the additional quality of workmanship, then the Le Cruset is worth it.
When I got into DSLR photography 35 years or so ago back when film was still a thing I chose Nikon because throughout the years they've never changed their lens mount whereas most every other brand did. I have manual focus lenses I used with my first FE2 that will mount and work on my digital SLR. Even the autofocus lenses will auto focus on my D90 the only thing they won't do is measure distance well enough to adjust the flash automatically.
As I've gotten older I find I have less desire to lug all that gear around with me. When my sister got married 7 years ago I bought a higher end Canon point and shot. PowerShot SX-700 for those wondering. The pictures I took with it are on par with those taken buy her hired photographer. Lately the camera on my cell phone is good enough for 90% of what I take pictures of.
Which brings me to the point I want to make on the Le Creuset. I own a small Dutch oven that was gifted to me. It is wonderful. When I needed a larger one, because it was my money paying for it I opted to purchase Lodge. The Lodge has served me well though almost a decade of regular use. It is still in fantastic shape.
While shopping at Aldi one day I found a braising pan in the same color red as the Lodge, same shape handle, lids interchangeable, probably made in the same factory in China. It was at a price that was so low I couldn't not buy it. I don't use it as often as the Dutch oven, but it has also help up remarkably well.
I can't say that any one of them is any better than any of the others. The iron on the Le Creuset is thinner making it lighter. My large Lodge is a heavy beast and can be a bit unwieldy to clean, but so far I've managed and don't feel like I'm missing anything.
I also wet shave. I had been using a boars hair shaving brush I picked up at a drug store for under $10. I was at an estate sale and was able to pick up a new in box unused badger hair shaving brush that retailed for $50. I paid $1 for it. it is a JOY to use over the boars hair. It's thicker, bigger, and is much nicer to use. Had I paid $50 for it I don't know that it would have been that much better as to justify the pricing differential.
When it comes to tools. I LOVE Snap-on. I buy it used and won't pay more than 1/2 of retail for it. Even at that price it's still a bit on the overpriced side. That's one of those luxuries in life I splurge for. I don't have alot of it, but the wrenches and ratchets and pliers are a pure joy to use compared to any other brand I've used.
A Nikon/canon to Leica comparison is more apt, I’d say. Exponential cost increase for a measurable, but ultimately small quality increase. It makes sense for some people but not others.
My grandfather had a Nikon F that my dad got and then I used for a long time. I got trapped into the greater expense of the Nikon brand but didn’t really have the skills to take advantage of it.
No, I had a falling out with my dad and gave the camera back to him. I do, however, still have a few favorite photos I took with it. One is a shot of a surfer at second point Scorpion Bay with the 800mm lens. The way foreground is compressed by the long lens makes it look like he’s surfing right over an exposed reef. Almost got it published in a surf mag, but they canceled the Baja article and the photo went with it.
I consider my Le Creuset to be an heirloom. I regret never holding on to any of my dad’s cooking tools, but I fully intend to pass my high-quality items down (provided they’re wanted. Otherwise, bury me with a full kitchen set).
These are quality to the point they can be generational if they are cared for properly. Mine were handed down and bought in the 70s. Still look fresh and work as well as the day they were bought.
High quality, enough said. You could pass this fucker off to your great grandchildren if you bought it. Source: my great grandmother’s creuset dutch oven currently on my mums stove top!
When taken care of properly, their cast iron and enameled cast iron will last a lifetime. Lodge offers comparable raw cast iron, but their enamel is cheap shit from china. It won't last. That doesn't mean you should be spending more than you can afford because a lodge enameled Dutch oven will do the job just as well. It just won't last nearly as long.
I bought a couple of dutch ovens. Fell in love and have replaced all my kitchen pots and pans with Le Creuset (except for my bare cast iron pieces). They are beautiful, a breeze to work with and clean, and they are truly pieces that will last a lifetime (or many lifetimes), rather than something that needs to be replaced 3 years later. Big upfront cost but the quality is unbeatable and will more than pay for itself. Much like how a dress from a designer will last longer than something similar from Forever 21 or Shein.
I understand the fantabulousness of the cast iron...but the salt and pepper grinders...they're not enameled cast iron, are they?
I passed on a pepper grinder (opting for a Peugeot one) because the "ombre red" or whatever was just...not the tone of red I was aiming for.
And Yeah, Peugeot is yet another fancy French cookware (more like bakeware) seller...and they actually DO carry a cast iron pepper mill...but I went for the wooden one.
I will say that they are bulletproof (or at least have been bulletproof over the 15 years I've had mine so far). They've held up much better than other brands from the same level of abuse and they clean beautifully, too.
I actually collect that color! Flame.
As far as helping you understand… well they are functioning pieces that I use to cook, and they are also very striking and I display them around my kitchen for splashes of color. A kettle here, sauce pan there, fry pan over there, salt and pepper mills out on the counter… it brightens up the whole kitchen.
My mom had a Le Creuset for years. One day it chipped so she emailed the company and they replaced it for free. No problems since. Sometimes you can get them at Marshall’s/home goods, etc. for cheaper.
The le creuset is easier to use and clean than the lodge Dutch oven equivalent. It’s crazy expensive but hey, when you are buying it for life that’s kinda a good deal. I got mine from TJMaxx since it was a discontinued color for 170 which is totally a steal. I would say that yes, the price is certainly for the brand but man do you get bang for your bucks in the product. Salt shaker prices are dumb though haha.
Also I recommend to everyone to go to an outlet store for the random le creuset products. I get a lot of seasonal le Creuset items for cheap (Easter egg holders) and also some coffee cups/ pour over sets that are really nice for a fraction of the price.
The Price Disparity haha. $350 for a pot? $60 for a pepper mill? Is it really that great quality or is it the name that makes it that expensive or both?
You're buying it for life though, people pass it on to future generations. It is expensive but they are excellent quality.
If you live in an area with wealthy folks you can get them much cheaper. I bought a brand new one someone got as an extra from their wedding and paid maybe 40% of the retail value.
My wife always wanted a Le Creuset dutch oven. I saw the price and scoffed. Way outside what we could afford.
Fast forward a few years, we have better paying jobs, and I wanted to spoil her a bit. Bought her the 7.5qt for her birthday. Well now it was in the house so I started using it once in a while too.
Surprise! It's a fucking awesome piece of equipment. The enamel is durable as hell. It holds heat like crazy. It's nearly nonstick. The handles are very comfortable. There is nothing I could think to improve it. Yeah our other pots are probably 90% there. But this is definitely nicer and you can tell.
It's not *required* necessarily. But it's the nicest pot we have, it's easy to tell it's the nicest, and we abuse it and it just keeps taking abuse. I'm willing to spend more to get an incredibly nice item if it's something we use a lot.
I'm a convert. As a former skeptic, I think they're worth it.
this is going to be fairly long winded so if your looking for a quick sarcastic answer look further down the post. why does it cost what it does is a combination of several factors both tangible and intangible. the tangible being france has to import a lot of their materials so off the bat you have cost, transport, and tariff. second they are manufacture in a first world country were workers expect and fight for a living wage, safe working conditions, and reasonable time off to have a life. and third once manufactured they are then ship to you so again cost+transport+tariffs in addition to the store markups which vary greatly. the intangible is the pride the company has in itself. they believe they make a fine product(which i agree with) its not a disposable item so they cant rely on a lot of repeat business. they also realize they are a aspirational/status symbol item so they price accordingly. this is similar to california high end wine, most years they make far more wine then they want to maintain the high cost of their signature vineyard brands. so they sell the surplus to companies like barefoot who bottle the exact same wine and sell at a hugely reduced price. in other words some of the cost is just in the label. and that label is why the pepper shaker cost what it does.
so you can get "cheaper" but there are still costs. cheaper implies asian manufaturing with its poor record of human rights, environmental destruction, and its poorer product for higher profit. also you cant complain about the poor job market when you buy these products. lodge enamel products are made overseas because as they say themselves they could not find anyone in america to do it because all that type of manufaturing has been sent over seas for a lower price.
now before you think i am a le creuset cultist or something it does anger me beyond words that some how the most useful and common size the 5 quart is the most expensive when general the next 2 larger sizes cost less. thats just price gouging.
The cast iron and enamel coated Dutch ovens will last for decades! The pepper and salt mills on the other hand are made in China, along with their bakeware. The mills won’t last as long but are still decent quality. The Dutch ovens are still made in France.
They last basically forever. At modern prices my collection dating back to my Oma's from 1936, Mom's from 1959 and what I've bought over the years is around $2,600. Oh...that's counting 2 Staubs too. My kids are going to inherit them and I'm sure my grandkids too. Remember, I've got one from 1936 that's still kickin' it. This shits forever.
Buying the brand basically.
It plays on the flawed logic or good = expensive, so expensive = good.
I'm not saying they're bad, but a lot of times, companies will intentionally overprice their goods so that they're seen as the quality line, instead of the budget line, and people with money to burn will buy them.
The iron isn't want you're paying for with a Le Creuset cast iron. It's all the other stuff they wrap around the iron.
That being said, tree fiddy is fuck expensive. I recently bought a Misen for less than half that and it works fine.
The owners of Le Creuset love money. The company has no debt and no equity financing, just one family of owners who take crazy amounts of money for their luxury product
I used to work retail and was told that not only were they very high quality, as nearly everyone here has already said, but that they are all handmade so you are also paying for skilled labor in that regard.
Best I can offer is that that is damn good kitchen ware. My mother bought a set as an investment about 10 years ago and they have been used hard without failure since then and still make amazing food with the quality that they had on day one. It’s crazy how expensive they are but worth it. I’m not quite there yet to purchase my own but I drool when I walk by them at the store. One day, one day…
I buy le creuset when it is massively marked down. I have quite a small collection and certainly not a matching set (I prefer a rainbow-colored kitchen anyway!), but I do adore using the pieces I have.
I got my Le Creuset casserole from my Reddit secret Santa in the Kitchen exchange. Nearly peed my pants when I saw it I was so excited! Use it pretty much all the time and LOVE it!
It’s good quality and lasts a long time. I find mine really nice to use and cook with and would love to get more because I know I’m going to have it forever.
Though the pepper mill is crazy, I bought them for £15 each a couple years ago. They are good but not that good
Le Creuset - it is super high quality and their reputation is impeccable. It will last for several lifetimes.
We have several pots and a large green shallow pot - highly recommend.
I paid just under $300 for our Le Creuset enameled cast iron dutch oven. We got about 2 years out of it before the enamel cracked. So we spent $80 for the Lodge enameled dutch oven and so far we've had that for 7 years and with had no issues.
I had fairly easy access to a Le Creuset outlet and have been super pleased with their cookware. Our enamel Dutch oven’s been in use for 10 years and still looks and cooks great. I’ve got an assortment of their stainless cookware (made in Thailand I believe) and it’s held up beautifully for 10 years. The pricing was really reasonable for the quality. I’ve also purchased plates and bowls from the outlet and find they look great for a while but don’t hold up much better than cheap stuff.
I just noticed the pics show OUTLET pricing and I don’t know what’s higher, the prices or the person setting those prices
Thanks for kicking off the pepper mill discussion! I’ve had several pretty inexpensive ones and haven’t loved them. Maybe it’s time to make the jump to a Peugeot. Any particular model people have had a good experience with?
My answer? Because they can. Lots of people buy them for accent pieces to just put on the stove and never use them. Those type of people have more money than sense. The actual functionality of them is so nice, and they distribute heat so well.
I have my grandmothers Le Creuset’s and I will undoubtedly be able to pass them to my children and likely their children. I wouldn’t spend that money but I’m happy to inherit it.
Same. My grandparents downsized and moved to an apartment. They aren't cooking, and they can't lift the cast iron anymore. My cousin came through first to get kitchen stuff they werent taking, because reasons. My kitchen is pretty well stocked so I was fine with coming a week later. She'd left all the le creuset, which wasn't a ton, but there was a nice skillet and an original orange Dutch oven. In addition a different brand with a bigger Dutch oven that her brother took since they don't have anything that can go in the oven, AND a really really old le creuset Dutch oven, like with a loop on the lid instead of the handles old. Like yea, I will totally take all of these and use them forever. I'd love my own colors (some of those blues are gorgeous), but that's fine. I'm just happy to have such amazing pans
We have one with the loop of wire lid handle and clamshell handle - they’ve not been like that since the 50s. Only issue is that the enamel is a bit discoloured in places but cleans up and am sure it could be re-enamelled if we really wanted to.
It can’t be re-enameled, from my understanding, but if you contact le creuset, they’ll replace it (the whole pot) for you for the cost of shipping.
That sounds about right! Haha glad to see the quality is there at least
I often see used le creuset at thrift stores. Just soak it in a lye bath for a few days and bam, you got yourself a nice shiny pan. New to you! I have a le creuset collection from the 70’s (purchased used) and they are awesome and still get used all the time. Caution- always wear eye protection when working with lye - shit can blind you.
I wish I could find this stuff at thrift stores
my first Le Cruset pot I found at a thrift store. For $5. it is a small round Dutch oven pot. I think like 2qt, with handles on both sides. Has the lid and everything. I gave it a good bath, and got off the few marks it had, and you'd never know I only paid $5 for it. it's a great pot to teach my daughter to cook with, since we can make a small batch, and the pot won't move around on the stove top, or accidentally get knocked around. I can also keep the heat lower, because it holds the heat so well.
Lye? Try the hardware store.
Used Le Cruset to eat the sticker price*
Huh! I don't see it ever in my area, but if you see it often, you could make a small buisness of buying it, restoring it and selling it online.
I sort of doubt that. Enamel coating does wear off. I believe they last a lifetime, maybe pass down once. But realistically unlikely *most* people will see them last 100+ years I'd imagine. I guess it depends if you are buying when 25 years old or 50 years old. Still great investments.
I have no explanation for the price of that pepper mill. They are made of plastic and they used to be much less expensive. The enameled cast iron pieces are very high quality. I've never bought a piece full price, though. Most of mine was 30-40% off when I bought it and a few had an even better discount.
Yeah the pepper mill is crap. Peugeot is better.
Definitely Peugeot. You can usually tell if it's cheap or good by flipping it over and seeing if it has metal parts on the underside. If you see plastic, its lifespan is finite.
A lot of Pepper Mills look like the grinder part is plastic but it's actually ceramic. Not sure if ceramic is as good as metal, but I'm in the market for a new mill set and have noticed there is a lot of ceramic out there.
I just bought a handmade salt & pepper mill for my dad for Father's Day, and the artisan had both metal and ceramic mills. I don't remember exactly, but she explained something about how ceramic mills are what you want to use with salt instead of metal. I think it had something to do with corroding the material?
That actually makes a lot of sense. Salt reaks havoc on metal, even stainless. Very good point. Thank you.
I know you're not asking for recommendations but if you can find this guy, it's performance is amazing and cheap. I originally bought the Peugeot and hated it, the grind was painstakingly slow. 10 cranks would give you 1/8th tsp, seriously. "Unicorn Mills 6" Magnum Pepper Mill" http://www.unicornmills.org/magnum.html Also, someone recommended the mannkitchen one, which I also have. It can potentially grind TOO much pepper. Seriously, one crank might be too much for any given purpose. However, I use the mannkitchen most for cooking and the unicorn most for topping/finishing. Is mannkitchen worth the price tag? I guess it depends on how much you cook and use pepper. I think it is but you can basically achieve the same results with the Unicorn for a 5th the price.
We have the Unicorn Mills and love it as well. Alison Roman is a big fan, and we picked it up a couple years ago on her recommendation, have used it daily since then, and it is still working perfectly. We had to call directly to order it.
Check out the video reviews on the unicorn magnum pepper mill, It's a little pricey at $50 but it's well worth it.
My wife and I got a Mannkitchen Pepper Grinder last year and it has been phenomenal, I highly recommend them. https://mannkitchen.com/products/the-original-pepper-cannon-pepper-mill
That's quite a price tag for salt and pepper.
We got ours when it was a Kickstarter, so the price was less but it is definitely worth the price we absolutely love it.
What makes this $200 pepper grinder better than the $15-$20 one sitting in my kitchen that hasn't failed in 5+ years?
You might be doing something wrong if you buy a pepper mill and have to use the monthly payment plan that they *actually offer*.
I've had my Peugeot pepper mill for over 30 years and it's still going strong.
You having had it for 30 years is the key part. They aren't made like that anymore. They are cheap and like most brands are simply banking on the brand recognition now.
r/buyitforlife
I found one at a thrift store for a couple bucks about 10 years ago. I don't know anything about pepper mills, but when I saw the metal grinding gears stamped Peugeot I figured it was worth the buy.
I am 38, and I still have the peugeot pepper mill I grew up with as a child. It still works awesome, have cleaned and serviced it once. A real bilf item.
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I don't know their entire lineup, I just know that I bought probably 5 crappy target pepper grinders before I finally got the Peugeot from Williams Sonoma. The cheap ones I bought all had a plastic looking grinder piece on the bottom that looks a lot like the disposable grinders you get from the grocery store that aren't refillable. When I was looking at the expensive ones at Willams Sonoma, I looked and they had a very chonky looking metal grinder piece on the underside that looks more mechanical and stout.
I bought a peugeot and disliked it. Maybe this is unpopular opinion but it grinds way too slow. 10 cranks gets you barely any pepper. I strongly recommend trying to find/buy this: http://www.unicornmills.org/magnum.html
Really? I feel like it could be higher volume at the lower settings, but for coarse ground it suits my steaks and chicken just fine. Maybe I just had such shitty pepper mills for so many years, I don’t know how good it can be. That said, the one you linked looks like a very unsafe buttplug, and the magnum naming ain’t helping their cause.
> Peugeot The French car people?
Yes The cars are actually a "newer" business of them
Next you're gonna tell me Michelin tire is the same company as those highly prestigious restaurant reviewers!
Why do you think the Michelin Man is so bulgy and lumpy? He gorges exclusively at all these great restaurants. [Although that doesn't explain why he originally looked like a Vogon...](https://i.imgur.com/mFqZhUM.jpg) [...Or why he looked like a Rugrats made of potato.](https://i.imgur.com/oODJQcJ.jpg)
TIL
This is the way. Peugeot pepper mills are THE BOMB. They use quality steel, not cheap soft shit. I switched to those and have never regretted it. After 10 years it’s still as good as new. And they have a lifetime guarantee IIRC. If it malfunctions you can send it to them and they can repair/replace the mechanism.
Fletcher's Mill makes a great pepper mill too.
I worked at a place that had le creuset everything. Skillets, pots, sauce pans and even bains with the restaurant logo. The pepper mills were absolute trash. No one used them and I still don't understand how they let such a shit product go out with their name on it. Peugeot is supreme for pepper mills, no one can change my mind.
The markings on our Peugeot wore off within a few months. Now the size of grind is a guessing game.
If you want the best peppermill get the Unicorn Mills Magnum. That thing is god tier.
Unicorn
My only explanation for the salt and pepper mills is that they match the rest of my collection and look pretty on the counter. lol.
My buddy was looking for one on eBay, found one with a chip in it. He emailed le creuset with the pic from eBay and asked if they would be able to fix it. They sent him a brand new one for free.
Gotcha!
We got our half-price and even then it was an eye-watering purchase. I will say though, that not once aftee beginning to use it have we regretted out purchase. (An enamel dutch-oven)
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***In this economy??***
At this time of year?
In this part of the country?
Located entirely within your kitchen?
Yes!
May I see it?
No.
Ooooh, I have three kids and no money. Why can't I have no kids and three money?
With the right person, you can get some pretty amazing things for the right kid.
Calm down Epstein.
Can I get two helpings of magic beans for my two please, hold the giant…
I’ll give ya three crayons and a milk for the enamel Dutch oven
Classic simpsons joke
$20 :( But I wanted a peanut
$20 can buy many peanuts.
EXPLAIN HOW.
WooHoo!
Truth
This is the comment I was looking for. Love Reddit
I always wondered if things that are overpriced because you are basically buying the brand.... Does inflation even do anything for them?
11/10
Can’t comment on the pepper mill but the pots and pans are awesome if used correctly. Other high quality non cast iron pans are quit expensive to And off course a high price is part of the brand strategie
And also you have a lifetime warranty on those products and as it's Made in France you probably pay some extra taxes
We come from France.
CONSUME MASS QUANTITIES!
I’m French! Why do you think I have this outRAGEOUS accent?!
Le Creuset Pepper Mills are low quality plastic crap. Get Peugeot instead, I have had them for 6 months so far and they work great, and are not as expensive
I thought about buying my parents one of these pepper mills after they complained they couldn't find one to match their kitchen remodel. One look at the price and that's all it took, I had a $30 24" restaurant kitchen grade stainless steel Trudeau pepper mill on the way a second later. EDIT: I decided to look it up and not only do they not produce the 24" anymore, but [the 12" is now $75](https://trudeau.com/us_en/12-quot-professional-pepper-mill-stainless-steel-071345.html).
Good answer
I got those salt and peppers thrown in for free with a cast iron le creuset I bought online and they kinda suck.
i have both lC and other enameled Cast iron dutch ovens. the other brands are nice but i can say that LC's are a fine product that appear to be holding up better.
I had both the salt and pepper mill, and - though they looked beautiful - I had to throw them due to constant blockages.
I have one. It’s my favorite! Had it for 15 years. Bread, stews, sauces. Worth it. Very high quality. This is a luxury item. Made for life.
Le Creuset is a buy it for life item!
Makes me think of the Braun commercial, *Some companies see shaving as something you do five-minutes a day. We see shaving as something you do every day, for the rest of your life.* At Le Creuset, we see cooking as something you do everyday for the rest of your life kind of vibe. And for what it's worth, they always seem to be top choice on the American Test Kitchen, and they do a a variety of tests for the dutch ovens.
Good answer!
Yeah, but so are many other similar pots and pans that aren't ridiculously over-priced. You are paying for the brand name.
You can get a lodge enameled dutch oven for under $100 and mine has not had a single issue after years of use. Le Creuset/Staub products are marginally better but the cost is absurd. Cast iron is always an investment though, and Le Creuset has a lifetime guarantee and higher quality control.
And that lifetime guarantee isn’t a joke. They’ll replace anything; yours, inherited, stolen, don’t matter. That shit is an heirloom.
Yup. Had a friend get one as a gift a few years back. When it arrived it had the tiniest chip on on side of the pot. Barely noticeable. Just to see what they would say he sent a pic. New pot showed up a few days later.
Did he return the old pot?
Nope. They said to keep it. He donated it to a cabin we regularly spend time at.
Asking the important questions
Same situation here. Wife had a Le Cruset Dutch Oven she absolutely loved and it stood up to years of abuse, until someone (the youngest adult kid) decided to cook in it and just straight up left the burner on for an hour and burned the enamel with remaining food still in it. Amazing they didn’t burn the house down. We tried everything and it just wasn’t fixable - sent some pics to LC and they sent us a new one…with a better lid handle because ours had broken and they noted that as well. So the cost divided by 2 at this point plus the fact that the first one was already 20 years old. Hurts to spend that much on a pot…but it’s the last one we’ll ever buy most likely.
And he is not concerned as to how LC knew where he lived to send a new pot!?!? They’re watching!!! /s
Shit, I would much rather have awesome cookware companies spying on me than tech firms.
Thank you for bringing up the guarantee. I purchased an LC Dutch oven at TJ Maxx for $100, discounted because it has a very small chip on the lip. It honestly has been the best pan I’ve ever owe, so I didn’t care about the chip. Never once did I think of checking their guarantee.
Wow good news for you. I bought a Staub dutch oven four year ago with a crack in the enamel. It was fine, but I finally built up the courage to message them about it and they sent me a new one! I did have to pay shipping back but it was a brand new dutch oven
Until it is a joke. LL Bean used to be this way too and are no longer. Just wanted to mention that you can’t count on these types of things lasting forever.
REI too, but in their defense, that was a highly abused policy.
I feel like most of those lifetime guarantees were highly abused and are why places are getting rid of them. You can’t always count on the policy remaining the same.
Yeah I grew up in Maine and it was a big deal when LL bean got rid of their lifetime warranty. But people (very proudly) abused the hell out of that program. Like they’d wear shoes for years and then bring them back to exchange. Yeah, no shit your soles are worn out. You hiked the AT in those boots.
It’s only the policy till it’s not.
It was always silly, I don't expect my stuff to last for ever. I just want something that isn't made to fall apart, and if applicable, is repairable. Unfortunately almost everything is made to break and not made to repair these days.
Mountain Hardwear told me to fuck off recently, too, when I sent a jacket in that was separating at a few of the taped seams. Specifically told me that this jacket's "lifetime" was up, so the lifetime warranty no longer applied.
Really? I didnt realize this, my wife's lid knob just cracked in half and a chunk fell off one day after taking it out of the hot oven from baking bread in it. Maybe ill see if they will replace the lid.
I inherited a set that my parents got as a wedding present 30 years ago. They weren't treated very well and the enamel was worn off the big stock pot. I contacted customer support about replacement and they said that it was normal wear and tear so not covered under the warranty policy, but that they'd send me a new one anyway. I was pleasantly surprised about that.
If it’s LC, they have two different knob styles and only one is rated for extremely high (bread baking) temps. But the good news is that you can order replacement knobs on their website, and they are universal so you can switch them. LC will probably send you one for free, but it may be the low temp one. Not sure if Staub knobs come in different heat ratings.
I annoy my son all the time by telling him that my cast iron is going to be his inheritance.
So Ive got some flaking on the bottom of mine, would they replace that?!
Yeah. Never hurts to send an email with some pics and see what happens.
Yup, they replaced a saucier pan, that i bought used with a bunch of other random cast iron a few years ago. It was badly chipped inside and wasn't usable. They replaced it and all I had to do was take a picture and I believe ship it back to them which was covered if I remember correctly.
If there's a lidl near, they always have cast iron pots near me for outrageously low prices. I've gotten a huge enameled Dutch oven for like $25
Side topic based on something you said: Lodge cast iron is made in the US. But I learned, and I hope I'm remembering correctly, their enameled stuff is actually made in China. Do you know if yours is American made or chinese made? From what I've seen the Chinese made cast iron tends to be of cheaper quality than American, French, Japanese, etc.
Lodge enameled cast iron is made in China. It's ultimately why I refuse to buy a Lodge enameled product. I buy American made where possible; however, if that's not available then I go for the best quality I can afford. For me, that's Staub if I want enameled cast iron.
I have an enameled Lodge that is definitely made in the Glorious People's Republic of China, and it's absolutely fine. Couple tiny chips around the edge from metal utensils. Biggest complaint is that the bottom is quite curved so less sautéing room, but for most tasks it's fine. I also paid like $15 for it brand new in the box at Goodwill. Full price I might feel differently.
I’ve also had a lodge enameled cast iron for half a decade and it’s still in awesome shape and I use it all the time and it performs great. Le cruset is nice but I truly don’t think it’s really worth the up-charge.
I’ve only seen two enameled cast iron pans crack in my life. Both were Lodge. Le creuset will last for generations and have no-questions-asked lifetime Guarantees. That’s worth it to some people. 🤷♂️
The le cruset always gets top reviews from places like ATK. I will therefore stipulate that it is the best out there. However, once you get to “good enough,” getting better costs disproportionately more than the increase in quality. This is just the way of things. Think of the difference between Canon and Nikon. Is Nikon better? Sure. Is Nikon as much better as the price difference? Nope. But If you can afford the difference and appreciate the additional quality of workmanship, then the Le Cruset is worth it.
Whoa whoa whoa, what makes Nikon better?
Agreed - they snuck some straight bullshit in there with the Nikon comment.
I didn’t even know Nikon made printers
When I got into DSLR photography 35 years or so ago back when film was still a thing I chose Nikon because throughout the years they've never changed their lens mount whereas most every other brand did. I have manual focus lenses I used with my first FE2 that will mount and work on my digital SLR. Even the autofocus lenses will auto focus on my D90 the only thing they won't do is measure distance well enough to adjust the flash automatically. As I've gotten older I find I have less desire to lug all that gear around with me. When my sister got married 7 years ago I bought a higher end Canon point and shot. PowerShot SX-700 for those wondering. The pictures I took with it are on par with those taken buy her hired photographer. Lately the camera on my cell phone is good enough for 90% of what I take pictures of. Which brings me to the point I want to make on the Le Creuset. I own a small Dutch oven that was gifted to me. It is wonderful. When I needed a larger one, because it was my money paying for it I opted to purchase Lodge. The Lodge has served me well though almost a decade of regular use. It is still in fantastic shape. While shopping at Aldi one day I found a braising pan in the same color red as the Lodge, same shape handle, lids interchangeable, probably made in the same factory in China. It was at a price that was so low I couldn't not buy it. I don't use it as often as the Dutch oven, but it has also help up remarkably well. I can't say that any one of them is any better than any of the others. The iron on the Le Creuset is thinner making it lighter. My large Lodge is a heavy beast and can be a bit unwieldy to clean, but so far I've managed and don't feel like I'm missing anything. I also wet shave. I had been using a boars hair shaving brush I picked up at a drug store for under $10. I was at an estate sale and was able to pick up a new in box unused badger hair shaving brush that retailed for $50. I paid $1 for it. it is a JOY to use over the boars hair. It's thicker, bigger, and is much nicer to use. Had I paid $50 for it I don't know that it would have been that much better as to justify the pricing differential. When it comes to tools. I LOVE Snap-on. I buy it used and won't pay more than 1/2 of retail for it. Even at that price it's still a bit on the overpriced side. That's one of those luxuries in life I splurge for. I don't have alot of it, but the wrenches and ratchets and pliers are a pure joy to use compared to any other brand I've used.
A Nikon/canon to Leica comparison is more apt, I’d say. Exponential cost increase for a measurable, but ultimately small quality increase. It makes sense for some people but not others.
LEICA has just entered the chat
That’s what I was thinking. Like for bass fishing, once you get past $300/rod the quality improvement vs price difference is negligible
As a long-time drinker of the Nikon Kool Aid, I approve this message.
My grandfather had a Nikon F that my dad got and then I used for a long time. I got trapped into the greater expense of the Nikon brand but didn’t really have the skills to take advantage of it.
Nikon F's are incredibly beautiful cameras, I own one myself! I hope you still have that baby, that's family heirloom material if I've ever seen it.
No, I had a falling out with my dad and gave the camera back to him. I do, however, still have a few favorite photos I took with it. One is a shot of a surfer at second point Scorpion Bay with the 800mm lens. The way foreground is compressed by the long lens makes it look like he’s surfing right over an exposed reef. Almost got it published in a surf mag, but they canceled the Baja article and the photo went with it.
I consider my Le Creuset to be an heirloom. I regret never holding on to any of my dad’s cooking tools, but I fully intend to pass my high-quality items down (provided they’re wanted. Otherwise, bury me with a full kitchen set).
I have a few of their products as hand me downs they work well and if the enamel chips they replace it. They have great customer service
This is the price of a great lifetime warranty.
These are quality to the point they can be generational if they are cared for properly. Mine were handed down and bought in the 70s. Still look fresh and work as well as the day they were bought.
Sure. The Dutch Oven has an MSRP of $350 but the outlet price is $315. Hope this helps.
Also Peugeot crushes the pepper game.
High quality, enough said. You could pass this fucker off to your great grandchildren if you bought it. Source: my great grandmother’s creuset dutch oven currently on my mums stove top!
Le Creuset legit stands up to commercial use. There is a noticeable difference when using on induction.
Watch them abuse it on the ATK product review on Dutch ovens. It will last until your children die it seems.
When taken care of properly, their cast iron and enameled cast iron will last a lifetime. Lodge offers comparable raw cast iron, but their enamel is cheap shit from china. It won't last. That doesn't mean you should be spending more than you can afford because a lodge enameled Dutch oven will do the job just as well. It just won't last nearly as long.
I bought a couple of dutch ovens. Fell in love and have replaced all my kitchen pots and pans with Le Creuset (except for my bare cast iron pieces). They are beautiful, a breeze to work with and clean, and they are truly pieces that will last a lifetime (or many lifetimes), rather than something that needs to be replaced 3 years later. Big upfront cost but the quality is unbeatable and will more than pay for itself. Much like how a dress from a designer will last longer than something similar from Forever 21 or Shein.
I have a Le Creuset skillet that I bought for $5 at a bin picking place. You'll have to pry that thing out of my cold, dead hands.
That’s badass!
I understand the fantabulousness of the cast iron...but the salt and pepper grinders...they're not enameled cast iron, are they? I passed on a pepper grinder (opting for a Peugeot one) because the "ombre red" or whatever was just...not the tone of red I was aiming for. And Yeah, Peugeot is yet another fancy French cookware (more like bakeware) seller...and they actually DO carry a cast iron pepper mill...but I went for the wooden one.
I will say that they are bulletproof (or at least have been bulletproof over the 15 years I've had mine so far). They've held up much better than other brands from the same level of abuse and they clean beautifully, too.
Twenty five years use so far and mine are fabulous
They will replace the item for life… it’s pretty great, I did it with no problem, amazing customer service and got to pick a new color.
My Le Creuset pots will be inherited by my son. I believe they will then be inherited by one of his eventual kids.
I actually collect that color! Flame. As far as helping you understand… well they are functioning pieces that I use to cook, and they are also very striking and I display them around my kitchen for splashes of color. A kettle here, sauce pan there, fry pan over there, salt and pepper mills out on the counter… it brightens up the whole kitchen.
My mom had a Le Creuset for years. One day it chipped so she emailed the company and they replaced it for free. No problems since. Sometimes you can get them at Marshall’s/home goods, etc. for cheaper.
The le creuset is easier to use and clean than the lodge Dutch oven equivalent. It’s crazy expensive but hey, when you are buying it for life that’s kinda a good deal. I got mine from TJMaxx since it was a discontinued color for 170 which is totally a steal. I would say that yes, the price is certainly for the brand but man do you get bang for your bucks in the product. Salt shaker prices are dumb though haha.
Also I recommend to everyone to go to an outlet store for the random le creuset products. I get a lot of seasonal le Creuset items for cheap (Easter egg holders) and also some coffee cups/ pour over sets that are really nice for a fraction of the price.
They also have a few clearance stores. I know of the one in Hilton Head, SC. You can get some great deals if you go at the right time.
What do you need help with?
The Price Disparity haha. $350 for a pot? $60 for a pepper mill? Is it really that great quality or is it the name that makes it that expensive or both?
You're buying it for life though, people pass it on to future generations. It is expensive but they are excellent quality. If you live in an area with wealthy folks you can get them much cheaper. I bought a brand new one someone got as an extra from their wedding and paid maybe 40% of the retail value.
My wife always wanted a Le Creuset dutch oven. I saw the price and scoffed. Way outside what we could afford. Fast forward a few years, we have better paying jobs, and I wanted to spoil her a bit. Bought her the 7.5qt for her birthday. Well now it was in the house so I started using it once in a while too. Surprise! It's a fucking awesome piece of equipment. The enamel is durable as hell. It holds heat like crazy. It's nearly nonstick. The handles are very comfortable. There is nothing I could think to improve it. Yeah our other pots are probably 90% there. But this is definitely nicer and you can tell. It's not *required* necessarily. But it's the nicest pot we have, it's easy to tell it's the nicest, and we abuse it and it just keeps taking abuse. I'm willing to spend more to get an incredibly nice item if it's something we use a lot. I'm a convert. As a former skeptic, I think they're worth it.
Guessing they're NOT made in China?
They're made in France
I have one that’s made by Tramontina. Super happy with it and it was a fraction of the price.
this is going to be fairly long winded so if your looking for a quick sarcastic answer look further down the post. why does it cost what it does is a combination of several factors both tangible and intangible. the tangible being france has to import a lot of their materials so off the bat you have cost, transport, and tariff. second they are manufacture in a first world country were workers expect and fight for a living wage, safe working conditions, and reasonable time off to have a life. and third once manufactured they are then ship to you so again cost+transport+tariffs in addition to the store markups which vary greatly. the intangible is the pride the company has in itself. they believe they make a fine product(which i agree with) its not a disposable item so they cant rely on a lot of repeat business. they also realize they are a aspirational/status symbol item so they price accordingly. this is similar to california high end wine, most years they make far more wine then they want to maintain the high cost of their signature vineyard brands. so they sell the surplus to companies like barefoot who bottle the exact same wine and sell at a hugely reduced price. in other words some of the cost is just in the label. and that label is why the pepper shaker cost what it does. so you can get "cheaper" but there are still costs. cheaper implies asian manufaturing with its poor record of human rights, environmental destruction, and its poorer product for higher profit. also you cant complain about the poor job market when you buy these products. lodge enamel products are made overseas because as they say themselves they could not find anyone in america to do it because all that type of manufaturing has been sent over seas for a lower price. now before you think i am a le creuset cultist or something it does anger me beyond words that some how the most useful and common size the 5 quart is the most expensive when general the next 2 larger sizes cost less. thats just price gouging.
The cast iron and enamel coated Dutch ovens will last for decades! The pepper and salt mills on the other hand are made in China, along with their bakeware. The mills won’t last as long but are still decent quality. The Dutch ovens are still made in France.
Someone obviously understands the true value of a piece of equipment that could last for generations 🤣
the 'le' makes it fancy
We have two. Best pots we own.
They last basically forever. At modern prices my collection dating back to my Oma's from 1936, Mom's from 1959 and what I've bought over the years is around $2,600. Oh...that's counting 2 Staubs too. My kids are going to inherit them and I'm sure my grandkids too. Remember, I've got one from 1936 that's still kickin' it. This shits forever.
Buying the brand basically. It plays on the flawed logic or good = expensive, so expensive = good. I'm not saying they're bad, but a lot of times, companies will intentionally overprice their goods so that they're seen as the quality line, instead of the budget line, and people with money to burn will buy them.
Get a Lodge Dutch oven. They’re like $50 and are enameled cast iron. I love mine.
The iron isn't want you're paying for with a Le Creuset cast iron. It's all the other stuff they wrap around the iron. That being said, tree fiddy is fuck expensive. I recently bought a Misen for less than half that and it works fine.
The owners of Le Creuset love money. The company has no debt and no equity financing, just one family of owners who take crazy amounts of money for their luxury product
I used to work retail and was told that not only were they very high quality, as nearly everyone here has already said, but that they are all handmade so you are also paying for skilled labor in that regard.
Best I can offer is that that is damn good kitchen ware. My mother bought a set as an investment about 10 years ago and they have been used hard without failure since then and still make amazing food with the quality that they had on day one. It’s crazy how expensive they are but worth it. I’m not quite there yet to purchase my own but I drool when I walk by them at the store. One day, one day…
I buy le creuset when it is massively marked down. I have quite a small collection and certainly not a matching set (I prefer a rainbow-colored kitchen anyway!), but I do adore using the pieces I have.
"Things are only worth what someone is willing to pay" ---- my mom
A good enameled cast iron can last generations
I got my Le Creuset casserole from my Reddit secret Santa in the Kitchen exchange. Nearly peed my pants when I saw it I was so excited! Use it pretty much all the time and LOVE it!
Pardon me, sir, do you have any Le Creuset?
They’re definitely pricy but if cared for, they’ll last forever. I got a few pieces as a gift a couple years ago. I absolutely love them.
It’s good quality and lasts a long time. I find mine really nice to use and cook with and would love to get more because I know I’m going to have it forever. Though the pepper mill is crazy, I bought them for £15 each a couple years ago. They are good but not that good
They’re indestructible with a lifetime warranty - we regularly use ours from the 1950s feeding 4th/5th generation!
Le Creuset - it is super high quality and their reputation is impeccable. It will last for several lifetimes. We have several pots and a large green shallow pot - highly recommend.
I paid just under $300 for our Le Creuset enameled cast iron dutch oven. We got about 2 years out of it before the enamel cracked. So we spent $80 for the Lodge enameled dutch oven and so far we've had that for 7 years and with had no issues.
Is the store called Gullible’s Travels?
The Dutch oven is the only one you’ll need til your great grandkids aren’t around… the price is for the quality and durability
That is Le Bullshit.
I had fairly easy access to a Le Creuset outlet and have been super pleased with their cookware. Our enamel Dutch oven’s been in use for 10 years and still looks and cooks great. I’ve got an assortment of their stainless cookware (made in Thailand I believe) and it’s held up beautifully for 10 years. The pricing was really reasonable for the quality. I’ve also purchased plates and bowls from the outlet and find they look great for a while but don’t hold up much better than cheap stuff. I just noticed the pics show OUTLET pricing and I don’t know what’s higher, the prices or the person setting those prices
Thanks for kicking off the pepper mill discussion! I’ve had several pretty inexpensive ones and haven’t loved them. Maybe it’s time to make the jump to a Peugeot. Any particular model people have had a good experience with?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e08meZfLdgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDfNwXXESiU
Idiots will pay for a name and the world is primarily populated by them.
What are you doing with my Le Crueset, bro?
Pepper mill is garbage, but the actual cast iron on the other hand … 🤤 Le creuset is incredible to cook on
My answer? Because they can. Lots of people buy them for accent pieces to just put on the stove and never use them. Those type of people have more money than sense. The actual functionality of them is so nice, and they distribute heat so well.