Le Creuset Stainless Steel

[shel]

Just yesterday I found out about Le Creuset's line of stainless steel clad cookware: Le Creuset - Product Guide

It seems to be a recent addition to the Le Creuset line. Any comments on quality, useabily (is that a word?) ...

The price at some stores seems pretty good.

shel

[grantmasterflas]

Le Creuset is heading full speed into destroying the reputation they took 80 years to build. I have no experience with their stainless steel clad pansets but some of the other stuff coming out is clearly playing off their name. Every week there are stainless (pure, no cladding) stainless Le Creuset pots at TJ-Maxx that are made in asia. The heat properties of pure steal is horrible. I can't imagine how they cook. Most of their products are built just for export now.

Just for the record though I think their enameled cast iron is still the best. Although the difference between the $200 best and the $50 second best is virtually zero so neither of the last two enameled cast iron dutch ovens I purchased were Le Creuset.

Another note for anyone wanting cheap(er) Le Creuset dutch ovens the ones at TJ-Maxx/Marshals are seconds and if you look closely the lids never seal.

Grant

[cater diva]

I am sick of my saute pans warping and wearing out within a year...any suggestions on what to buy that isn't too pricey and will withstand the abuse I give it?

[shel]

Originally Posted by cater diva

I am sick of my saute pans warping and wearing out within a year...any suggestions on what to buy that isn't too pricey and will withstand the abuse I give it?

I'd suggest an All-Clad pan. It's my understanding that Macy's has an exclusive All-Clad model Amazon.com: All-Clad Stainless 3.5-Quart Saute Pan with Domed Lid that costs only about $100.00 - but a more typical 3-quart model can be had from other sources for around $180.00. The 3-quart All-Clad sauté that I have dates from around 1978-79, and has seen a lot of hard use - it's as good as new, although the exterior could be shinier <LOL>

Check prices on the MC2 and the stainless steel clad models - they are usually the best values. My preference in All-Clad is generally the MC2 line both for cost and because the aluminum is often thicker than with the ss line. Both are quite good, however.`

A friend has a few skillets and pans in the Ltd line which she's quite happy with, and I have a large Ltd skillet, which is fine, but given what I know now, I'd opt for SS or MC2.

shel

[grantmasterflas]

I've been watching a trend lately. I've mentioned Le Creuset putting their name on cheap pans made in asia. It seems that JA Henkles, Wustoff and Al Clad aren't far behind. You really need to do your research when dealing with cookware these days. In a knife comparison test at Americas Test Kitchen two sets of JA Henkles knifes fell under the not recommended category. I bet tons of people are buying them just because of the name. I bought an Al Clad stock pot and even though it says Al Clad all over the box the pan itself says Emeril on it. Seems Al Clad had some extra production capacity so they manufactured it but that doesn't mean it cooks worth beans. I just heat water in it. REAL Al Clad is good, REAL JA Henkles is good, REAL Le Crueset is good but it's just getting harder to discern the difference. Chances are if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Grant

[TiberiusJones]

All Clad has done a special deal with Emeril and released a line of cookware with his name on it. It is asian made and does not have the full copper clad core, just the try ply on the bottom. I have used the skillet and pot and found nothing wrong with the quality, it just lacks the full copper cladding an d handles that all clad carries. This is not part of a plot to fool the consumer, its a well advertised fact that emerilware is made by all clad but not USA all clad.

[Mezzaluna]

I bought an Emerilware set a few years ago and was aware when I bought it that it had been manufactured in Korea. Still, it's fine for most everyday uses. I hate the 8 quart stock pot though, because the no-stick surface is delaminating.....

[grantmasterflas]

I bought the double boiler by Emeril but made by Al-Clad and it's worked pretty good but how good does it have to be to boil water?

It seems to be built ok but I don't really do anything complex in it. I have another larger double boiler made by someone else (who knows?) and it's just as good at boiling water! I got both at TJ-Maxx for about $30ea.

[TiberiusJones]

I luckily stumbled across two all clad copper core pieces at marshalls this weekend, a nice 10 inch skillet for $79 and a 2 1/2qt pot and pan for $149. They were imperfects, the rivets on the handle were set just a tad off angle. Does that affect the quality? None that I can tell , but then again I am not a gourmet chef , just a home cook but i love these, they really do cook evenly and heat up quickly.

[grantmasterflas]

I'm not sure I would have paid that much for the second one. I'm aware of what they sell for new but still $150 but still I think that's a lot for a flawed pan. To be honest I think that's what they should go for new!

I have two problems with all-clad, the handles are ridiculous and there's not really any way of getting a deal with them because they're American.

With the European brands you'd pay a fortune here because the cookware goes through 3 different companies before it gets here and everyone takes a cut. But if you can sidestep them (you can) then you can get them much cheaper. Problem is now the dollar is so weak that even then they're not as cheap as they used to be. A 3.5 qt pure copper Mauviel straight from Paris would cost you barely more than that brand new even considering the horrible exchange rate and shipping.

I think you got a decent deal on the frypan though.

[MikeLM]

In Costco today, I saw a 12" SS chef's pan, with 3-1/2" sides, and a very heavy lid. The whole thing weighed a ton. It has an aluminum base sandwich, riveted handles, and costs... thirty bucks. It's made in Brazil, for a change.

Anybody have any experience with this thing?

Mike

[Gallogator]

I happened to be in Bloomingdale's and I had seen the Le Creuset 8pc stainless set on clearance. They had a sale for an additional 20% off and the lady who was helping me was an All Clad specialist. She said that it was equivalent to All Clad and at $240 for the set it was a steal. Pardon the pun. I currently own some All Clad so I will be putting it to the test.