Opinions of Le Creuset needed.

[KennesawNemo]

I have $40 Tuesday Morning store credit from returning a gift. I don't see much I want to buy except their Le Creuset dutch ovens. I also don't like the store near where I live so I won't be checking back to see if they have something new I want to redeem the credit for.

There have 5qt oval for $179 and 7 1/4qt round for $199. Color is called granite, which is basically dark grey. Not the prettiest color, but I don't care about color at all.

http://www.amazon.com/Le-Creuset-Si...ords=le+creuset+7+1+4-quart+round+french+oven

I have wanted a Le Creuset for years and figure with the credit, it's more like $139/$159 for me, so that may be a good deal. I would be cooking mostly meat stews and soups in it for a family of 4. I don't bake a lot but do make a lasagna occasionally. I almost never make stock myself.

1. Is the price a good deal? Will I find a better price at an outlet store?

2. Should I get the 7 1/4 qt one or the 5 qt one? Judging by the look, I think 5qt is enough, but I read lots of reviews saying for your first Le Creuset, you should get a big one.

3. Is there a difference between round and oval? I am indifferent now because all my pots and pants are round. I don't know the difference.

Thank you!!!

 

[HM]

My mom used a 5 qt round one for years of making dinners for our family of six. That's what I'd go with. And yes, those prices look good compared to what I've seen priced elsewhere.

 

[jeffbear]

Price looks good to me too and my family has sworn by (not at) LeCreuset dutch ovens for as long as I can remember.

A 5 qt will cover the needs of most home cooks nicely, and as for the difference in oval versus round ... it's really a personal preference. If you stew a lot of pot roasts, you might want to go oval just because it's a little easier to fit a decent sized roast in there based on typical shapes.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Great deal....great cookware! Personally, I'd go with the 7 over the 5 for the convenience of roasts, bone in hams, etc., that don't fit so neatly in the round.

Karen

 

[KennesawNemo]

My mom used a 5 qt round one for years of making dinners for our family of six. That's what I'd go with. And yes, those prices look good compared to what I've seen priced elsewhere.

Price looks good to me too and my family has sworn by (not at) LeCreuset dutch ovens for as long as I can remember.

A 5 qt will cover the needs of most home cooks nicely, and as for the difference in oval versus round ... it's really a personal preference. If you stew a lot of pot roasts, you might want to go oval just because it's a little easier to fit a decent sized roast in there based on typical shapes.

Great deal....great cookware! Personally, I'd go with the 7 over the 5 for the convenience of roasts, bone in hams, etc., that don't fit so neatly in the round.

Karen

Thank you, all! I am going to get one,

Actually, I am going to send DH to get it. He is so good at finding things wrong! He'll identify the tiniest scratch and dent. LoL

I'll plan for the 5qt oval one, since it's only the four of us and I don't do lots of roasts, ham or chicken. But if DH thinks none of the 5 qt ones are good enough, I'll get a 7qt round one. I don't mind the $20 price difference.

Thank you!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Wow, I have been wanting one too. Never thought to check at Tuesday morning. Heading there this week!!

 

[KennesawNemo]

Wow, I have been wanting one too. Never thought to check at Tuesday morning. Heading there this week!!

Let me know what you find! The one near where I live doesn't have a huge selection. They have three sizes all in "granite" color.

I once saw a huge selection at TJ Max and those were in red, which I think is one of the most popular colors.

 

[jbmom]

Love my Le Creuset 5 qt dutch oven! We were in Pigeon Forge over spring break and spent all my spending money in the Le Crueset outlet store! They had a 30% off special and I'm pretty sure those prices are less than the outlet was with the savings. I added 4 new pieces to my collection and love them all. Can't go wrong with either size!

 

[aprilchem]

I have the five quart and the seven quart, and I'd say I use the five most often. I use the seven at Thanksgiving and when I make cassoulet but that's about it.

I have the entire Le Creuset line and have had mine for about 10 years now (in flame). I LOVE them!

 

[disneydacey]

I have a 7qt round that I got at TJ Maxx for $139 becuase it had a tiny mark. Best money I ever spent. I love it. I make everything in it. Soup, stew, pot roast, roast chicken. I even use it for pasta if I dont feel like cleaning another pot!

 

[DizMe]

I LOVE Le Creuset. Got my first Dutch oven in 1977 and still have it. My mom still has hers from the 1950s. The way food turns out in them is amazing and considering that and how long they hold up, the price is fair. Your price is really outstanding! I'd go for it. I bought 2 in cobalt for my dd a few years ago from Tuesday Morning, btw. She loves them! Funny how we're on the 3rd generation of Le Creuset now.

My only problem was that I once dropped the lid to my large Dutch oven and it cracked. That was about 1980 and I never did anything about it. About 2 decades later, I read that they have a lifetime warranty so I contacted them about it and they told me they would not send me a new lid (discontinued color) but would review it if I sent in my entire Dutch oven and lid, and would send me a new one if they felt it qualified. However, they would not send back the old one so I worried that they'd tell me it didn't qualify and I wouldn't get it back so I just watched ebay and bought a lid. It doesn't match but oh well. Anyway, just wanted to mention that they are extremely durable but not bullet proof!

ETA: the cracked lid still works, btw! I just worry that one day it will fall apart since it's cracked all the way through and from one side of the lid to the other across the middle.

 

[Judique]

We have round and oval shapes and I find that the round cooks better. The oval is large for the burner on my stove. I have an electric stove. This may be less of an issue if you have a gas stove.

 

[EMode]

I have a round 5qt, and oval 3.5 and 7qts and the 5qt one definitely gets the most use. I love my pieces, they cook so evenly and clean up is so easy. They are definitely on the pricey side but they are made to last, I know I'll be able to pass them on to dd to use
If you have an outlet near you make sure you check them out, they are always running specials on certain colors so you can find great deals.

 

[NewRVLady]

At Tuesday Morning I bought Paula dean's version of this pot
It's red and cooks wonderfully...for like $90

 

[abmitch01]

I love mine and get steals at the outlet on discontinued colors

 

[KarenC]

Cooks Illustrated has a list of recommended pots and pans. The 7 quart le crueset is on that list. I love mine.

 

[SM101]

I love mine - I have the 5 quart and 3.5 quart. I think the 5 is probably the most useful size. A 7 quart is probably only useful if you have a big family and are planning on doing bulk soups, stews - and have really good arm muscles to lift it because they are HEAVY!

It's just 2 of us, so the 3.5 quart is very useful for smaller quantities. It would not be a useful size for a large family.

While expensive, if you take care of them, they really are "forever" cookware. I got mine as "strategic Christmas gifts" - rather than get a bunch of little things, I asked for gift cards to the local outlet and pooled them to get a piece.

For comparison, I bought a 4 quart "braiser" style - wider and shallower - in a different brand. (Giada? maybe? it was from Target)....still not cheap at $70 - but after 3 years, the enamel is chipped and scratched and will need to be replaced at some point in the future. Meanwhile, my older 5 quart looks like new.

Here is one tip though if you like quality cookware - buy Cuisinart Multi Clad Pro instead of All Clad. Half the price, just as good.