Why is Le Creuset So Expensive and Do They Have Any Competition?

[CM]

and you have to take the knob on top off when it goes in the oven

Le Creuset has stainless steel knobs you can buy to change out the black knobs - they look better, too!

I've picked up some pretty cheap enameled cast iron pans (about $29-$39) to give them a try. One was from Denmark and is OK. Love Le Creuset but they can sometimes be difficult for removing stains. Stay away from Chinese versions - the ones I've seen have rough edges. Check the edges and make sure the enamel gets all the way around the edge or you'll be stuck with rusting.

[K. Slink]

I nearly fainted this weekend when I saw the exact same Le Creuset pot that I purchased in '99 advertised for $245.00--are you kidding me?????

[KarenB]

I noticed those prices back when we started this thread. ouch. incredible and yes they have competition.

[K. Slink]

Glad that I've already got what I need and won't be in the market for any more.....

[Rozzer]

The U.S. has been dividing into two almost separate markets for more than twenty years. On the one hand, there's most of us, with living standards not too dissimilar to what they were in 1960. Then there are about thirty-forty million people whose families have FAR more income and assets than the rest of the population. And they have attracted a whole bunch of new sellers as well as a division in the product ranges of old sellers.

The American wealthy are now as numerous as a good-sized country of their own. So Le Creuset is aiming at people for whom $245.00 is pretty much nothing. I ran into the same situation when I needed a new shaver. Since 1975 I've bought the top of the line Braun, somewhere between $75 and $125. Well, it's now $250. There are thousands of other examples. And you can confirm all this yourselves just by surfing top sellers' websites and reading glossy magazines.

[sarah1213]

I own a some of each of the pots and pans mentioned but let me tell you that the best utensils to cook in won't be found on a retailers shelf. The pan most used in my house is a Wagner cast iron deep skillet with a dome lid. It will fry chicken, turn out a perfect pot roast, steam green beans if you put a steamer basket inside. There is not too much you can' t do with this old relic. It's ready for any for any meal you want to make.
Look in your local antiques shop, check out the shelves at the Salvation army. Look for Wagner or Griswald on the bottom. It may take awhile to find one but it is a real cooking treasure.. Do make make sure it is well seasoned before using--Thant is another blog.