I must have one! Thanks so much for sharing this. Reply, Thank you for sharing — this was a very interesting read. I would either call Le Creuset in France, or go into one of their shops. Bekijk Le Creuset gietijzer klassiekers en moderne keukenbenodigdheden: nieuwste producten, exclusieve aanbiedingen, sets en de perfecte cadeaus. The dutch oven got the most use, and had a number of dings showing the cast iron underneath. I have a Le Creuset omelette pan, which I use whenever I make an omelette; it’s heaven! That factory is amazing and the molten metal from recycled railroads of all things, was fascinating to see. I love your posts David – you are an inspiration… Reply, thank you for a wonderful article. And even though the two I’ve had for nearly fifteen years are still in fine shape, I’ve heard from Le Creuset collectors who get dismayed when a color is discontinued, and there aren’t any more. Unfortunately at the time I didn’t appreciate what I had and sold one whole set for around $35. , Group Corporation, Smart Watch , Smart Bracelet , Bluetooth Headset , Earphone , Customized Metal Crafts, Badges/Lapel Pins/Coins/Medals , Keychain/Belt Buckle/Tie Bar/Cuff Link , Button/Button Badges/Embroidery & Woven Patches , Lanyard/Ribbon/Dog Leash , Silicone Bracelet/Smart Bracelet/Smart Watch, Manufacturer/Factory Reply, That was a fun and interesting article to read about! Forever a fan of LC. Reply, Fascinating! I love Le Creuset! M Reply. Love knowing that the pans start off as old metal such as railroad tracks. Reply, I love my Le Creuset pots and spatulas and very much enjoyed this post. The instructions said to soak not scrub and to soak darkened interiors overnight with a bleach/ water solution. Gift cards and taxes do not count toward the minimum purchase requirement. I love to read and hear about how things are made. They carbonize and polymerize, forming a hard surface which does not react easily with soap. I’m glad that they won’t be discontinued but I think I’ll get a few of the new ones just in case. Reply, What a fascinating post. Of course, I considered a smash-‘n-run for several of them, but it was a few hours back to Paris and I didn’t think I’d make it, especially considering the heft of some of the pieces. I covet my KitchenAid mixer, Hall teapot, handmade tortilla pin, Blue Willow dinner plates I ate off of as a child, but my Le Creuset collection is by far my dearest and most beloved of all kitchen items. The entire process is beautiful, grime and all. Another item to add to the amazon shopping list! But I LOVE the ones I have left and can’t imagine beig without them. Le Creuset’s famous factory-to-table sale has returned and will run for just two weeks, or while supplies last. Then I got my late mother’s brown 5Qt round Dutch oven that she bought new about 35 years ago, as part of a set. To me it’s always about the food. Reply, Thank you for the effort you put into this very informative and interesting article. I use the FP quite frequently so it was a good find and buy. OMG, the fried chicken and mashed potatoes, so yummy, big, cold cocktails and pie made by a local woman, a small caterer, delicious. Reply, Best field trip ever! I still have and use all those pieces today, and they are the foundation for what has become a respectable collection. Reply, My dutch oven (dk. It looks a bit carbonized now, but isn’t crumbling. I had recently moved to San Francisco where I soon developed a full-fledged love of great food, cooking, and all things culinary. My Le Creuset and the big Kitchen Aid mixer (with equally heavy transformer) have travelled the world with me for the last 43 yrs. Others are made for their outlet stores. What an interesting process and so well documented. Once I move to an apartment bigger than a shoebox, I’m going to treat myself to a few pieces. Fascinating. One of them — a casserole has a break in the enamel — less than the diameter of a quarter — in the middle of the bottom. Like many other historical comments on the above list, I bought my first one In 1969 with one of my first pays as a new teacher and have purchased several more since (always on special, though!) Reply, I think in the U.S. it’s likely harder to find used/vintage Le Creuset, as it doesn’t have the same lengthy history as it does in France. Our favorite way to use it is to make carnitas (big chunks in a single layer) cooked slowly in the oven..divine! Reply, Thanks for a great post David. From time-to-time, I add judicially to my collection and have been known to mow down the unfortunates in front of me during a sale without a backward glance. Love the way you share your values and the excellent description of the process in the factory, as well as the difficult to get photos. I have been using my handed-down Descoware for 38 years with some Le Creuset scattered in here and there. No other pans make me smile when using them! Reply, Great article, David, thank you. And the colours are gorgeous! Ha, that’s easy- Staub is strictly for millionaires! But they are able to manage it and continue to make the pots and pans the traditional way. Fantastic photos as usual. Any chance YOu have a No-knead bread recipe that we can make in our Dutch ovens? My last baking dish however cracked the first time I used it. I guess if you use it frequently, there’s not so much concern about all the oil and fat that gets trapped in the “pores” – but I try to wash mine in very hot water when cleaning it. Mar 10, 2019 - Go behind-the-scenes at the Le Creuset factory and watch how its famous pots are made. Marylin A Reply, Great post. They said to send it in for review, and they would let me know if anything could be done for it. Someone told me that I could send it back and get a replacement for free. The original foundry was started in 1925 in the North of France, in Fresnoy-le-Grand, and is still making cookware today the same way they’ve been doing it for nearly a hundred years. Reply, Thanks – and glad you had a great trip! Thanks for the great pictures, as it is not likely we will ever get in to see the creation process. Because space is always an issue, I evaluate it for a number of factors: If it’d be a good addition to my batterie de cuisine, if the price is right, and how much use it’s had. I now call the cat Popeye…. Been reading your blog since you were featured on Apartment Therapy and hopped on over for a gander, been reading it since then. The slightly curved shape feels just right when mixing and folding, and the graceful curve is a nice angle so you can lift things like meringue you’re folding, or enough custard to take a taste of, without them slipping off the sides. (The upper ones I painted creamy white.) Glaze can “craze” over time and they want to make sure that doesn’t happen with their cookware. About 10 yrs ago I contacted LeCreuset USA in NJ asking where I could have it re-enameled. Lucky escape! Floral Collection Floral Collection Hearts Collection Hearts Collection Flower Collection Flower Collection Berry Collection Berry Collection Lace Collection Lace Collection Artichaut Collection Artichaut Collection WHAT'S NEW? They replied they use a special technique when its manufactured & can not be reenameled. If you go to a factory store you used to be able to join their mailing list… Thar gave you occassional coupons and sale notices. I was invited to peer inside as they tilted it forward. Reply, They had a room with glass showcases filled with some great vintage pieces, but never compiled an archive. The word creuset translated to crucible and refers to a very sturdy cooking cauldron. Oh dear, the march of time! Reply, David- Reply, Wow! I passed down the love of them to my children who also asked for a set as wedding gifts. In this part of the world a Le Creuset dutch oven cost as much Kitchenaid. Susan: I have a regular cast iron skillet that I brought back from the United States that I use but was interesting hearing about why they become “nonstick” the more you use them. That number is listed on their website. The processes are remarkably similar. There is no worry about staining (they are already black) and they are indestructible. Thanks so much, especially for the videos! Hard cider on tap. My daughter has quite a few pieces of their cookware. I have several pieces – two sizes of gratins in blue; a small yellow skillet for omelets. I am loving every page, every photo and story, and feeling a bit nostalgique. At the factory they gave me a cleaner they make for the insides which didn’t do much for a vintage piece I tried it on (which, admittedly, was a bit far gone), but they said it works on stains on regular pots and pans, but haven’t taken it out for a full-on test. I wouldn’t get to France until last year, but I always felt close to it when using my Le Creuset. I find it is amazing that people give them away, someone brought a caserole and a couple of dishes into the Charity shop where I do voluntary work, they went, at a good price, in a nano-second to a young woman who was thrilled to find them. They are the best! This le creuset company list contains a wide range of le creuset factories serving all industries. Reply, What a great post! It takes all the stains out. The inside was a bubbling, heaving mass of red-hot iron and I’d never seen anything like it. The first pan I ever bought (and it was a stretch on the budget back in 1971) was a Le Creuset skillet. Reply, David, so very envious of your visit but your post takes me almost there – one of the best! So appreciate what goes into the making of their products. Grrrr. Reply, How they differ? Some of the prices reflect that, but their cast iron cookware last a long, long time – as my vintage pieces can attest to! Speaking of, I have her smaller cast iron skillet that I use quite often. And because people were melting their knobs (there were reports that people were swiping knobs off new pots from stores, which they laughed when I asked them about that), Le Creuset modernized the knob to an all-metal design, which is also easier to lift, and they also sell replacement knobs, so bakers can keep their criminal records clean. My first Le Creuset was a 30th birthday gift. Some with cosmetic flaws get sent to one of their factory stores, but anything that will affect the cooking quality of the pan doesn’t make it out of the factory. Reply, Thanks David for this post. Reply, It is a pleasure to see this product made. And I picked up a few more (nine more, to be precise – which they gave me a special deal on), and brought those home. That said, for people on budgets, you can find used cookware on websites, flea markets, and tag sales. Can’t believe you only bought 9 spatulas, though. I inherited a black milk pan (with wooden handle, both no longer available) from my mother, and was horrified to have a small piece of the enamel break away when trying to thaw a frozen soup. Here’s one of those Coquelles on Etsy, in France. And Sur la Table. Now that I know the reason for the flame color, I can appreciate it more. I now have Le Creuset envy more than ever… Reply. I just keep cleaning my black one bought in Nantes many years ago. Reply, Decided to comment (I never do) with a story you might find interesting. Reply, I love all things French too and I love the fact that this is made in the same way today as 80 years ago which is rare and getting rarer. Watching the beginning of the process felt like stepping back into something vaguely medieval. We have an induction and really like le creuset products. In these days of globalization, it’s intriguing to see something that’s made in France that remains a worldwide icon, and hasn’t changed its philosophy nor the way it’s made, yet is still relevant. I was ready to toss it and buy a new one. PPS Have you ever gone to Limoges, Bernardaud, Baccarat, etc would love to have you I’m sure. As a matter of interest, do you (does anyone) happen to have any suggestion to stop the enamel interior in an old cast-iron pan from catching? Love to think of all the meals they’ve held over the years. Well, other than actually owning more Le Creuset. Great service, and I wore my first #26 Dutch out too, even though I take good care of it. They are supposed to withstand heat to 700degrees F. One last item. Florida Reply, Really interesting post — thank you! And they are my favorite color, too. Thanks for going into what’s happened to the lid knobs – that had me wondering. Reply, What a fantastic article. Very cool to read your blog now and see the pictures! Thank you, David. (It was pretty dark in the foundry, and I tried to catch it for you to see. Reply, I hit submit too soon. My beloved covered terrine fell and some of the enamel has chipped off. Give a description of your cookware to the operator, who can assist you in verifying its authenticity. :) Reply. The lids serve as saute pans and they are amazingly useful. What a beautiful book! , Southeast Asia/ Mideast What an amazing opportunity to tour the factory. The enameling process, which takes three hours, is especially top-secret, so I can’t show you quite how they do it, but the pots, pans and lids are individually set on a multi-pronged holder and sprayed with whatever color they are enameling that run with, that particular day. Reply, Fascinating! Reply, One of my favorite travel memories is finding myself unexpectedly in NYC in the 90’s during the annual February Le Creuset sale at Broadway Panhandler when it was down in Soho. I’ll bet someone with some time, and drive, (and good searching skills!) I have yet to purchase one of their products, although I do possess (other brand) something similar in cast Iron, which I love to use. Would you consider publishing a photograph of your collection? I treasure mine. If I can’t own every piece, perhaps I could at least own every colored “pearl.” But I thought the point was interesting. Le Creuset's Factory-to-Table Sale Is Online For The First Time Ever. You are right, they are expensive but worth it and will last more than a lifetime if cared for! 95 £130.00 £130.00 China Le Creuset wholesale - Select 2021 high quality Le Creuset products in best price from certified Chinese Household manufacturers, China Kitchenware suppliers, wholesalers and factory on Made-in-China.com, page 2 Go behind the scenes of our innovative foundry in Fresnoy Le Grand France to see how our iconic enamelled cast iron is made. It was a set I picked up over 20 years ago at an estate sale. thanks for a great post! Not that I wouldn’t still jump at the chance. From classic casserole dishes to signature saucepans and more, the brand creates colourful, durable pieces that are guaranteed to stand the test of time. I love them too and use them almost on a daily basis… I did not know about their spatulas…. Reply, Wow, I have always loved my Le Creusets but this upped my appreciation by 1000%! blue, vintage 1990 or so) still has the original knob after scores of loaves baked at temps over 400. The choices, the choices…and those beautiful color options! The staining disappears almost immediately. Doug Wagner It contained the 5.5Qt Dutch oven with lid (even the inside of the lid was yellow), a 1.5Qt sauce pot with the hollow cast iron handle and no spout with lid, though I did replace the original handle with one that is easier to grasp than the original almost beehive shaped one, and two skillets, a 6″, and the 8″ versions, again with the enamel across the bottoms. But there are vintage collectors around the world, and with a little sleuthing, you can find things out there… Reply. Foundry, and they give you your own cocktail shaker of the enamel exposing the cast iron too even... My most treasured kitchen tools you could get back then happily pull out that easily. 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