Excited About Cookware? Yes, I am sad. (Le Creuset Rectangular Oven Dish)

Member Name: flodombey

Product:	Le Creuset Rectangular Oven Dish
Date:	24/08/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great quality, so adaptable, hold the heat, safe in freezer, dishwasher, microwave

Disadvantages: Pricey unless you find them in TK Maxx or in the sales

I adore products from the Le Creuset range and am lucky enough to own a couple of key pieces. They do tend to be quite expensive for kitchenware but in my experience they are worth every penny and will last many many years if cared for well.

I often buy my Le Creuset pieces from Cheshire Oaks which has a dedicated discount store with end of line and odd bits in it. I most recently picked up a boxed set which included this square dish, a small round casserole and 4 souffle ramekins for £55. The casserole on its own is usually more than that so it was a real bargain, it is also in a gorgeous baby pink colour which looks wonderful in my kitchen so I was absolutely over the moon with it (am I weird for getting so excited about kitchen ware?).

Anyway, I do find that the earthenware ceramic range are incredibly adaptable and I love the fact that they hold heat very well indeed. This means that if you serve to the table in the dish whatever is in it will stay relatively hot for longer (although you do have to be careful not to burn yourself on the dish).

I use this rectangular one for so many things, I make lasagne in it, roast potatoes, brownies and flapjacks, pasta bakes, oven roasted veg and many other things besides. It is safe in the microwave, dishwasher, fridge and freezer and of course in the oven. It is incredibly robust and the surface does not scratch or crack with repeated use, I also find that whatever has been cooked in it and however stained it is, the surface cleans very easily and only ever needs a bit of a soak for stubborn stains to come off.

I do think the Le Creuset range is wonderful quality and pretty good value, you can often also pick pieces up in TK Maxx at bargain prices and Tesco sell some bits too, it neednt be as pricey as you think.

The only downside to the range is the weight of the dishes. The cast iron ones are incredibly heavy but even the earthenware ones like this dish are fairly weighty. This does not bother me but my mom struggles with getting them in and out of the oven as she has weak wrists and finds them too heavy, this is worth bearing in mind if you have the same problem.

Aside from this they are fantastic products and personally I would be lost without this dish in my kitchen as it is one of my most frequently used items!

Summary: A great range of kitchenware which will last many many years.