Le Creuset disaster - help needed!!!

[Headfry]

hmmmmm, I have had LC pans and if I remember rightly they have a name indent on the bottom of the pans.
For a Rayburn you want heavy based - smooth (very) flat bottomed pans! These would be the best and most efficient at using the heat from your stove.
However, LC work but not quite as well.

[coomber]

I hope your pans are ok, I'd be devestated if i ruined mine

[Nicos]

I had a full set of pans for a wedding gift 25 yrs ago, plus several oven/hob dishes.

If I had to start again- I wouldn't of had the pans- only the oven/hob/table dishes
Reason???.....they are SOOOOO heavy when full of water/veg/etc
Mine had wooden handles and my first hob was gas- hence all the pans have singed under sides to the handles. The rest I've managed to boil dry on the electric hob- and they are all crazed!!! ( see...I don't pretend to be a good cook ..and certainly can't blame my tools!!!)

Yep- good thick based pans from TKMAXX now serve me well...but I do love my oven dishes.

Didn't know about Rayburn hobs....will have to think again about what to buy for out here in France!
( ps...for those of you 'Up North'...Cheshire Oakes have an outlet shop for LC...and they are MUCH cheaper!!!!)-

[coomber]

LC pans don't have any inprints on the bottom so are perfect for a rayburn I use them on mine. Its only the casserole pots that have an inprint but i use those aswell

[Nicos]

LC pans don't have any inprints on the bottom so are perfect for a rayburn I use them on mine. Its only the casserole pots that have an inprint but i use those aswell

OK ...thanks!!!

[coomber]

Rhona have you had any luck with your pans?

[smallblueplanet]

I've never been impressed with LC (pleb aye!?), they look good but they burn too easily and are very heavy when full. I prefer a good solid set of heavy bottomed stainless steel pans. Can't beat 'em and they are easy to clean IMHO.

[digthatchick]

I bought my LC large casserole when OH and I "got together" used at least twice a week and still as good as new after 29 years!! (Only needed new handle for lid £6.50) I think they are wonderful pans.

[Rhona]

Thanks so much everyone. Well, I did as Su suggested and have run them through the dishwasher again twice now. They are still grainy and bleached out BUT!!! there seems to be patches forming where we can see the enamel underneath!!! So instead of the enamel eroding as feared, it may be coated with a layer of chemical or something. Su, how many "goes" did it take - is this what you had?

I know LC are heavyweight etc. but I adore them! So mad with myself! It was only because I'd cooked various curries for dinner party on Saturday that they were all in there! Have been (gulp) looking at cost of replacement. REALLY hope they can be saved!!!

[JanieB]

Bit of a chemistry lesson. My dad bought one the first ever domestic dishwashers in 195* ahem! . We discovered that some things should not be washed in it, including enamel, glass and silver. The dishwasher chemicals at the time made enamel (which is a type of glass) and glass itself revert to sand, especially lead crystal (expensive lesson).

Over the years the chemicals have improved so that most things are safe. I still wouldn't put lead crystal or silver in. Using caustic soda (which was one of the ingredients of the original powders) will have the same detrimental affect on glass and silver.

My dishwasher is second-hand so doesn't have any instructions, but I would hope that any new dishwasher would come with warnings about this.

[di]

Rhona,I hope all will be O.K after just a few more washes!!I'd be devastated,the worst thing that's happened to mine is Andi vigourously cleaning the lid with a scourer!!!Still~it's given it that well used look!!
For anyone wondering if they're worth the money...We got ours as a wedding present 8&1/2 years ago,absolutely wouldn't be without them!!I use at least one of them more than twice a week & both (other than Andi's scratching)as good as new...I actually find it almost impossible to burn anythuing in them & they're used for everthing from curry,stew to jam & chutneys!

[bobleponge]

Rhona
Please keep us informed of how things go. I am taking the plunge and buying LC after all the praise of them, but I am bound to have a "moment" so will need to refer back to this thread at some stage.

Homesick in Sudan

[Stacey Steve]

Just an idea, why not try using TCut.

This is a fine burnishing product used to cut off all the grim and oxidisation from car paintwork.

If you do have a chemical covering, this might take it off but I wouldn't have thought it would be abrasive enough to harm enamel.

[HeyWayne]

I'm sure you can poach a salmon in a dishwasher.

[di]

I'm sure you can poach a salmon in a dishwasher.

What the 'eck were you drinking last night!!!??