Best Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Round Braiser Deals

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List Price: $305.00
Sale Price: $239.95
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

I decided to try my first Le Creuset around 6 months ago because I had heard such great things about the cookware: lasts so long you pass it down, great results, easy to clean and take care of for cast iron.

They were all true and then some. I started with the almost 11.75 inch skillet. It worked fantastic. It is fairly non-stick to start with and then it just gets better. I know some people season their Le Creuset. Following the instruction booklet, I don't. I then got a dutch oven for whole chickens, pot roasts, stews, soups, and that has been fantastic.

To round out my collection I was looking for a casserole. Now you can get 'bakers' and casseroles from Le Creuset that are not cast iron. I specifically wanted cast iron because of my previous great experiences. I was pleased to find this and the cover was a big plus. I bought the previous version of this item with the plastic knob that only go to 350. If you get one of these at a sale and you are not sure I would replace it with the stainless steel knob that goes to 500 plus degrees.

I would recommend this over the skillet for a few reasons. It has deeper sides and holds a greater volume. A regular meal at our house has become roasting bone in chicken breasts with potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. The extra depth and sloped sides holds more and holds liquid in. The cover adds more versatility.

Using this is fantastic. Super easy to clean. If anything is sticking just soak in warm water for 10 minutes and it falls right out. If really tough a little soap will work. Distributes heat so evenly I never burn anything. Inherently a 'green pan', you will never have to worry about additives or coatings or chemicals. These are pricey. But our food has never tasted better. Can pots and pans make food taste better? Yes. We just get more flavor cooking in these. As an added last bonus the lid fits well on our skillet. I never thought I'd be a 'cast-iron' guy but I hadn't used these. I will be trying more braising and will probably try fried chicken soon. I am sure it will be fantastic. This is a skillet plus and can fry, bake, braise, or probably any cooking method you can think of. Pricey but worth it and it will last a lifetime or more.

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I absolutely adore this cookware. My friend told me how often she uses this multi-purpose brasier, so I bought one. It's so beautiful that I leave it out on my cooktop. I use it several times a week. It's perfect for sautéing and one pot meals. After my disastrous relationship with All-Clad, I am enjoying using a quality piece from a company that you can count on.

You can sear, then use the seasoned brasier to cook other vegetables and it cleans up quick and easily.

Best Deals for Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Round Braiser

Below is my original one star review. After speaking with amazon and explaining that I had received this cookware damaged three times they gave me a 40% discount as a credit. In the end I feel the problem is Le Creuset packaging specifically of their braised. Dutch ovens packaging includes pieces of cardboard that prevents the upside down lid from being scratched by the pot rim. I appreciate amazons willingness to find solution that I was pleased with. So, in the end its kind of like getting my much wanted pieces of cookware as a second but in the special order color I wanted. What are the chances of that!

I highly recommend not ordering Le Creuset from Amazon. I've sent the same piece back more than a few times because of damage. It appears that plastic tabs that should protect the tops from the bottoms are often missing in shipping. This causes the enamel side of the lids to scratch against the top of the pan or pot section. Some areas of the Le Ceuset are not fully enameled. Amazon are you selling seconds or has Le Creuset's craftsmanship gone down hill? Regardless there is no excuse for the plastic protective tabs to be missing. I'm very disappointed especially considering these are very expensive pieces expected to last more than a life time. I love you Amazon but please do better insuring that your partners check merchandise. Dear Le Creuset, please provide better protective packaging for you beautiful cookware and step up your quality checks in manufacturing!!!! Some of us poor saps work really hard to save our nickels and dimes to buy your classic cookware.

Honest reviews on Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Round Braiser

UPDATE 8/29/13 I am giving an update because of the few negative reviews posted stating that they had trouble cleaning Le Creuset. Last night I made a Potato/Kohlrabi Gratin which really turned out excellent in spite of my mishap. I don't know what I was thinking, but I filled the liquid/cheese mixture up too high in my 3.5 Qt. Braiser which caused an overflow in the oven. I started the gratin out with the lid on so that the potatoes and kohlrabi would steam in the liquid so when it bubbled over not only was the sides and bottom of the braiser a mess, but so was my lid. I took the lid off so that the dish could continue to cook and brown, however, that made the overflow on the outside of the braiser also brown and stick more to my pan. Since I was browning at 415 you can imagine the browning on the outside of the braiser. My pan had quite a crust on it inside and out and especially on the rim. I let it soak for about 15 minutes in hot water with Dawn and then starting the cleaning. For what the pan looked like I really did not have that much trouble cleaning off all of what was stuck on it. I used Dawn and a Doobie scrub pad and before I knew it my pan was like new. Maybe I worked on it for about 5 minutes or so...on and off. Many pans would require allot more elbow grease for such a job and much more time. This overflow took the most time to clean up of any of my cleanups on LeCreuset enameled cast iron cookware. Also, yesterday, I roasted a major batch of our fresh picked tomatoes in my 5 qt braiser where again I had a good amount of browning (no overflow) which I want. Again, I am roasting at about 425 for a good hour + and my cleanup for that was minutes. I soaked the pan for a few minutes in hot water and Dawn. I suds up and rinsed several times and the pan was like brand new. I don't know what could be easier. The Le Creuset line of enameled cast iron cookware is just a gem. It is not delicate or difficult to clean. Anyone who likes to cook should consider at least trying one piece and then go from there. I warn you that more than likely you will want more and they are pricey, but well worth it!

FIRST REVIEW: I purchased the 3 1/2 quart LeCreuset braiser in December, 2009. I have had the 2 1/4 quart for many years and love it. Since purchasing the 3 1/2 qt I am using it constantly and don't even put it away, but leave it on the stovetop. I've done eggs over, omelets, roasted vegetables, baked pasta dishes, caramelized onions and allot more and the pan is wonderful. As far as roasting veggies in the pan you won't get a better flavor to the vegetables. Even after caramelizing onions over a flame for quite a while the pan required barely any effort to clean. There is a previous review stating that LeCreuset is delicate which is ridiculous. This line is far from delicate and the truth is that the line is a workhorse. If you have sticking you are cooking at too high a temperature. Should you have sticking just soak in hot water with a little Dawn and the pan should wash right up. The style of the braiser is invaluable and I can't imagine anyone not using this pan constantly. I have at least a dozen pieces of LeCreuset and the line is wonderful. If you can spring for the money give it a try. If you are able to purchase LeCreuset and All Clad you won't be disappointed. Check out the new All Clad d5 line which right now is only sold at Williams Sonoma.

1/11/13 Updating my earlier review. Basically...I am reviewing all 3 of the LeCreuset Braisers (a/k/a buffet casserole). At the risk of sounding uppity, I would say all that know me would regard me as a extremely good cook. I have all 3 sizes of the LeCreuset braiser with my latest being the 5 quart which is great. These braisers are invaluable. Yes..the 31/2 & 5 qt carry a little weight, but afterall...they are cast iron. I cannot understand some reviewers of LeCreuset calling these products "delicate" & "hard to clean" as it makes no sense. There is nothing delicate about LeCreuset. Although I mention that I have all 3 of the braisers, I have many other pieces that I constantly use for all kinds of things. These products are work horses in the kitchen and clean up beautifully. I don't care what gets stuck to them...a little soaking with some Dawn dish detergent and you barely have to wipe. If you have heavy duty browning stuck to this cookware you may need to give a slight rubbing, but nothing of any consequence. As an example...yesterday afternoon...1/10/13...I roasted allot...and I mean allot...if sliced up beets in my 5 quart braiser to which I add many other ingredients to the beet mix. I roasted at 410 for about two hours...because I had so much....with the lid on until the end when I then do the last 20 minutes with the lid off. Yes...there was significant browning on the bottom and sides of the braiser which one would have looked at and thought that it would be time consuming task to get all of this off. Truly...after removing the beets I soaked the braiser in hot water with Dawn detergent for maybe 5 minutes at the most and then with the rough side of my sponge I was easily able to lift all that had stuck and my braiser looked like brand new again. I would suggest not to listen to the reivewers who give LeCreuset negative comments and at least give one piece a try and a good piece to try is one of the braisers. I would start with the 3 1/2 quart or if you like to roast high quantities of food go for the 5 qt. Also, the dutch ovens are fabulous. Remember, there are people who nothing can please them....nothing....so I would not pay much attention to the negative LeCreuset reviews. Chefs all over the world use LeCreuset and Chefs are not investing in very expensive equipment that is delicate and is a problem to clean.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Round Braiser

I absolutely love this pan. It cooks evenly, is a great size for the oven as well as the stove top and I will be cooking with it often. But my favorite thing is the color. My entire house is in purples and it matches my kitchen perfectly.