LE CREUSET ironware has long been the ultimate kitchen accessory. But with so many other well-known retailers producing their own 'tribute' ranges, is it really worth paying for the originals? Celebrity chef Ed Baines of London's celebrated Randall & Aubin restaurant tested casserole dishes and grill pans... DENBY Cast Iron Round Casserole, [euro]75, and Cast Iron Square Griddle Pan, [euro]50. Available at Argos and department stores COOKING AND TASTE: Neither of these performed to my standards. The base of the casserole dish was uneven so 'hot spots' of oil collected in pools at high temperatures, making food cook unevenly. And while the large griddle pan with widely spaced grill 'marks' should be ideal for meats, imperfections in the cast meant that meat got caught in the furrows and spoiled. DESIGN AND FEATURES: The casserole is a lovely shape and colour, but very heavy. The best pots are made from lighter, thinner iron for perfectly even heat distribution. The side handles on the casserole dish are very narrow and difficult to grip, and the stainless steel knob gets really hot.
VALUE FOR MONEY: The quality of the enamelling is OK, but, design wise, the casserole is not that much different to some of the cheaper options and the griddle pan is a case of style over substance. Overpriced. CASSEROLE DISh 5/10 GRIDDLE pAN 4/10 kiTChENCrafT Molten Cast Iron Round Casserole, [euro]49.95, and Square Griddle Pan, [euro]37.95. Available at kitchencraft.co.uk COOKING AND TASTE: The casserole is well made and a good Audemars Piguet Watches size, but I didn't like the griddle pan. There's an inch of pan without ridges round the edges and oil collected there made my meat burn and stick.
DESIGN AND FEATURES: The deep red colour is stylish, and it's made from good quality materials, but little details spoilt the pot and made it a nightmare to use. The handles on the side were too small, and the lid wasn't a very tight fit. The forging of the griddle marks on the pan is uneven, and it's astonishingly heavy. VALUE FOR MONEY: If you haven't got a strong grip, then steer clear of the pot. And the griddle will ruin whatever you cook in it.
CASSEROLE DISh 5/10 GRIDDLE pAN 2/10 LiNEa Cast Iron Casserole Pot, [euro]45, and Griddle Pan, [euro]21, House IWC Watches of Fraser, Dundrum Town Centre COOKING AND TASTE: The pot has a lot of good classic 'Creuset' cooking traits, and I was pleased with the well-flavoured results. A thick base, so good for slow cooking or searing on a high heat. But my attempt to griddle slices of halloumi cheese was ridiculous. Heat distribution was terrible, there were no spouts to pour away excess fat, and the cheese just stuck to the pan.
DESIGN AND FEATURES: I like the colour. The pot has nice aesthetic grooves and a secure-fitting lid. But as far as the griddle pan goes, it's incredibly heavy, the materials are poor quality, and there's no means to drain off excess oil.
VALUE FOR MONEY: At the sale price, the casserole dish offers great value for money. But I wouldn't buy the pan at any price.
CASSEROLE DISh 6/10 GRIDDLE pAN 3/10 TESCO Finest Cast Iron Stockpot Blue Casserole Dish, [euro]45, Griddle Pan, [euro]26 COOKING AND TASTE: The enamel coating on the base of the casserole pot is seriously uneven, and these imperfections have a direct effect on the taste of anything you cook. For example, onions for soup soon started to burn. And the griddle was even worse, as well as being extremely heavy. DESIGN AND FEATURES: These dishes have simply been banged together with cheap materials, and I'm not sure how long they would last. All I liked were the handles, which on both were eas
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