Buying Le Creuset

I need to get some basic information on prices and sources for buying Le Creuset. I'm looking for a 12 inch skillet with the black interior. I see it's $99 on Amazon. Is this a good price for this item? Do you know a less expensive source for purchasing it? There's an outlet in Gilroy, CA - do you know how much they charge for the 12" black interior skillet? Does this item ever show up in sets?
Thanks!

[jumpshelley]

Well, it may be a few years too late, but I found the Outlet in Allen,tx has 40% off till Monday. and then some other special (I think 20%off 100,30% off 200 and so on... What I want to point out is CALL YOUR OUTLET. It does not cost much ,( and the Allen tx outlet will) ship directly to you. I paid $118 for the 5 qt oval ( I chose the yellow color). The reg outlet price was $198 I see online it is $299. The outlet stores have a quota to stay open and here at the end of the month my sales gal was offering everything I wanted...

[MaHubs]

This thread started in June, so perhaps no one will see my reply! I must correct the statements about the Le Creuset outlet prices and update you on the 11.75" skillet prices. I just bought it at our nearest outlet. First, all outlet prices are less than retail for first quality. The covered 2.25-qt baker has list price of $65 but it was $53 and I got 30% off that! The skillet was first quality (no seconds available) with list price of $88. I got 30% off. To get 30% off during December, join theiri preferred customer list while you are shopping. Otherwise you get 20% off. Shipping is 15% of the cost. The slip says lcstores.com has the list. I got a lovely 9-qt round covered oven which was a second listed for $197 with 30% off that. The list price for first quality is nearly $300. Mine is nearly flawless. The clerk said one of the important things to check is how well the lids fit on the seconds.

[kipserfozo]

check on ebay - great deals on LC pans!

[yellowrose3502]

Ebay is your best bet when it comes to discontinued colors. That green has been poppin up lately, but I haven't seen it in the 12 inch skillet. But it may only be a matter of time. William Sonoma used to carry the green. I'm not sure they still do. Check their website.

[fernem]

I have a lc color question, please. I have blue, flame, and red lc - french oven, buffet, soup pot, and saucepan. I am thinking of buying the 12" skillet in cactus green at the outlet. Anyone have this? Does it look pretty with food in it? It's not as bright as red or flame or even the classic blue, but it is a pretty color and only sold in the outlets. (BTW, the Vacaville and Gilroy outlets often have really good sales, as does Amazon if you wait long enough.) Thanks in advance.

If you are near a Tuesday Morning store, occasionally I see them there at good prices, you may want to check. Unfortunately their inventory is random.

I have purchased several pieces below $25 - but that was about 25 years ago!

There is an outlet in Vacaville, California and they have had very good prices. I purchased a pate terrine there for about $30.

You can call any of the outlets to inquire about the skillet. The telephone number for the Vacaville outlet: [phone].

I got most of mine there. Here's a list of outlets:

Link: http://www.outletsonline.com/lecreuse...

Niki, I think you need to do some serious research. Get out and around and compare prices, see which items go on sale in your local department/cookware stores, ask around, and go online. It takes a while to get the feel of what Le Creuset costs, but once you do you'll be able to spot the bargains.

Where I live in the UK, I've seen the price of Le Creuset fluctuate wildly in different shops and towns. But I figured out where to go and when, and have got a couple of pieces very cheaply. Good luck.

If you're looking for a 12 inch skillet, why not save a ton of $$$ and go for cast iron? A 12 inch Lodge regular finish cast iron skillet will set you back < 30 bucks. You'll get similar (if not better performance) for a lot less. I have several Lodge pieces and they perform great! I also have several LeCrueset pieces; all dutch ovens.

Try amazon.com for some good prices on Lodge and LeCrueset. I've gotten rock bottom deals at Home Goods too. Picked up a 6-3/4 quart oval oven for $80. It's a second but I'm still looking for the flaw. I think the paint fade wasn't as "smooth" as it is supposed to be. Pshaw!

I'll try the homegoods.com site - that's news to me - thanks. That Canadian site mentioned doesn't have it and as I mentioned, amazon.com has the 12" for $99 - I just wondered if I could find it cheaper elsewhere.

I already have a wonderful 12 inch OLD patina covered black beauty - but I use it for frying with a lot of oil.

I want a 12" Le Creuset with the black interior (it is not teflon - just black enamel) because in a recent NY Times article about the relative non-stick versus sticky qualities of all non-Teflon type cookware (re toxins problemo - I'm phasing out my real non-stick) - the Le Creuset out performed everything else.

Don't go by that NY Times article. The author clearly didn't know that much about cooking. The previous poster is correct -- you will get better non-stick performance with a well-seasoned cast iron pan.

Frankly, I think the teflon fears are way overblown. Just don't heat your teflon pan on high heat without anything in it, and you'll be fine.

I disagree about the cast iron being just as good or better than the black-coated Le Creuset skillets. I have two I've had since the mid 80's and they're great. No rusting ever and they heat up like cast iron pans. Easy to clean, non-stickish, too. I use them more than the rest of my Le Creuset pieces. I bought one on sale on Piedmont Ave but have never seen them in any sets.

[C. Hamster]

They heat up like cast iron pans because they ARE cast iron pans.

Count me as a LC french oven lover but a well seasoned Lodge CI skillet is a better and cheaper performer than LC. And I do have a LC skillet in the very back of the pot and pan cupboard.

[chuckl]

In my experience, LC frying pans and skillets do not perform as well as cast iron, particularly in terms of stickiness. I've had a couple LC frying pans since the early '90s and no matter how much I burnish and season them, they still stick a lot more than plain cast iron. I'm not sure why this is, but it's my experience. LC dutch ovens, however, are worth every penny.

I got great prices at Caplan Duval a couple of years ago. I also remember reading posts here saying that the Le Creuset outlets do not have good prices.

Link: http://www.caplanduval.com/

LC outlets are lower than retail but they are not doing you any favors. The best time to buy from the outlets is during the October sale.

That skillet for $99 is not bad but do check Caplan Duval in Montreal sometimes their sales are hard to beat.

Check The Broadway Panhandler in New York
website below.
They usually have good prices on Le Creuset

Link: http://www.broadwaypanhandler.com

That is not true....well maybe they've changed since the last time I was at the one near Vacaville. I got a great deal on lots of pans for $200. Good stuff, not weird sizes or anything.