List Price: $135.00
Sale Price: $109.95
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
I got this pan more or less on a whim. We were at the LC outlet and buying something else and the salesperson kinda talked me into this one. I'm sure there was a sale going on so I went ahead and got it. I knew it was named for the dish it's named for the delicious tarte tatin, a sort of upside-down apple pie. But I'm not huge on pies to begin with, and I don't really like kitchen items that only serve one purpose, so I don't know why I gave in. At the time, I wasn't really thinking about other things this pan would be good for.
ANYway...I am SO GLAD I got this pan! I use it all the time a few times a week, at least. We are a small household and this pan is perfect for so many things. I love that I can start things out on the stove and then finish in the oven. I absolutely LOVE the handles on this they are cool but, more than that, they are very easy to grip, even with potholders on.
Some cast iron items are too heavy for some people, but this is one of the lighter pieces. Plus the handles make handling it easier.
I found a lid separately on eBay (why don't they sell lids separately?) a #24 fits it perfectly if you already have one... the 3½ qt round *wide* lid works.
I posted some pics here of some of the dishes I make in this pan.
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I saw this item at William's Sonoma website and looked it up at Amazon to avoid paying shipping. So far I've used it only once but I love it. I can't wait to use it more. It was great for making a frittata that you start on the stove and transfer to the oven. What was even better is that it actually fits in my small over the counter oven (I prefer to use the small oven as opposed to the standard size one because it's more convinient). I am pleased with the product, size, price, color and it's also so beautiful.Best Deals for Discount Download Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 9-3/4-Inch Round
I originally wanted to buy the Le Creuset stoneware pie dish for $30, I decided against it and bought this one because I thought it would be sturdier and last longer and I love the handles. I have no regrets. My first quiche came out great, no uneven baking. I would recommend Le Creuset over and over and over. Expensive compared to other brands but definitely worth it.Honest reviews on Discount Download Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 9-3/4-Inch Round
I bought this just so I could use it for a tarte tatin recipe, but know that it will work for so many other dishes. Very functional, especially with those wide set handles that don't get hot. Gorgeous flame color too. I have some high-end stainless cookware that I love, but may have to buy more Le Creuset now.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Discount Download Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 9-3/4-Inch Round
Le Creuset manufactures porcelain enameled cast iron cooking vessels as well as other quality products. These cooking vessels are cast from molten iron poured in sand moulds which are used only once. For this reason, one pan may look like another, but each is unique in its own way.Cast iron is a highly efficient material which absorbs and distributes heat. Due to this efficiency, it is recommended that cooking with cast iron is done on low to medium heat. Remove cast iron from the heat and it does not cool off quickly. This helps your food stay warm while serving. Beware; iron tends to be heavy so these cooking vessels tend to be heavier than other pans made from alternate materials.
Cast iron is an effective material for cooking so why cover it with enamel? Iron tends to rust; iron oxide (rust) doesn't add any complimentary flavors to your food. If your cast iron cooking vessel was not enameled, you would have to season and maintain its cooking surface. Adding the porcelain enamel not only looks good, but has multiple benefits. The enamel, being a solid coating, is one of the most hygienic surfaces to cook on, does not stain, absorb odors, retain flavors, and is easy to clean. The enamel can be damaged, so limit contact to heat resistant plastic or wood utensils to eliminate the scratching and scoring the porcelain.
The benefits of cooking with Le Creuset cast iron are many, but lets get down to the Tarte Tatin or as it's also referred to, the Anniversary pan specifically. This pan holds 2 quarts of food, measures 9 1/2 inches or 24 cm internal diameter, 1 3/4 inch or 4 cm deep, and weighs 2 1/4 pounds. Two odd looking handles, placed opposite of each other; make turning the pan upside down to remove your freshly baked dish simple. The smooth surface eliminates the need to grease the dish except for delicate cakes. Be sure to lift the pan off of cooking surfaces to reduce damaging either the pan or the surface. The anniversary pan tends to do best if at least 3/4 full. Any less and you may overwhelm your food with heat evenly dispersed in the pot.
I find that the cast iron adds a crispy texture to food that may be desirable with a dish like an apple Tarte Tatin, while not so desirable for other dishes. Of course any dish that needs to be flipped out of a pan is perfect for this dish. Some possibilities include sticky buns, quiche, frittatas, baked squash, deep dish pizza, vegetable tarts, whipped yams, dinner rolls, corn bread, fruit crumbles, cobblers, deep dish fruit pies, and pineapple upside down cake to name a few.
One feature that people tend to complain about is the cost. The cost does seem steep compared to other pans made from other materials. Heck, cast iron doesn't seem like it should be expensive when comparing to that old cast iron pan past generations have used for cornbread and camping. However the manufacturing process requires making a mould for each and every pan produced. They then go through the enameling process before shipping these heavy pans. If you take what goes into making and distributing these high quality cast iron products, the cost tends to make sense. Then consider that this pan will easily last a lifetime when taken care of.
PROS:
Handles designed for flipping dishes out of the pan
Efficient absorption and distribution of heat
Hygienic enamel cooking surface
Does not stain, absorb odors, or retain flavors
Cleans easily when not abused or misused
Can be transferred from stove top to the oven to the table
Easily lasts a lifetime
CONS:
Its heavy, as cast iron tends to be weighing in at about 2 1/4 pounds.
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