Le Creuset

They weigh a ton I can't lift them anymore due to my dodgy elbows.

They are fabulous! I've got loads but they are mostly decorative nowadays.

You might need to buy a hoist!!

I also cannot lift them- I am not sure if I was ever able to even at a younger age and without the hand problems I have now.

A stainless steel casserole or stockpot will go from hob to oven and will be lighter than le Creuset. Look on the John Lewis or M&S website for ideas.

Yes, they weigh a ton, I’ve still use some casseroles, but not pans. I’ve got Aga cast iron pots which are also too heavy, I’m looking around for lighter alternatives.

Unless you’ve got superhuman strength, I’d give them a miss.

Like Sara65, I have Aga cast iron pots which are good in some ways but so heavy. Mostly I can't be bothered to heave them out of the back of the cupboard so use a stainless steel casserole which goes from hob to oven, as DoraMarr suggests.
In short, IMO Le Creuset not worth the money, pain to clean and too heavy.

I have some Le Creuset and do find them very heavy! However the casserole dishes are especially good in my opinion, and I will keep mine until I can’t use them anymore?

I used them when I was younger and stronger but they weigh a ton even when empty, with hot liquid in them even worse, so not worth the premium you pay for the name.

So very heavy, not to mention incredibly expensive. I have a large casserole one that belonged to my MiL but TBH I never use it - I have similar sized dishes that are rather more user-friendly.
BTW I wouldn't be surprised if the TV chefs get paid to use, i.e promote Le Creuset.

My son had a set and I couldn’t cope with the weight of them. I have a couple of Stellar stainless steel hob to oven casseroles; had them years and they are brilliant.

I can only use the medium sized one now ( too heavy, as others say.)Gave the large one and a frying pan to DD who loves them.Have lots of happy family memories of using them though.

My Sis-IL developed a bad wrist from using them, shysal.

They are heavy and, when full of food, impossible to lift.
I have a cast iron French 'marmite' and never use it.
The oven rack bent alarmingly last time I put it in the oven!

Thanks for the replies. I think I shall save my money and my wrists!

Apparently I can fry food on the hob in my slow cooker pot before putting it in the outer electric part.
I also have a small stainless steel 'marmite' shaped pot which can go from hob to oven (TK Maxx).

I think my slow cooker is a Morphy Richards.
However, I've never tried that.

I had a charcoal coloured set and liked them but I can no longer lift them in or out of the oven due to carpel tunnel and so I had to keep asking dh or one of my ds's but they were not always around so I gave them to my dd who loves them and uses them. I use the slow cooker now and dish out the food straight on to the plates.

I have a wonderful hob to oven casserole thing, I bought it in a local Home Hardwares store, after buying one for my boss when he was struggling to lift heavy pots.

The range is called Masterclass and is made by Kitchencraft. It has a non stick interior (although quite tough looking) so I do take care not to use metal utensils

I have several cast iron casseroles, which I use regulalry (I will use one tonight). None are Le Creuset. Le Creuset is merely a (expensive) brand name, whose manufacturer probably pays for product placement on cooking shows.

If you want to cook in cast iron there are plenty of cast iron casseroles available other than Le Creuset and a lot cheaper.

If you have any problem lifting weights cast-iron is not the matrial for you. There are a range of alternative hob to oven solutions that can be found in any good cook shop or kitchen departments in John Lewis and the like.

My daughter has a lot of Le Creuset and it does weigh a ton. I think she had most of it as wedding presents (we had to make do with pyrex!) but I dread doing the washing up at hers as it is so exhausting!!

I'd pined for a set of Le Creuset for a lifetime . My friend was moving in with her son and his family so I got her set !
But they're too heavy for me - be careful what you wish for !

I have two casserole dishes by Le Creuset inherited from my mum which I have used when the family where living at home but not used for a while now as far too heavy.I have a 2 x person LC smaller casserole dish which I bought in a charity shop the ladies in the shop obviously did not know the value as it was priced at just £3 even though it is smaller it is still very heavy when full.

I have a Sainsbury's cast iron saute pan, a lot cheaper than Le Creuset. It is heavy, but does look nice sitting on the hob! And it cooks well too.

I had a set of the orange saucepans which seemed to get heavier as I got older. Our son burnt the base of the large one boiling spaghetti dry and the coating was destroyed beyond use. When we moved I bought a couple of cream LC casserole dishes and they are excellent in the oven. They hold the heat for a long while after cooking and need heavy table mats under them when transferred to a table.

I have a couple of the smaller Le Creuset pans, which are well used and not too heavy.
I have a LC smaller frying pan, which I use for omelettes, frittata and the like and it’s v good (but the handle is very long for the dishwasher).
I have a LC roasting tin, which makes wonderful roast potatoes, but I don’t use it much because it’s heavy.
My favourite is a LC casserole dish which is used every week.

My LC ware is blue and about 20 years old and it looks like it could go on for another 20... The interior of the casserole dish has certainly discoloured from cream to a sort of light caramel colour, but that doesn’t trouble me.

I consider my Le Creuset to have been a good investment and I recommend them.