After visiting Bed Bath & Beyond in Manhattan, reader Jay told us that the knobs are missing from the Le Creuset Dutch ovens on display.
"I think the recent spate of [no-knead] bread baking has led to many destroyed handles and people have been absconding with the handles they find on display . . .I actually had one explode in the oven," Jay said.
The no-knead bread phenemenon began back in November when Mark Bittman suggested using Dutch ovens to get a crispy crust and showed a Le Creuset in the picture.
I called Bed Bath & Beyond on Manhattan's Upper East Side and spoke with Kelly. She told me the store's Le Creuset go on display with knobs, but they "do come loose for a variety of reasons."
Kelly said kids like to play with the knobs, some come loose with so much use and just fall off, while other knobs go home with shoppers who have sticky fingers.
Bed Bath & Beyond is sometimes affectionately called Bed Bath & Borrow because of their generous, customer-friendly return policy, but "borrowing" from their displays this way is just wrong. And why nick a knob when for about $7.95, bakers can replace the black plastic knob with a Le Creuset knob made of stainless steel? (Note: Taylor from The Brooklyn Kitchen reports that they have larger Le Creuset knobs in stockthe stainless steel knob is out of stock at many online retailers, but I've contacted Le Creuset to find another retailer.)
"The traditional Phenolic knob stays cool during stovetop use and is oven safe to 375F, while our new 18/10 stainless steel knob is highly durable and can withstand any oven temperature," says Le Creuset.
If the steel version is not for you, bread bakers who need a new knob can also order free replacement black knobs through Le Creuset (877-273-8738, cservice[at]lecreuset[dot]com). NotMartha reports that stainless steel cabinet knobs could also be used.
Previously:
Martha Stewart Won't Knead Today + Links to The Recipe
What's The Deal With Dutch Ovens?
Inexpensive Bread Knives
Cookbook Review: The Bread Baker's Apprentice
[Photo from Milkshakepants via Flickr]
can anyone recommend a lower-priced alternative to a le creuset? i need a dutch oven but le creuset is a little beyond my wallet right now.
I know IKEA has started to sell cast iron dutch ovens. The price in Canada was about $70. I don't own one...but it seems like a good deal.
I ADORE my Emile Henry all clay dutch oven and have made many loaves of no-knead bread in it, and since its all clay, and safe up to really really hot, no need to get rid of knobs while not kneading... they're kind of expensive, but you can find deals on them sometimes, and they're lovely for making stews and roasting chickens and... well, i just love my two clay ovens!
If you're looking for something just to bake "No-Knead" bread in - get a "La Cloche" from amazon or wherever for 40 bucks - they work great.
La Cloche
Head to target and pick yourself up a 5.5qt Chefmate enameled pot - they were rated very highly in Cook's Illustrated in the Nov. 06 issue, and I picked one right up, and its just as good as my Le Crueset, so far as I can tell, and for $40 - you can't beat it!
How about Lodge dutch ovens?
Significantly cheaper than LeC, but not enameled.
Handle is cast with the lid, so you won't ever have a problem with a knob breaking!
Something not necessarily less expensive than Le Creuset but infinitely better, in my book, are Staub roasting pans, called La Cocotte. Beautifully enameled on the outside in a variety of colors, they have a black matte enamel finish inside. It sears meats like cast iron, but releases easily and cleans up almost like non-stick. I've cooked with Le Creuset in the past, and its shiny enamel interior caused food to stick like crazy for me.
As an aside, I had to call the company's Staub USA toll-free number recently to ask a question. Not only did a human answer on the second ring [instead of "Press one for..."], she was able to answer my question. I was impressed.
Exploding knobs is a bit of a worry. Mine is an unbranded cast iron dutch oven with an enamal lining. It is fabulous and was significantly less expensive than the LeC variety - even though an upgrade is on the long term shopping list...
No-knead bread??? That's all kinds of wrong! And you wonder why it's hard to get right?! Must be one of those exotic mysteries yet to make it to this side of the herring pond... Kneading is the very bestest part of making bread! And covering it and waiting for it to rise while its precariously balanced over a radiator...! Abandon your fancy no-knead, no-fun nomnsense and go get your hands dirty! Well, flour-y...
You can find a cheaper enameled cast iron pot at Marshall's. I found a really awesome one there a couple of days ago. It weighs a ton but it can withstand tempertures up to 650 degrees. It was $49.99 plus tax.
We were talking in the kitchen area about this topic last week. I don't make the "famous" (?) no-knead bread, but I do make Irish Soda Bread in my Lodge cast iron Dutch oven (well-seasoned and baking in it only makes it better). It works very well.
As for broken Le Creuset handles, I thought Le Creuset carried a life-time guarantee. I think you can take it into a dealer and get a replacement. But I don't know that for a fact! I have some pieces I found at the Nantucket dump :) but I prefer well-seasoned cast iron.
My cheap-o Authentic Kitchen brand dutch oven came from Marshall's(fab color, too! celery green). I think it's just another name for the Innova brand (looks exactly the same).
I'm not sure what temp it's rated for in the oven though. (Foolish me tossed out the little manual that came with it). The top is enameled like the pot and is screwed on to the lid. Hmm. I'd rather not have one pop off in my oven...
Do you think plain old heavy-duty kitchen foil would work instead?
tin_angel: FINALLY, someone else who agrees that kneading is the best part of making bread.
As if this no-knead business wasn't bad enough to begin with, now it's turning people into petty thieves? For shame!
In addition to Bed Bath and Borrow's generous return policy, Williams-Sonoma actually has a no questions asked policy, too.
Kristen and Tin Angel: I love kneading as well. But a lot of people do the no-knead stuff and a lot of people are damaging their Dutch ovens by doing it. The La Cloche is great for baking bread whether or not you knead it ! and your dutch oven doesnt have to handle a 500 degree preheat with nothing in it, only to have a room temperature piece of dough dropped into it.
I ADORE LeCruset, but I did find a cheaper generic version at my local kitchen shop, and it has a lid-knob already formed out of the cast-iron, and enamled like the rest of the pot. I don't remember the brand--but I know they are available.
(Some humor about this subject...to the tune of "Ladies Who Lunch" from musical "Company" with new lyrics in all caps)
Song from "No-Knead Bread: The Musical"
Here's to the COOKS who DON'T KNEAD--
Everybody laugh.
Lounging in their CROCS
And planning a brunch
On their own behalf.
Off to the gym,
Then to a MEETING,
Claiming they're fat.
And looking grim,
'Cause they've been shopping
Choosing a DUTCH OVEN.
Does anyone still OWN A DUTCH OVEN?
I'll drink to that.
And here's to the ONES who STILL KNEAD--
Aren't they a gas?
Rushing to their classes
In CULINARY ARTS,
Wishing it would pass.
Another long exhausting day,
Another thousand CALORIES,
A matinee, a Pinter play,
Perhaps a piece of PAVLOVA.
I'll drink to that.
And one for PAVLOVA!
And here's to the BUSY who DON'T COOK--
Aren't they too much?
Keeping house but clutching
A copy of GOURMET,
Just to keep in touch.
The ones who follow ZAGAT,
And meet themselves at the TRATTORIAS,
Too busy to know that they're BORING US.
Aren't they a gem?
I'll drink to them!
Let's all drink to them!
And here's to the FOODIES who just KVETCH--
Aren't they the best?
When they get depressed,
It's a bottle of VINAGRE DE JEREZ,
Plus a little jest.
Another chance to disapprove,
Another brilliant DINNER,
Another reason not to move,
Another vodka stinger.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
I'll drink to that.
So here's to the FRESH DIRECT on the go--
Everybody tries.
Look into their eyes,
And you'll see what they know:
WE WISH THIS WAS FROM TRADER JOE'S.
A toast to that invincible bunch,
The dinosaurs surviving the crunch.
Let's hear it for the COOKS WHO DON"T KNEAD--
Everybody rise!
Rise!
Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise!
Rise!
I am so excited to try this!
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