If you had a gift cert to Williams Sonoma

[CeciMami]

and you had to choose between the:

Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, 5 1/2-Qt.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...?pkey=cckwlcrb

the All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster with Rack:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...?pkey=cCKWACSB

and the All-Clad Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...?pkey=celtsrpi

Which would you choose and why? I'm trying to make the most TF decision that I can and am really stuck. I'd love to get a large capacity slow cooker to replace the 2 old Rival ones I have and stop cookin' up Lead stew! The roaster would be great to have (i don't currently have one) and although I've never had a piece of Le Cruset my inner NT is telling me that I should get one to make that no-knead bread everyone keeps raving about. (the fourth option would be to get this set of glasses: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...?pkey=cglsspti but other than replacing our tired old glasses...they're not an overly TF purcase!

Help!

[westcoastmom]

I would choose the Stainless Steel Roaster. (Dh looked for one of those last year and only found ones that had non-stick racks so he bought the lasagna pan) All Clad doesn't usually go on sale much.

I regularly see LeCreuset and other brands of Enameled Dutch Ovens in a variety of sizes at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross for $30 and up.

There are 6 quart slow cookers that are lead free and much cheaper than $150

[velcromom]

This month's Cook's Illustrated had a review of dutch ovens and says that the much less expensive Lodge brand and the Tramontina are a good value and are comparable in performance to the more expensive Le Creuset, so perhaps you might go for one of the others and get a dutch oven another time.

I think I would choose the slow cooker. I don't use my roaster all that often but the slow cooker gets a lot of use. Plus, I think it's a bit more versatile than the roaster.

[MCsMom]

I'd get the LeCruset or the slow cooker. But, I have a LeCruset addiction (good thing I live next to an outlet store) and I seriously need to replace my slowcooker. I have stoped using it because I have a bad feeling about it.

[CeciMami]

Thanks for the input...i'm leaning towards the roaster now...

Does anyone know if the W-S crockpot is truly lead free?

[tracykg]

I was just going to add that I have a Lodge dutch oven (5qt, I think) and I loved it so much that I went out and bought another one. Although I don't own any Le Creuset, I have a friend who does. He has Lodge and LC and says his Lodge performs WAY better. I also read an article, not in Cook's Illustrated, but in Fine Cooking, and it said that Lodge was their top pick both for cost and performance.

I've got an All Clad roaster and I love it.

[kdmama33]

I'd go with the roaster. As others have said, Lodge makes a comparable dutch oven for much less money. I love mine! And I have an excellent lead-free six quart slow cooker that cost me about forty dollars. I roast a lot of meat, so the roaster would be worth it to me.

[quietserena]

There's a crockpot thread somewhere out there where someone (Metasquioia I think.. sorry I can't spell your nick very well!) called all the manufacturers and reported which slow cookers were lead free. I'd look now but DD is so not happy atm so I'm going to go drink block tea wit her.

[sewingmommy]

I'd would go with the Le creuset...I have a few pieces and I love them ....they are great and if you burn something it comes right off ...definitely worth the money to me

[JElaineB]

I would go with the SS roaster, I have 2 crockpots also and no roaster! You can get a much cheaper alternative to Le Creuset from Tramontina for the dutch oven.

[homemademomma]

i would go for the dutch oven.

[gina2328]

I actually just bought glasses exactly like those from WS at the Dollar Store for $ 1.00 each.

The roaster does one thing..roasts. The crockpot does so much more, stews, soups, braises. Its depends on what you need.

[mamaMAMAma]

I would go for the roaster too.

[*Di]

Lead-free crocks ???

Originally Posted by westcoastmom

There are 6 quart slow cookers that are lead free and much cheaper than $150

Does anyone know how can you tell if a crockpot is lead-free or not ?

My current one is Rival (red) from Target - anyone know if it's lead-free ?

Thanks !

[kdmama33]

If I remember correctly, the Rival brand crocks are suspect. I got the one that Metasequoia recommended in her thread (the travel one, can't remember the brand) and I've been very happy with it.

[CeciMami]

kdmama33...which one did you get?

[spero]

If I didn't already have one, I'd get the roasting pan.

Otherwise, I'd go for the Dutch oven.

[*Di]

Kdmama33 -
Travel crockpot or travel thread ? Do you know which brand Mes. recommended ?
There is conflicting info... I found an email in an older thread where "Catnip" emailed Rival and they responded back that is was totally lead-free ???

[artemis33]

See I would either get the slow cooker (if you can confirm lead free of course ) or get the Le Crueset.

I also read that Cook's Illustrated article about the cheaper enameled french ovens and I am *very* intrigued since I have been drooling over one for about 2 years now! lol But does anyone know where the cheaper ones are made?

I have a stainless roaster and it is so great when I need it...BUT....lately, since I mostly just roast 4-5lb chickens (only do larger turkeys once or twice a year), I've been using a deep sided cast iron pan that I have and it works great! For me this is because the cast iron pan 'lives' in my kitchen, while the roaster is in basement storage. But if you got an enameled roasting pan (or french or dutch oven) I imagine it would work very well for this purpose.......

I also use my slow cooker at least weekly (for bone broth) and unfortunately I have one of the rival suspect ones So, that would be a good investment if you can verify the lead free aspect.

I'm not much help I guess since all of those are really good investments

[*Di]

Not actually narrowing your choices, but increasing ...

I'm going to get the french steel crepe pan that was highly recommended by someone on this forum... but that's only if you make lots of crepes, of course !