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(More customer reviews)I bought my new Le Creuset Dutch Oven (ok, they call it a "French" oven, but whatever) a couple months ago for two reasons: I needed a Dutch oven anyway, and I knew that cast iron would be the best way to go. Plus, I was eager to try out a new simple bread recipe that everyone was talking about in the New York Times: The Bittman no-knead bread. It called for the loaf to be baked in a cast-iron Dutch oven at a very high temperature (450 degrees).
So I plunked down the $230 (a seemingly insane amount of money for a pot, but I figured I was buying quality, and that it would last a lifetime), and when it arrived I started the bread recipe.
But wait. The instruction manual -- while saying that the pot is heat-rated for temperatures in excess of 500 degrees -- stated the maximum temperature for the pot's black phenolic lid knob was only 375 degrees. (I later found out that "phenolic" is just a classy name for PLASTIC.) So -- how were all these people baking their Bittman bread with their Le Creuset pots? I Googled "Bittman + Le Creuset" and found a litany of horror stories about pot knobs melting and even exploding in the oven because people didn't read the fine print in the owner's manual. Of course, my Google search also brought me to THIS page, where I found this stainless steel replacement knob.
The knob itself is perfect. It looks even better than the original plastic (excuse me -- PHENOLIC) knob. And it's nice that Le Creuset put its logo on top. What's not nice is that the hardware it comes with doesn't work -- the screw is too long, and the knob didn't tighten properly. No worries ... I just used the original screw from the plastic (excuse me again -- PHENOLIC) knob. Success!
I have three main gripes with Le Creuset, however. First of all, a pot retailing for over $300 shouldn't have anything made of plastic on it, period. Second, putting a knob that's only heat-rated for 375 degrees on a pot that's heat-rated for over 500 degrees is like putting cheap all-season tires that are speed-rated for 80 miles per hour on a Ferrari. Third -- Le Creuset should have provided me this replacement knob -- and everyone else who dropped hundreds of dollars on their pot -- for FREE.
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Designed for use with Le Creuset products 9 inches or larger (but will fit all sizes), this 2-inch knob makes an attractive replacement for worn, missing, or chipped originals. The unit features durable 18/10 stainless-steel construction for exceptional beauty from one cooking endeavor to the next. Furthermore, its wide, flattened shape and thick rim allow for a secure grip when removing lids to stir or check on dinner, with enough height to facilitate easy lifting--even when wearing a thick oven mitt or gripping with a potholder. A quick and effective way to update the look of any braiser, French oven, saucepan, or skillet, the unit brings instant sophistication and fresh appeal to frequently used cookware while eliminating the need for replacing the entire pot or pan. Best of all, it remains cool to the touch while sauteing or stir-frying at the stove, and it offers oven-safe performance at all temperatures. Accompanied by an assembly screw for simple installation, the replacement knob measures 2 by 2 by 1-2/5 inches.
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