‘What a win’ screams shoppers as they bag Le Creuset dupe in Lidl middle aisle for a TENTH of the price
A LIDL shopper went into a frenzy after bagging a Le Creuset kitchenware dupe for just a tenth of the price.
The German discount retailer is currently stocking a high-quality four-litre cast iron casserole dish in its middle aisle for just £34.99.
A similar pan from Le Creuset would cost around £350.
But for a fractional price, the savvy shopper bought the wonderful kitchenware that can be used to make amazing stews and delicious pot dishes.
They posted a picture of their buy with fellow friends on Facebook and wrote in the caption: “Big win in the middle aisle of Lidl today.
“Bought a 4L cast iron casserole for our daughter’s flat for 34.99. A Creuset equivalent would have been 345.00!!!”
The post wracked up hundreds of likes and comments with many group members congratulating the savvy shopper.
One said: “This looks great! Amazing deal.”
Another wrote: “A fantastic bargain.”
A third said: “Lidl is top,”
While a fourth shared: “I need this right now.”
Why is Le Creuset so expensive?
LE CREUSET cookware is on the wishlists of many home cooks and bakers.
But the French brand’s Dutch ovens can cost between $260 and $750, and even a bread loaf pan will set you back $180.
So what warrants such hefty price tags?
Le Creuset’s Dutch ovens are among its most popular items, and they — along with several other pieces of their cookware — are made with high-quality enamelled cast iron.
They’re meant to last a long time and even carry a lifetime warranty “to be free from defects in material and workmanship.”
“It’s like, do you really wanna buy a $50 piece of something over and over again, or do you wanna invest in something and know that you’re gonna have it for a long time?” Nate Collier, Le Creuset’s director of marketing and communications, said to Eater.
According to Cookware Insider, 15 quality control officers inspect each of the brand’s items before they’re sold.
Of course, they’re pretty, too, and quite the status symbol.
“You think of it as a simple piece of cookware, but even the silhouette of our Dutch oven is recognizable,” Collier said.
“You could show someone a line drawing without any colour, and most people that are familiar with cookware would be able to tell you that it’s specifically a Le Creuset Dutch oven.”
Celebrity fans include Julia Child, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Garner, and Taylor Swift.
Lidl is renowned for its discounted prices but the German supermarket may have just raised the bar yet again with their latest deal.
A few days ago, shoppers rushed to Lidl to buy a hidden middle aisle item selling for 50 per cent less than on the high street.
The retailer stocked the highly sought-after Fuji Instax Mini 11 film camera for just £30 in one of the bargains of the year.
Lidl is also selling a gazebo cheaper than B&M and Argos – just in time to enjoy sunny summer parties.
The garden must-have retails for just under £70 and will be up for grabs very soon.
Meanwhile, shoppers filled their freezers with a household dinner essential thanks to an “amazing” half-price offer.
The product is listed for £4.99 online but shoppers can now grab it for just £2.50.
Lidl has also introduced a wide range of low prices on steaks and sausages as barbecue season approaches.
If you are eager to get grilling we can reveal where you can get the cheapest deals on all your BBQ essentials.
One Lidl shopper has also been left red-faced after hitting out at the bargain supermarket for a “sneaky price increase” – because all was not as it seemed.
The customer – from Hawick, Roxburghshire – had nipped into their local Lidl to pick up a multipack of bottled water but ended up being charged £7.57 more than usual for their 24 bottles.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.