How To Score Deeply Discounted Le Creuset Every Year

Few cookware brands have as strong a reputation as Le Creuset. From its sturdy, reliable Dutch ovens to the various cute corporate tie-ins that keep its name on people's lips, it's a cookware institution — even if Consumer Reports' highest-rated Dutch oven knocks Le Creuset down a peg. The real problem for many people is the fact that the brand is so darn expensive, to the point where some doubt whether Le Creuset cookware is worth the exorbitant price tag. If that's the case with you, there are ways to get your hands on a Le Creuset piece without breaking the bank, so long as you keep your eye out for the brand's Factory To Table Sales.

Now, these sales aren't the average discount you'll find at Macy's. These FTT sales are events held at specific locations a few times a year, and there's admittedly no guarantee that there will be one near where you are. Past sales in the United States have been held in cities such as Richmond, Hartford, San Jose, and Columbus, but the company has said that it tries not to go to the same place twice. 

Once a sale is announced, you'll have to buy a ticket to attend. They cost somewhere between $10 and $30, depending on the location, day, and type of ticket. Once you get there, the savings are well worth it. You can get discounts of up to 60%. While Le Creuset no longer offers the $50 mystery box promotion at FTT events — much to the chagrin of fans of the brand – you can still get a free gift if you spend over $300.

But what if you aren't lucky enough to live near one of the locations where Le Creuset holds a Factory to Table Sale? Do you just have to suck it up and shell out half your paycheck for a colorful pot? Not necessarily. There are other avenues to cheaper enameled cast iron and ceramic cookware, if you know where to look.

Firstly, you should typically steer clear of shopping on the Le Creuset website, as the prices are almost always higher than you'll find elsewhere. Go for Amazon, Wayfair, or one of the brand's brick-and-mortar locations for more reasonable prices. You can also keep an eye out for the stock at stores like HomeGoods and Marshalls, which will sometimes sell Le Creuset products for much less than you'd spend elsewhere.

Another option is to seek out secondhand pieces. There are the usual electronic avenues of eBay and Facebook Marketplace, as well as some good stuff at estate sales. However you track down a Le Creuset item, you'll have a workhorse piece of cookware you can use to make deep fried foods and bake homemade sourdough.