I've been eating grass fed beef for a year or so.  Unfortunately I find it a little tough.  I've tried grass fed from several different sources - always tough.  Yesterday I decided to try out my new Le Creuset cast iron enamelled French Oven.  I put a  big DElmonico grass fed steak in there, seasoned it, doused it with some olive oil and slow roasted it for about three and a half hours.  When it came out it was so divine that I almost fainted.  It was tender.  It was rich. It was delicious.  I could have cried tears of joy while eating it.  ROFLMAO!!!  From now on, this slow roasting is my new method.  Bon Appetit!

try your crock pot, also.
it always turns out right, somehow!

your roast must have been quite a treat!

The leaner the cut, the better suited it will be (generally speaking) to braising--simmering for long periods in an enclosed container over gentle heat. Imo it's the best way to do lean cuts of meat.
Nothing like a big london broil or pot roast smothered with onions, garlic and fresh thyme! Sometimes I put sweet potato chunks underneath, or carrots, and serve with steamed broccoli. Yum!

Quoted from AfricanTypeO

Yesterday I decided to try out my new Le Creuset cast iron enamelled French Oven.  

Is this to what you are referring?
http://www.lecreuset.com/usa/products/guide.php?product_id=121
and is yours the round or oval or does it matter? Guessing not, but thought I'd ask.

Quoted from pkarmeier

Is this to what you are referring?
http://www.lecreuset.com/usa/products/guide.php?product_id=121
and is yours the round or oval or does it matter? Guessing not, but thought I'd ask.

Yes, that's the thing I have.  Mine is a slightly smaller model though.  I do not think the shape would matter.  Mine is oval and I use it for stews as well as for roasting meats.  I love it.  A great investment.

Quoted from AfricanTypeO

Yes, that's the thing I have.  Mine is a slightly smaller model though.  I do not think the shape would matter.  Mine is oval and I use it for stews as well as for roasting meats.  I love it.  A great investment.

Thanks for the info. And investment IS the right word. Quite an expensive little item!  

Le Creuset is marvelous. I want several items from their line. Expensive yes, but it lasts forever!

Quoted from Brighid45

Le Creuset is marvelous. I want several items from their line. Expensive yes, but it lasts forever!

Are they better for having meat be really really tender, than a crock pot?

I'd say about the same. I'd just like to have some Le Creuset to use on the stovetop or in the oven. At the very least they'd help me build my arm muscles back up  

Quoted from pkarmeier

Are they better for having meat be really really tender, than a crock pot?

In my experience the Le Creuset pot is way more effective at achieving nice tender meat than a crock pot.  It also doesn't take as long to get the same effect.

Quoted from Brighid45

Le Creuset is marvelous. I want several items from their line. Expensive yes, but it lasts forever!

We received a Le Creuset frying pan as a wedding gift over 26 years ago...it's my favourite.

Debra

I have one of these also - it's much much cheaper than the Le Creuset and does a similarly good job. The difference is that cleanup isn't as easy and unlike the Le C, this one can't go in the dishwasher...

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Lo.....F8&s=home-garden

Lodge makes enameled cast iron as well!  http://www.lodgemfg.com/

Does your Le C. get very dirty in the oven?  I have been "saving" mine (silly).  

Some Le Creuset and a KitchenAid . . . I'd be one happy Briggie if those items graced my kitchen! *wistful sigh* Gotta buy a Powerball ticket . . .

Well, thanks so much to all who have brought these wonderful enameled cast iron items to our attention.  I have been pondering and searching for many months for my ideal set of cookware, and I think this fits the need.  I will probably only get a small roaster pan and a saucepan, since I'm no longer part of a large family.  But, like Brig, this is going into the "dream list".  

Brig, which KitchenAid item are you wanting?

I'd like to have the mixer. There was an ad on tv the other night for a basic KitchenAid standing mixer with one attachment for about 30% off the regular price . . . it's a good thing I didn't just get paid, or we'd be eating walnut butter and rice crackers right now with a brand new shiny mixer sitting on the counter *chuckle*

I would put that mixer to good use, believe me. *sigh* Same with the Le Creuset. (Victoria, I too would like the small roaster, a saucepan as well as the 2-quart tomato-shaped pot--just can't resist that one!) And so we circle back to the original topic of the thread--braising meat for a delicious meal. I bought a nice lean roast just today to do that very thing for dinner tomorrow.  

I have just one KitchenAid item and it is a blender that does an AMAZING job.  I owned a Vitamix before and the KitchenAid is just as good.

Back to the beef, I've found a couple of good local suppliers at my nearby Farmer's Market.  I picked up some nice grass-fed Delmonicos and Strip steaks today.  Couple of nice lamb steaks too.


Now can anyone give me tips for cooking my grass-fed hamburger patties?  My George Foreman makes them too dry.

Oh and this is the other Le Creuset item I have.  The hamburgers come out great in this but there is too much smoke when I use it on the stovetop (maybe I could put that grillpan under the broiler in the oven?

African (and Brig),
I have a KitchenAid blender, and I love it!  I used the 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond, which made it affordable for me.

Wow, that is one cute little grill, African!  I'm not sure how I'd use it, but I love looking at all those Le Creuset items.  B, B and Beyond also carries them, so I can use those coupons they send in the mail every month.  They have the roasters in a beautiful chestnut color that I love.  I also like the red.

Quoted from Victoria

African (and Brig),
I have a KitchenAid blender, and I love it!  I used the 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond, which made it affordable for me.

Wow, that is one cute little grill, African!  I'm not sure how I'd use it, but I love looking at all those Le Creuset items.  B, B and Beyond also carries them, so I can use those coupons they send in the mail every month.  They have the roasters in a beautiful chestnut color that I love.  I also like the red.

Thanks for the heads up: I have a stack of those BBB 20% off vouchers. I didn't realize they stocked Le Creuset

That grill pan is used for steaks etc, it puts nice grill marks in them.  It tends to smoke a lot though unfortunately.  

Quoted from AfricanTypeO

That grill pan is used for steaks etc, it puts nice grill marks in them.  It tends to smoke a lot though unfortunately.  

That's interesting about the smoking.  I wonder why it would smoke any more than a regular skillet.  I usually cut my steak or lamb into uniform sized strips and stir-fry in ghee.  There is no smoking at all that way, but I keep the heat at medium low. . just hot enough to brown the meat.

I like the idea of the grill marks.  It seems to taste better that way, just like brown eggs instead of white!  

Quoted from Victoria

That's interesting about the smoking.  I wonder why it would smoke any more than a regular skillet.  I usually cut my steak or lamb into uniform sized strips and stir-fry in ghee.  There is no smoking at all that way, but I keep the heat at medium low. . just hot enough to brown the meat.

I like the idea of the grill marks.  It seems to taste better that way, just like brown eggs instead of white!  

It could be that I am using it on too high heat.   I do love the grill marks.

Speaking of grassfed I have finally found a supplier that I like.  They are at my local Farmer's Market three times a week and they also have a website and offer shipping.  Their grassfed is the most tender grassfed beef that I have ever tasted.  So far I have tried their NY strips and Delmonicos and its been yummy as have their burgers.  If you're interested, check 'em out!

http://www.newyorkbeef.com

Actually after taking a look at their website again, I see that they do not offer the same array of cuts on the website that they do at the farmer's market.  In addition, their prices on the website are at least 30% higher!!!!!