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Tried and tested cookware for every kitchen
A good casserole dish is the cornerstone of any kitchen, whether slow-cooking a stew or baking a crusty loaf of bread. Durable, versatile and often beautiful enough to go straight from oven to table, the best casserole dishes offer exceptional heat retention and cooking results.
Prices range from £35 to over £350 for investment cast iron dishes. Should you wish to pay less, lighter aluminium or non-stick models can still deliver great results for everyday cooking.
As a food stylist and recipe developer with eight years of industry experience, I have cooked on every kind of cookware imaginable. I was interested to test leading brands to see if Le Creuset and Staub remained the gold standards for performance and design, or whether more affordable brands like ProCook, Habitat and Robert Dyas could rival in quality.
Below you’ll find detailed reviews of my best buys, followed by the answers to some common questions. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five.
The best casserole dishes 2026: At a glance
How to choose the best casserole dish
The right casserole dish for your kitchen depends on what and how you cook most often. For slow-cooked stews and braises, cast iron is unbeatable. It retains heat evenly, browns beautifully and can move seamlessly from hob to oven. However, it’s heavy, so if you’re cooking daily or for smaller households, lighter cast aluminium or non-stick models might be more practical.
A cream or pale interior helps you see your food as it browns, while a black enamel finish hides stains and suits higher temperatures. Size matters too: 20-24cm is ideal for two people, while 28-30cm suits families or batch cooking.
Also consider whether it’s dishwasher-safe, induction-compatible and designed for oven-to-table presentation. Think of it as cookware and serveware in one and choose something you’ll love bringing to the table, not just cooking in.
