Every kitchen should have a casserole dish. One main reason why you should have a casserole dish in your kitchen is its versatility. A casserole dish will be able to do a lot of things. You can easily bake a poke cake, roast some vegetables, cook casseroles, or even marinate meat.
Not to forget, a ceramic baking dish with a lid has an amazing appearance. Therefore, you can simply take it out of the oven when your food is ready, straight to the dinner table for serving. With that in mind, it is safe to say that it is a great cookware to use when you have friends over for a dinner party, a holiday dinner, or a weeknight meal. Some casserole dishes will even go from the oven straight to a freezer. The reverse is also true. You can take it out of the freezer straight to the oven.
There is a wide range of casserole dishes in the market. That means that it might be a challenge choosing the right casserole pan with a lid to purchase. Lucky for you, we have done all the homework and come up with this list of five of the top picks you should consider. This post also gives you considerations you should make before you can make a purchase. Stay tuned!
Our Top Picks
Before we can dive into the considerations, let us give you a detailed review of our top five picks.
Best Overall Casserole with Lid: Lodge 3.6 Quart
Do you want to use a casserole dish that does not leach all kinds of harmful chemicals into your food? If the answer is yes, then this is a great option for you. It is highly functional, with high performance, and is a great non-toxic alternative.
With a capacity of 3.6 liters, you can easily prepare a meal that will feed up to 3-5 people at once. You will be able to sear around 8-10 chicken breasts at a go.
It is oven safe up to 500 degrees F, It has safe loop handles. However, we still recommend that you use oven gloves, especially when you are sliding them between two trays in an oven. That will prevent you from burning if you touch any hot metal.
You will also love the fact that the lid fits perfectly on the dish.
One thing you will not love is the cost. It is quite pricey. You will not get lifetime durability, which is not what you would expect from that amount of money.
Pros
- + Dishwasher safe but hand washing recommended
- + Broil, braise, bake or roast up to 500 degrees F
- + Amazing heat retention and even heating
- + It is free of chemicals
- + Has an amazing design.
Cons
- – Customers complain about the enamel is peeling off after a few uses.
- – Made in China, not Lodge USA
- – Limited warranty.
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Best Rectangular Casserole with Lid: Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage
The first thing you will think to yourself when you look at this casserole dish is that it looks quite like a cast-iron casserole pot. However, once you pick it up, you will know the difference. This specific cookware is made using stoneware. which is light. However, the fact that it is quite light does not reflect its sturdiness.
The sides of the casserole dish are quite impressive. You would expect that food would stick to the sides when you are cooking, for instance, browning some chicken legs. However, that is not the case at all.
This casserole dish with a lid features a hard-wearing layer of enamel coating. The casserole does not have any harmful chemicals such as PFOA or BOA. Therefore, if you, like everyone else, want to cook food that is safe and does not have harmful chemicals, you will enjoy this one.
Additionally, the base tends to heat up evenly and quickly. So, you should expect your food to be cooked evenly. What’s more, the dish’s lid is self-basting and it can lock in the moisture so it circulates inside.
Another amazing feature is that it is oven, freezer, microwave, broiler, and dishwasher safe.
Pros
- + Even heat distribution and superior heat retention
- + Glazed interior for easy cleaning
- + Resistance to scratches and stains
- + Has a large capacity.
Cons
- – Prone to cracking
- – Expensive.
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Best Oval Cast Iron Casserole with Lid: Samuel Groves
One of the main features you will enjoy from this is that it is vast. It is quite vast so you can cook food to feed up to eight people at a go, which might not be possible with a stoneware casserole dish with a lid.
The oval design also has an amazing advantage. When you purchase this oval casserole dish, you will be able to cook an entire meat joint on the bone, an extremely huge chicken, or even bread. That is more than you can say about most casserole dishes and it gets better.
Since it is 27 cm wide, it can fit in an oven without a problem. The lid also fits perfectly because it is quite heavy. That is an amazing advantage for one main reason. Suppose you are preparing a piece of bread such as sourdough. You would need steam to be trapped in the dish so that the crust will not form until it is the right time, right? Well, this dish will do that for you without a problem.
Now, let us talk about the sides. Frying or browning meat would cause food to stick to the sides in most casserole dishes. However, this one does not have that disadvantage. Once you spread a bit of oil around the internal surface, food will come right off without sticking. Additionally, you can prevent any marks from forming on the dish. All you need is a bit of care.
Finally, we noticed that this cast iron dish, just like any other, is strong and will be able to withstand any amount of rough treatment. It is quite an amazing dish to cook with.
Pros
- + Strong construction ensures it is durable
- + It is large enough to cook for more people at once
- + It traps steam inside, which will reduce the cooking time
- + A bit of oil will prevent food from sticking to the sides.
Cons
- – It is quite heavy, even when it is empty.
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Best Round Casserole with Lid: Staub Cast-Iron Cocotte
How would you want to purchase an appealing cast-iron casserole dish? This piece of cooking pot has an amazing appeal, almost one of the most beautiful on the market. If you need to purchase an amazing pot that will not only last longer but maintain its appearance over the years, you might be in luck.
Nevertheless, we have included this piece on our list for more than its appearance. This dish has a diameter of 24 centimeters. That is around the same as any pan. However, it is compact so you can store it in a cupboard without a problem.
If you cook chicken thighs, say four or five, you will realize that the cooking surface, which is matte black, will tend to hold the food. That means the food will stick to the sides the first few times you cook with it. that is a problem that you will notice even if you smear some oil on the cooking surface before you start cooking. However, that will not be a problem for long. As you continue to cook with this mini casserole dish with a lid, you will note that it will build up a nonstick coating.
Cast iron is popular for heating up fast and distributing that heat evenly across the entire surface.
Therefore, even when you simmer food, it will cook properly, even though the sides are high. It also has picots under the lid that are responsible for guiding the moisture back inside the casserole. The handles will heat up possibly and you should be careful to avoid being burnt.
Also, read: Staub Cocotte Sizes Chart/ Guide
Pros
- + Great for a small family
- + Distributes heat evenly
- + Appealing design.
Cons
- – The price is a bit too high for that price.
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Best Glass Casserole with Lid: OXO Good Grips
Most people prefer to cook food once without the need to make it in small batches. If the same applies to you, then you would require a large casserole dish with a lid and this might just be the perfect dish for you. This dish has a five-liter capacity.
One amazing aspect that you will enjoy is the price. This glass casserole dish has a lightweight construction, thanks to the glass material.
Two additional features you will enjoy include the broad handles. These lids have a great size and can be easy to hold. That way, you will have an easier time lifting it and taking it out of the oven. It will be able to cook properly even when put in a really hot oven. The construction will also remain intact.
The casserole dish has a large base, which is quite practical. It will also heat up fairly quickly even when you use an induction hob. You can easily brown up to eight chicken breasts on the non-stick surface without the need to do it in batches. The food you cook will not stick to the base or sides.
The lid will fit perfectly on the casserole dish. This lid will also not add any extra height to the dish. Therefore, it will be perfect if you have a smaller oven.
Pros
- + Borosilicate glass won’t absorb any food odors, stains, or flavors
- + dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and oven safe
- + Handles are practical
- + It has a large base
- + It heats up evenly.
Cons
- – A few complains about being shattered after a couple of uses.
Making a Choice
Before you purchase a casserole dish with a lid, whether to add to your collection or simply start using it, there are certain things you need to think about. They are the factors that should help you pick the casserole dish that will serve you best.
How do you want to use it
Do you like baking casseroles and freezing them after? Then you have to make sure that the casserole dish you want to purchase can take thermal shock without breaking into pieces. You will realize that most of the dishes that are on the market can take thermal shock without a problem. However, not all of them will be able to withstand the drastic temperature change.
The type of dishes you cook
Casserole dishes are good for different types of meals. A deep casserole dish, for instance, would be perfect for lasagnas, as well as other dishes that would need to be made in large amounts. However, some are not quite deep, so you cannot add several ingredients and sauce layers. Apart from the dish’s depth, consider the length and width. Click here to read our casserole dish size guide.
How much do you want to spend?
Most of the dishes in the market will not cost you that much. Most of them are somewhere below $25. However, you will find some of the dishes from popular brands, such as Staub, which are quite expensive. Nevertheless, you will note that they are still appealing to purchase. You must consider purchasing a dish that will last for a long time, giving you great quality for your money.
Conclusion
There is a wide range of casserole dishes in the market. You will find a rectangular casserole dish with a lid, while others are circular and others are oval. Each of them has a certain feature that you would enjoy. It is only logical to find a casserole dish that will not only work properly but also last a long time.
Also, read: Best Size Dutch Oven For Bread
Feel free to share your observations with me in the comments section!
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