If you love to make meals from scratch and batch cook in large quantities, a casserole dish is an essential for your kitchen. Whether you’re saving yourself time for later in the week, or cooking for the whole family, they’re handy to have.
While some of the most popular cookware brands are famous for their sleek designs, they can be very expensive. However, the 24cm Cast Iron Dutch Oven from Amazon is gaining praise, and it has 20% off, reducing it to £39.99.
You can get the Le Creuset Cast Iron Round Casserole in the exact same size, but it will cost you £305, so you’d save £275 by buying Amazon’s version. The Amazon dishes come in six sizes, and if you wanted a full matching set, it would still cost you less than buying just one item from Le Creuset. There are also 13 colours, and although not identical, some are pretty similar to Le Creuset’s shades.
The appearance is the obvious comparison, as both have an enamelled coating for a sleek, glossy finish. Given the attractive design, you can keep them on display, and they’d look good on an open shelf or storage rack. One of the main advantages of cast iron cookware is the versatility – you can cook on the hob or transfer it to the oven.
Many of the reviews also vouch for the similarities between the two, with one shopper saying: ”Great value for money, looks like Le Creuset but a fraction of the cost.”
Another shopper commented: ”Sturdy cast iron dish for the oven. It will serve four to six people from the dish. I cook stews and casseroles in the oven in it, and it still looks brand new. I leave it out on show as it looks so good. Easy to clean and very sturdy. Would recommend.”
There are some mixed reviews however, including one saying: ”Easy to clean. Love the colour. Heavy though but I’m used to it now. Some stain in the pot after the first use but not a problem for me.”
Dunelm has the highly-rated Cast Iron Casserole Dish for £38, which comes in an orange shade, and can be used on both the oven and hob.
