If you don't have le creuset what do you casserole with?

[Flickoffboris]

Please stop me going down a rabbit hole here and remortgaging the house for the le creuset (which looks far too heavy, I'd break a bloody toe I expect).

I was tempted by an aluminium casserole dish like this one maybe
www.marksandspencer.com/cast-aluminium-5l-casserole-dish/p/hbp60108495?color=IVORY#intid=prodColourId-60187306

Or a cast iron one like this
www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/4-5l-cast-iron-casserole-dish

I've an induction hob. I've realised that my slow cooker just churns out joyless gruel and I want to slow cook properly.

Any tips gratefully received.

Asda version, the best for beef dishes, they cook beautifully in it, find chicken dishes do better in the le creuset tho.

Those saying pyrex. Can you put it on a gas flame before going in the oven?
I use the le creuset we got as a wedding present. Might need a bigger one now the kids are getting close to eating as much as me!

Don’t buy a le creuset. Buy a John Lewis cast iron, a large one was £45 I think, the equivalent le creuset is £275. I can’t tell the difference. Cast iron is ridiculously cheap to make and then enamel is added. It has now because a life style rather than solely kitchen equipment, they even have their own shops in trendy malls. Massively overpriced

Le Creuset have outlet shops, if you are near one they are a great place to pick up cheaper stuff.

I have Le Crueset. Cleans like a dream. I’ll forgive it’s weight for the beauty of the clean. Worth the money if you’re going to use it!

I bought a Sainsbury's cast iron one, was £30 I think but got it for £9. I've used it a lot on the hob and in the oven for the past 7+ years and it's great.

@Flickoffboris "I've got all these lovely recipes for 10 minutes faff on the top, the an hour in the oven, and food heaven is promised at the end." TELL ME MORE 😂...

Another question for you casserole connoisseurs, what's better to use, the shallow or deep ones? I'm cooking for 2 adults and 2 very young children usually

I have one a bit like this that can go from hon to oven to table:-

www.amazon.co.uk/Enamel-Roaster-Lid-20cm-Casserole/dp/B01MZHIBA9/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=enamel+casserole+dish+with+lid&sprefix=enamel+cas&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1611351493&sr=8-4

The reason I use it slightly less is because it takes a bit of extra cleaning, but you’ve reminded me to look for a coloured one that would be more forgiving

I have a vintage enamel one and it's amazing! IKEA have some good enamel stuff at the moment. It's really easy to clean, works on my enamel hob and it the oven

I have many le creuset but also a sainsburies cast iron and there is no difference. I do like the hob to oven factor

John Lewis cast iron it’s great! 3rd of the price of le creuset.

I have one but don't use it because it needs re-enamelling. How do you even do that? 10 years poor thing has sat there! What do you do?

I have a Denby shallow cast iron shallow casserole dish. It is such a lovely shape and colour- but does take up a lot of space!

A ceramic casserole dish with lid from Sainsbury's.

I have le creuset I got cheap from a junk shop and also use Pyrex, enamel and I've had Sainsbury's own cast iron

It's all pretty much the same get a cheaper one Sainsbury's etc but if you are concerned about weight get enamel

I like mine for my aga as I can use on top then put inside but they are heavy

Lidl cast iron.

Do you brown meat before chucking it in the slow cooker? Or favourite is put in the veg for ratatouille with a sprinkle of dried herbs and clove of two of garlic. Then lay a browned but not cooked pork belly on the top. Lots of black pepper. About 5 hours gives pulled pork texture.

Pyrex ,1970s style from the chazza shop.

Sainsburys own cast iron pot, and I got that in the sale for about £20. I've had it years. Also have a chasseur one that was much cheaper than le creuset.

Pyroflam is Pyrex that goes on a hob, but not induction I use that or some 1970s Wedgwood Pennine oven to table casseroles in different sizes and either brown stuff on the hob and then add to casserole or more often brown in the casserole in the oven initially and then add the other ingredients and liquid. I also find Le Creuset too heavy.

The Sainsburys/Lidl or Aldi versions are as good, if not nicer.

I do have Le Creuset, bought in the 1980s from France so much cheaper than they are today. Still going strong.

But I also have some of the Sainsburys equivalent and they are honestly just as good but massively cheaper. Mine are also exactly the same orange as my originals and give me great pleasure every time I use them.

You're right about the slow cooker OP, they don't reduce the liquid at all so you don't get the depth of flavour you do from an oven cooked casserole.

Sainsburys have good cast iron and I've just bought the Aldi version.

Very impressed