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.

Another one with the Sainsbury one. Got to shallow one for risotto type dishes and the taller one for casserole/ragout etc. Must have had them 10 year plus and no sign of wear

I have many le creuset but my fave is a stainless steel shallow one. like this

Lidl does an Ernesto cast iron casserole dish that is in the middle of lidl from time to time. I have le creuset as well and much prefer the Ernesto one. I find all most of Lidl's Ernesto kitchen stuff to be great quality and good value.

I casserole with either LeCreuset or Tierra Negre which are matt black pots made from clay:
www.tierranegra.co.uk

I often bolognese too!

I have 2 Staub casseroles and an enormous WMF one, that doubles as a fish kettle.

@sadpapercourtesan

This is the most MN thread title ever

Just what I was thinking. 🤣

I prefer cast iron. Needs to be able to go on the hob and in the oven. I have a couple of Le Creuset which were wedding presents nearly 20 years ago and they're still going strong. I wouldn't pay those prices though. If I needed a new one I'd go for a JL or Sainsbury's version I think.

Any dutch oven. It doesn't have to be Le Creuset!

Le Creuset or any equivalent copy casserole dishes are just the best for cooking a casserole. Glass or Pyrex just does not work the same.

I have two shallow ones like this in two different sizes which I use constantly for casseroles, and also two of the deeper ones, more for lots of people.

I think why they work is because the cast iron holds the heat so when, for instance, I am cooking a beef casserole I have it on as low as 120degrees and it still slowly bubbles and cooks. When I cooked with pyrex it just dried out.

I have something from Sainsbury's. It's iron. Do they work on induction hobs?

yes cast iron does

I have Tesco and a Sainsbury’s cast iron ones. I use them on the hob to brown the meat before putting them in the oven.

Looking for something else I just came across the photo I took of my heartbreaking le Creuset tragedy
It was over 5 years ago, I had no idea it was that long.

@GiantKitten that is gutting!!

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

I've seen a few people on here say similar. That's such a shame as we use our slow cooker loads and have never had joyless gruel! Might it be worth trying to find out how to fix this as I find the slow cooker makes food so tasty without having to have the oven on for hours

[quote Laquila]@GiantKitten that is gutting!![/quote]
@Laquila it really is!
(The only silver lining is that it wasn’t somebody else who dropped it...)

I got a similar type of cast iron casserole dish from TK Maxx for about £12 in the sale.

If I'm making a small casserole I just use a Pyrex dish.

I have saucepans that are all-metal.

H is convinced I shouldn't put them in the oven, but I'm pretty sure they were made that way to be oven-safe.

I also have two casserole dishes from the supermarket which can be used on the hob.

Pyrex

I have a smaller Staub casserole, a larger Staub casserole and a HUGE WMF metal lidded casserole with an insert for poaching fish, which only just fits in the oven, but is wonderful for boeuf bourguignon for 8+.

I have a le creuset and a sainsburys 'dupe'

I prefer the sainsburys one..think it was about £30