Best Casserole Bakeware Reviews 2018

The heart of a greatly made casserole isn’t in the recipe, or in the cook, but rather in the cooking appliances. And because casserole is an “oven magic food”, you need the best bakeware to achieve this. The bad news is that great-looking and functional casserole bakeware doesn't come easy, and that’s why we decided to be your partner in this. We've researched and identified the best five casserole dish brands, and we've featured one offering from each to showcase what these brands make. Read through and give your kitchen a new feel and a sense of class.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Material

Size

Shape

Max Temp

Extras

Our Top Choice

Pyrex Easy Grab® Casserole with Cover

It's now been over 100 years since Pyrex came on the market. And, for all those years, they have believed there is no glassware that can compare to theirs in the kitchen.

Dishwasher safe. Easy-carry handles. Made of glass; will not stain or attract odor. Safe in the oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some reports that can break easily.

Glass

8 x 3.1 x 12.4” ; 2 quarts.

Rectangle

450 °F

Dishwasher Safe,

Best Value

Rachael Ray Cucina 3-Piece Casserole & Lid Set

We all love her! Rachael Ray is such an inspiration for her efforts and what she has achieved. The Cucina Stoneware Baker is made to last and is great for baking and serving.

Easy to handle. Available in multiple colors. Easy to clean. Oven-safe. Looks great in the kitchen and on the dining table. Dishwasher-safe and durable.

Isolated complaints regarding the intensity of the colors.

Solid Stoneware

13 x 7 x 11.5”; 1.5 & 2 Quarts

Circular

500°F

Dishwasher, Oven & Freezer Safe

Cuisinart Round Covered Casserole Dish

Few brands can cover a kitchen like the prestigious Cuisinart brand. The 7–Quart Cast Iron Round Casserole is made for endless cooking possibilities.

Fairly priced when compared to its features and functionalities. Usable on induction, electric coil and gas. It is dishwasher and oven safe. Great cooking results. Reputable brand.

Isolated complaints of the casserole being overweight.

Cast Iron

13 x 13 x 6.2”; 7-Quart

Round

500°F

Dishwasher and Oven Safe

Le Creuset Heritage Square Casserole Dish

Le Creuset is a prestigious and leading name in the cookware industry. The Heritage Stoneware Covered Casserole is highly functional and of superior quality.

Dishwasher safe. Easy to grip handles. Highly versatile. Impressive heat retention. Unmatched thermal resistance. Doesn't absorb moisture or odor. Great cooking results.

Isolated complaints of the lid not fitting well.

Stoneware

9.5 x 10.5 x 5.5 Inches; 2.5-Quart

Square

500°F

Dishwasher Safe

Anolon Bronze Non-Stick Casserole Dish

Anolon is known for making professional grade cookware to meet different personal cooking styles. The Anodized Covered Casserole is of restaurant quality.

Heavy-duty construction. Outstanding durability. Non-stick interior cooking surface, which is easy to clean. Rubberized and dual riveted handle. Impressive look. Reputable brand.

Isolated complaints of the non-stick surface becoming noneffective.

Hard-anodized Aluminum

13.6 x 9.9 x 6.8”; 3.5-Quart

Round

400°F

Shatter-resistant Glass Lid

(Updated May 22, 2017)

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How Do I Choose the Best Casserole Bakeware?

If there’s something we should always be thankful to the French for, it’s for giving us the casserole! We’re saying this as people who love warming, hearty dishes. Casseroles make you wonder why some people feel cooking is hard. It’s also the French who showed that cooking and serving wares can be as good as the food.

Casserole bakeware come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Apart from the differences in shape and size, they’re similar in that they come with fitting covers and have deep sides. About shapes, they can either be oblong, square, or round, with different shapes being suitable for specific casseroles. They’re available in varied sizes, from 1 quart to 7 quarts.

The reason we’ve come to love casserole dishes may be because they’re one of the few cooking and serving wares that you can take directly to the serving table or side board. With a good set of casserole and a nice decorative trivet, your food presentation comes to another level. And since you don’t have to separate cooking and serving dishes, you’ll have less to clean - and don’t forget that most of them are dishwasher and oven-safe.

Another great deal with casseroles is that there’s so much you can cook with them. However, it can be a hustle to pick one. Even the slightest things like the handles, the bottom, and the depth, can make a great difference.

To get the best from your casserole collection, you should pick a unit that will withstand everyday use to serve you for years. To give you a hand, we’ll take you through the critical considerations when shopping. We’ve also gone deeper to identify some of the best casserole bakeware on the market.

Price

The price of a casserole dish ranges from $10 to $60 for a single piece, but for a set the price differs. The price is dependent on different factors: material, size, and the brand. Despite the price being a key determinant on whether you should buy a casserole dish, don’t let it be the sole determinant. First, assess if the unit will meet your demand and if it will serve you for a long time.

The bigger the size, the more you’ll likely have to pay. For porcelain ceramic casserole dishes, they’re pricier compared to glassware. This is because they’re more durable and better for being used in a microwave, freezer, or oven. But watch out for cheap casserole bakeware - despite having the same design as premium ones, they’re not as durable. Some scratch easily, while others aren’t easy to clean.

Features

Even if you have the latest casserole recipes, without the right casserole bakeware, the results won’t be the best. This means that sometimes the results of a greatly made casserole aren’t in the cook or the recipe, but rather in the casserole dish. However, great casserole bakeware doesn't come easy; you have to carefully consider all the available options. The best yardstick to do this is the features.

When buying casserole bakeware, here are the important features to consider:

Material: This can either be glass, stoneware, porcelain ceramic, or enamel coated cast iron
Size: Some of the most common include 1 quart, 1 ½ quarts, 2 quarts, 2 ½ quarts, 3 quarts, 4 quarts, and 5 quarts
Shape: For example, square, round, or oblong
Dishwasher safe: This will make it so much easier to use and clean
Temperature: How much temperature it can withstand
Use: Freezer, refrigerator, microwave, and oven-safe
Cooking options: What can you cook with it
Lid: Transparent or not
Color: Try to get one that will compliment your kitchen theme

Now let’s get deeper and see how these features affect the performance and ease of use of casserole bakeware.

Construction and Design

The construction and design of a casserole dish lies squarely on its size and shape. As earlier indicated, there are four widely used materials to make casserole wares. These materials are porcelain ceramic, enamel coated cast iron, stoneware, and glass.

Porcelain ceramic casserole dishes are lighter, as they’re made from non-metallic materials with impressive heating properties. This type is microwave, freezer, and oven-safe. However, they chip easily.
Enamel-coated cast iron casserole bakeware can be used on the stovetop and in the oven, giving them an edge.
Stoneware casserole dishes are made of clay under high temperatures. These are great in heat absorption, distribution, and retention, which results in greatly cooked food, without odors. Some of them have an enameled finish, making them durable. This also makes them resistant to staining, scratching, and chipping. Most of the stoneware casserole bakeware are freezer and oven-safe.
Glass made casserole dishes are the most popular and most affordable. They have an impressive heat retention capacity, making them quite effective. Because they’re transparent, a glass casserole dish allows you to see what you’re cooking, for browning or when they’re ready, without letting trapped heat get out because of opening it. Glass casserole dishes also stand out for ease of cleaning, and for being usable in a microwave, freezer, and oven. However, they’re delicate.

As indicated, casserole bakeware are available in square, oval, and rectangular shapes, while capacities range between 1 and 7 quarts. We recommend having different sizes so you can prepare different recipes. The 13x9-inch rectangular casserole dish is the most versatile, great for cheese, macarene, and roasted vegetables.

Different shapes make casseroles best for certain roles. Round and oval casseroles are the best for presentation, but aren’t the best for preparing dishes like lasagna. The best size and shape for your casserole collection will ultimately depend on how many people you’ll be cooking for and your preferred recipes.

Performance and Ease of Use

One thing that makes casserole dishes stand out is their performance. They make cooking easier and produce great results. Unlike some cooking methods, casserole bakeware doesn't leave hot and cold spots. If you’re baking, the food should be evenly baked, with a creamy and moist interior. This can be best done with materials that have impressive heat absorption, retention, and transfer.

Another great deal about casserole bakeware is that they’re nonmetal. This makes them best for preparing acidic food, such as fish, citrus-sauced poultry, and tomato-based lasagna. Despite being nonmetal, casserole dishes don’t change the taste of food. Casseroles are also very versatile - for example, you can use them to roast meat in the oven. The more versatile it is, the better it will be in your kitchen.

The material also plays a great role in casserole’s performance. Stoneware and porcelain are the most popular, with the latter being touted to be of the best quality. Porcelain is less porous, more dense, and thinner, compared with stoneware.

The usability of a casserole dish will also depend on whether a unit is microwave, oven, dishwasher, or broiler-safe. For the best experience, look for a unit that has most of these features. They should also be easy to put in and take out of the oven.

Most casseroles come with side handles, making food transfer and serving easy. The handles should be strong and large to avoid burning or breaking, and while it’s advisable to pick a casserole dish that will meet your cooking demand, ensure it’s not very heavy. You should be able to comfortably lift it from the oven to the table.

Casseroles are easy to clean, with most of them being dishwasher-safe. On top of that, they’re easy to maintain and don’t scratch easily.

What is the Best Casserole Bakeware?

There’s nothing comparable to a fresh-from-the-oven casserole! However, it must be well-cooked and should taste as good as it looks. The fate of such a meal is partially determined by the dishes used to prepare the meal - that’s what the best casserole bakeware should deliver. There are currently numerous brands and models on the market that will help make a great casserole, and we’ve chosen a collection of different colors and sizes to help you pick one of the best from our top five picks.

Our Top Choice

The Pyrex Easy Grab Casserole Glass Dish is made for easier cooking and great cooking results. It doesn't stain, wrap or absorb odors. It is also made to be a cook-and-serve dish. However, if a 2-quart capacity isn’t enough to feed your hungry family, maybe the Pyrex Bakeware 4.8 Quart Oblong Baking Dish would be better suited to you.

Pyrex Pack of 2 Easy Grab 2-Quart Casserole Glass Bakeware Dish with Glass Lid – Also Available Individually

Pyrex Casserole Bakeware 1085801 – Set of 2

Features

For over one century now, beginners and experienced cooks have been using Pyrex glassware kitchen products. Pyrex pioneer glass bakeware is still loved to date for being durable, affordable, and stain- and odor-proof. Pyrex also knows that you don't need separate glassware when cooking, serving or storing food. That’s why the brand’s glassware is usable when cooking and serving, and is very strong, adding to their versatility. Today, Pyrex makes almost any kitchen product you can think of, including pans and pots, kitchen tools and metal bakeware. Research shows that in the US, 70 percent of homes have Pyrex glass products. What is even more impressive is the fact that, despite these products being glassware, they’re passed from one generation to another.

From Pyrex Easy Grab series of bakeware, we picked the 2-Quart Casserole Dish, which is sold with the glass lid. This casserole looks great in any kitchen setting and brings a sense of class in your kitchen. First, the non-porous glass doesn't attract stains or odors. On top of that, you can now keep an eye on whatever you're cooking, be it bread, cakes, casseroles, or anything else.

For easy handling, the casserole has easy-to-carry handles, which facilitates transportation especially when you’re serving food. This complements the cook-and-serve use of this casserole. For easy cleaning, it has soft contours. Adding to this casserole pan’s versatility is that it is usable in a preheated oven, refrigerator, microwave, and freezer, and is dishwasher-safe. As an assurance of quality, this glass bakeware is made in the US and comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

If you're unsure about this casserole dish set or need a larger one, browse the other options from Pyrex here!

Best Value

Rachel Ray Cucina Round Baker is a 3-piece set comprising of two 1.5- and 2-quart casserole dishes and a lid made from solid stoneware. They are very functional and convenient. Alternatively, if you need a casserole dish that’s larger, check out the 2 ¾ quart Covered Bubble and Brown Casserround Casserole Dish, which has 3 colors to choose from.

Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 3-Piece Round Casserole & Lid Set – Available in 4 Colors

Rachael Ray Casserole Bakeware 57430 – Cranberry Red

Features

There are dozens of reasons why the lovely Rachael Ray is loved and adored globally. First, it is because of what she has achieved, as evident from her titles, all gained within 2 decades. She is a television personality, celebrity cook, businesswoman and a bestselling author. She is known for her endless recipes, talk shows, magazines and dozens of TV programs. Apart from that, she has a store, which was inspired by her mission of helping people become better cooks. Rachael knows that a recipe is not enough to transform your kitchen experience; equally important is the need for great cooking appliances to prepare these meals. From her store, she sells cooking tools, appliances, dinnerware, bakeware, and cookware.

From her awesome bakeware collection, we picked the 3-Piece Cucina Baker particularly for its looks and positive ratings. This casserole bakeware stands out for its stoneware make and the earthy color that makes it a great addition to any kitchen. With these two, making side dishes or baking savory casseroles becomes a new experience.

Here are other features that make this set a great deal:

Delivers a great combination of convenience and functionality thanks to its make and design
Has freeform handles, making it easy to handle them and adds to your safety
For convenience, this bakeware is freezer-, dishwasher- and microwave-safe
It is oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
The durable and elegant lid fits both bakers

We featured the cranberry red version of these 3-piece casserole bakers. If you want a different color, there is mushroom brown, lavender and agave blue versions to choose from.

If you want different casserole bakeware, look around at the other quality and colorful sets from Rachael Ray.

With the Cuisinart Cast Iron Round Covered Casserole, you’ll have the power and freedom to try different cooking methods, thanks to the enameled cast iron, which is perfect in heat distribution and heat retention. If you prefer the oval kind of casserole bakeware, take a look at the Cuisinart 5.5 Qt. Cast Iron Oval Casserole instead.

Cuisinart 30BG Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron Round Covered Casserole Dish – Available in 4 Colors & 3 Sizes

Cuisinart Casserole Bakeware CI670-30BG – Provencal Blue – 7-Quart

Features

There is nothing you’d want for your kitchen that Cuisinart doesn’t have. This American home appliance brand was founded in 1971 and is owned by Conair Corporation. Today, the brand manufactures electric kitchen appliances, cookware, bakeware, kitchen gadgets, cutlery, and tools, among many others. Their mission of savoring a good life and being the most reputable name in any kitchen is evident in their products and is stamped by their achievements, for example endorsements by culinary connoisseurs like Hubert Keller and Jacques Pepin.

We picked the Round Covered Casserole from the Cuisinart cookware collection particularly for its make and effectiveness. Both the interior and exterior are porcelain-enameled, which makes a durable and beautiful outside look, working well in different kitchen settings while providing a great cooking surface as it heats. Additionally, porcelain doesn't absorb odors nor does it impact flavors. So with this casserole, your servings will taste as good as they look.

There is more in this 7-Quart Cuisinart Casserole; here are its other features:

The cast iron handles are wide, providing enough space for a secure and comfortable grip
The impressive construction and appearance makes it good for cooking and serving, as well as entertaining
It delivers endless cooking options; it is oven-safe, broiler-safe, stovetop and induction compatible
It is dishwasher-safe, easy to clean and to maintain
Is available in a variety of sizes
Great for searing steaks and braising; with it you can try endless menu options

We’ve featured the awesome Provencal blue color version of this Round Covered Casserole; however, if Provencal blue color will look misplaced in your kitchen, there are blue and cardinal red color versions. Additionally, the Provencal blue is a 7-quart; if you are looking for a different size, there is 3 and 5-quart sizes.

Not the right color or shape for you? Browse the whole selection of casserole bakeware from Cuisinart here.

Bake, broil, or marinate your food using the highly functional Le Creuset Stoneware Casserole usable at the table and in the oven. On the other hand, if you want a matching set of casserole dishes, check out the Stoneware Petite Round Casserole Gift Set by Le Creuset in Cherry Red.

Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware 2-1/2-Quart Covered Square Casserole Bakeware – Available in 8 Colors

Le Creuset Casserole Bakeware PG08053A-234P - Palm

Features

Le Creuset has been on the market for over century now. The French premium cookware manufacturer is known for its top-of-the-range cookware, wine accessories and colorfully enameled cast-iron cookware, famously known as the Dutch ovens. Apart from bakeware, Le Creuset also makes cookware like skillets, kettles, kitchen tools, and tabletop accessories. Le Creuset products are available in a wide range of colors, so you’re able to get a product that fits in your kitchen.

From Le Creuset casserole bakeware collection, we picked the Heritage Square Casserole, which has a 2-½ quarts capacity enough to prepare oven-baked side dishes and layered desserts. It comes in an impressive square design delivering effortless scooping and serving.

Here is what else you get in the Heritage Square Casserole;

Thanks to the handcrafted stoneware, temperatures inside are evenly maintained, to prevent food scorching
This casserole has unmatched thermal resistance, making it safe for use in the microwave, oven, broiler, and freezer
It is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, as the smooth finish resists staining and food doesn't stick
The stoneware is dense, which is intentionally made to prevent moisture absorption (this mitigates chances of rippling, crazing and cracking)
This casserole heats evenly, delivering great cooking results, without hot spots
Great for baking pies, casseroles, and quiches
The stoneware doesn't absorb staining and odor, making it suitable to store food in the freezer or refrigerator

Not into the square casserole dish? No worries; see what else Le Creuset offers— they have something for everyone.

For unmatched cooking results, get the Anolon Advanced Bronze Casserole, which delivers an impressive combination of elegance and user-friendliness. If you love the bronze, hard anodized finish of this casserole dish, why not go all-out and get the Advanced Bronze Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set which includes this casserole with it!

Anolon Advanced Bronze Hard Anodized Nonstick 3.5-Quart Covered Chef's Casserole Dish

Anolon Casserole Bakeware 83489

Features

Anolon has shown that it is not just cast iron that can be used to make impressive casserole bakeware. Anolon, which was founded in 1989, brought something new to the industry: the use of hard-anodized aluminum to make cookware. And, that is how Anolon became a darling to many chefs and anyone who loves greatly cooked food. The kitchenware is made from hard-anodized aluminum and is dishwasher safe. To make the hard anodized aluminum, aluminum is mixed with stainless steel layer, copper or bronze to improve conductivity and durability.

From Anolon Casserole Bakeware collection, we picked the 3.5 Quart Advanced Bronze Casserole, made with heavy duty anodized construction, which enhances even heat distribution for great cooking results. The perfect heat distribution minimizes chances of hot spots developing on your food. The chocolate interior and warm bronze exterior makes this casserole a great kitchen addition and is usable both when cooking and serving.

This casserole is great for keeping stews and soups simmering. It is also ideal for meals like braises, which starts cooking on the stovetop and ends cooking in the oven. The inside of the casserole is a non-stick surface, which is easy to clean, as it doesn't attract food. For your safety and ease of cooking the casserole has SureGrip handles, which are riveted on two sides, making them strong and stable. The handle is made of stainless steel but has a rubber for a comfortable grip. To allow you keep a close eye on the food, the casserole has a shatter-resistant lid, which is clear, so you can monitor the food without any loss of moisture or heat.

Not sure on the bronze finish? Browse the selection of casserole bakeware from Anolon and choose your favorite!

Get the Best Casserole Bakeware of 2018!

We trust that we’ve saved you time, and more importantly, that you now know what to look out for when shopping for casserole bakeware. Pick one or more from these trusted brands and liven your casserole dish collection.

Our Top Choice

Pyrex Easy Grab® Casserole with Cover

Best Value

Rachael Ray Cucina 3-Piece Casserole & Lid Set

Cuisinart Round Covered Casserole Dish

Le Creuset Heritage Square Casserole Dish

Anolon Bronze Non-Stick Casserole Dish