Habitat's 5.3L Cast Iron Casserole Dish is priced at £46, undercutting a similar-sized Le Creuset casserole currently listed at £300 on Amazon, a saving of £254. The cookware has also drawn praise from a former Michelin-starred chef, who highlighted its quality and value.
Design and features
The Habitat dish features a cast iron build with an enamel coating, available in a bright orange shade and other colours, with multiple sizes on offer. It is suitable for electric, gas, ceramic, induction, solid hotplate and halogen hobs, and can go into the oven at temperatures up to 260C.
The cast iron helps retain heat, while the enamel coating eases cleaning. Its design allows it to be taken straight from the oven to the dining table. With a 5.3-litre capacity, it measures 34.1cm wide, 27.2cm deep and 17.2cm high, including the lid.
Chef and customer reviews
In a review reported by Wales Online, the retired chef said: "I am a highly qualified Chef who has worked in Michelin Star restaurants. I am retired now, but I only buy quality. Price is important, but the quality is the main reason I chose this, as well as being able to collect it from the store. It was an excellent decision, and I have mentioned this to a few friends who like to cook."
The Habitat collection has achieved a 4.8 out of five-star rating from reviews. One purchaser said: "It's solid, holds heat well on the stove and oven and I used it for casserole as well as bread making. 10/10" Another remarked: "Love this dish it's so versatile it's non stick and non toxic evenly heats up and great for slow cooking too! The price is great for its size I'd checked the market and this is very good value for money."
Alternatives and brand comparisons
A third reviewer described it as 'a well made cast iron casserole dish', adding: "Decent cast iron cookware. Bought to replace a well known (expensive) brand product. Pleased with this as a replacement." However, one three-star review cautioned: "Just be warned that this pot is very heavy. It does tend to stick on when on the top. Washes really easily though."
Other options include Marks and Spencer's Cast Iron Large Casserole Dish, with a 5.2-litre capacity and self-basting lid, priced at £42, and the Amazon Basics Cast Iron Casserole Dish with Lid, starting at £36. Le Creuset has been used or praised by celebrities including Meghan Markle, Gigi Hadid, Snoop Dogg and Lisa Vanderpump, who dubbed it 'the Rolls-Royce of cookware.'
