Le Creuset’s colourful and durable pans have long topped the wishlists of amateur and professional cooks alike. But after hundreds of people flocked to a sale at the brand’s Hampshire warehouse, causing four-hour queues and so much traffic that police were called, it’s safe to say there’s an appetite for cast-iron cookware at a more affordable price.
So, if you missed out on the sale, or if Le Creuset’s hefty price tags (expect to part with £200-£400 for its signature casserole pot) have always put you off, worry not. We’ve got you covered with our pick of the brands selling cheaper, but just as beautiful, alternatives.
The best Le Creuset cast-iron alternatives
Robert Dyas
Orange cast iron shallow casserole dish and oval casserole pan bundle, now £57.49 (RRP £159.98)
robertdyas.co.uk
Orange cast iron shallow casserole dish, now £31.99 (RRP £79.99)
robertdyas.co.uk
The high-street retailer has a range of casserole pots in orange, cream or charcoal grey, and in several sizes between 22cm and 30cm. The bundles of two or three pots offer good value – particularly when reduced for Black Friday.
Season
Cast iron casserole pot, from £59.99
seasoncookshop.co.uk
Cast iron griddle pan, £59.99
seasoncookshop.co.uk
Season is a group of cooks and chefs, cookshops and cookery schools that has its own range of cast ironware in colours including toaster oat (cream) and sage. The sides and lids of its casseroles are the same thickness, which it says will ensure even cooking. Lids are domed to enable bread to rise, and have small dimples to collect moisture and baste whatever is cooking. They are designed to be oven safe to 230C and have a 10-year warranty.
John Lewis
Ombre green cast iron round pot, from £55
johnlewis.com
Cast iron frying pan, from £20
johnlewis.com
The department chain’s own-brand casserole dishes – in sumptuous colours – get rave reviews from customers. Users describe this one as being easy to clean, even when food is baked on. The 30cm version weighs 3.7kg and has a 2.7-litre capacity. There is a 10-year warranty.
Our Place
Cast iron Perfect Pot, now £105 (RRP £150)
fromourplace.co.uk
£90.01
selfridges.com
Cast iron Always Pan, now £100 (RRP £135)
fromourplace.co.uk
£108
libertylondon.com
A cult favourite (Nigella is a big fan), Our Place’s casserole comes with some bells and whistles – as well as the pan you get silicone grips to take it in and out of the oven and a beech-wood scraper. The handles double up as a rest for utensils when it’s on the hob. The pot is oven safe to 230C and has a lifetime warranty. It is currently in the Black Friday sale.
ProCook
Cast iron casserole dish, £59
procook.co.uk
£65.95
amazon.co.uk
Cast iron skillet pan, £39
procook.co.uk
£45.95
amazon.co.uk
The company’s iron skillet can be used on any kind of hob or go in the oven. The 26cm version weighs 2.8kg, so it may be too heavy for some but it is built to last – there’s a 25-year guarantee to back it up.
Aldi
Cast iron dutch oven, £24.99
Cast iron shallow casserole dish, £24.99
Cast iron skillet, £12.99
Aldi is known and loved for its brilliant, ultra-affordable cast-iron cookware (we bought its powder-blue shallow casserole many years ago, and it’s been a great buy) – but be warned, it sells out fast. This new collection drops on 24 November, in stores only (Aldi no longer sells online), so alarm clocks and elbows at the ready.
Habitat
Cast iron casserole dish, £45
habitat.co.uk
Cast iron frying pan, £21
habitat.co.uk
Also available in hearty red and orange, Habitat’s shallow blue casserole is a new edition to its cast-iron cookware range. It’s oven safe up to 260C and like the others featured can go straight from there to the table. The 36cm wide version has a four-litre capacity.
Ikea
Vardagen cast iron frying pan, from £29
ikea.com
The retailer has several cast-iron items in its Vardagen range, including this frying pan in black. It weighs 3.47kg but there are two handles to make it easier to carry. It comes with a 15-year guarantee.
Dunelm
Cast iron casserole dish, £38
dunelm.com
An elegant, shallow casserole in orange, this has a capacity of three litres and can be used on all hob types and in the oven. Customers say it is heavy, but worth the money – one says it is “perfectly priced and the colour is gorgeous”.
Cooks Professional
Cast iron casserole set of 3, now £149.99 (RRP £219.97)
cooksprofessional.co.uk
amazon.co.uk
These casserole pots comes in seven colours, including this eye-catching bottle green. They can be used in the oven or with gas or induction hobs, with black enamel interiors that make for an easy cleanup.
• The article was originally published on 13 November 2024. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was updated on 14 November 2024; more information about teach product was added.
