What size casserole dish?

[ajf]

Want to get a casserole dish and not sure how big i need.
To serve 3-4.
Example recipe i want to try:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/jools-s-favourite-beef-stew

Sizes seem to be 2.5, 3.8 and 5 litre.

I can see the liquid measurements in the recipe but not sure how much room for meat and veg etc.

On the same subject, any particular dishes recommended? Needs to be sesnible priced so NOT Le Creuset!

Other recipes to try?

 

[FrenchTart]

Just buy the biggest you can fit in your oven. Look at the dimensions rather than the litre rating.

Personally the one I have is a Sainsburys enamelled cast iron one that was on offer a the time.

 

[Doctor McNinja]

Just buy the biggest you can fit in your oven. Look at the dimensions rather than the litre rating.

Personally the one I have is a Sainsburys enamelled cast iron one that was on offer a the time.

I totally agree. I've got a 28cm Le Creuset, the biggest that'd fit in my oven. There are four of us in my house and the 28cm is never too big but, whenever I have people over, it's regularly too small... or more accurately, the oven is too small.

Personally I believe that Le Creuset, when bought on sale (usually after Christmas... got a £200 set a couple of years ago for £100), isn't overpriced when you take their longevity into account. I have read though, that Lakeland casserole dishes are the best of the cheaper brands but I can't find a Lakeland casserole that'd be big enough for four. They do do a 2.2 litre casserole that is 21cm in diameter, I should warn you that my 20cm 2.4 litre casserole isn't big enough for four when cooking certain things. You'd get away with a smoother pasta sauce (that just coat the pasta) but it's nowhere near big enough for four servings of stew or curry.

There are several options out there for non-stick coated pans and pans made from materials other than iron but I can't really advise you on that as I tend to avoid non-stick and haven't researched non-iron casseroles. Perhaps Lakeland's cast aluminium casseroles might be a good bet. It's £49, should be big enough for four and The Independent rated them highly (albeit with nothing more that what appeared to be an advertising blurb). It can't stand the heat that cast iron can though (probably due to the non-stick).

Oh, and if you think Le Creuest is expensive, wait 'til you see the price of Staub cast iron.