I’m an RD, and This Coveted French Baking Dish Has Been the Cornerstone of My Fall Cooking Routine for Years

Fall is officially here and with the scorching days of summer (mostly) behind us, many of us are finally ready to turn the oven on again. If you’re like me, then you’re also itching to pull out all your favorite cozy-szn recipes and host some festive autumnal get-togethers.

Once the temps start to dip and leaves begin to change, I know it’s time to break out my trusty Staub 11-Inch Ceramic Oval Baking Dish ($50). This elegant ceramic piece has gotten me through years of cooking thanks to its ability to whip up soul-warming recipes while doubling as the most gorgeous serving platter. Here’s why it won’t leave my kitchen.

Staub Ceramic 2-Piece Oval Baking Dish Set — $50.00

Colors: 3 | Materials: stoneware, porcelain finish

Set includes two nesting dishes: a 9-inch oval dish and an 11-inch oval dish.

Pros: 

• Durable and long lasting
• Microwave, freezer, broiler, and oven safe up to 570F
• Dishwasher safe
• Transitions from oven to table beautifully
• Affordable
• Incredibly versatile

Cons: 

• Individual baking dish unavailable—only available in a set of two

When I first opened my Staub baking dish many moons ago, I was immediately struck by its quality. The spotless white finish, sleek handles, and smart oval design were all but flawless. Its glass porcelain-enamel finished dish has weight to it, hinting at its quality, but isn’t overly heavy like a cast iron equivalent. And at 11 inches in diameter, it’s simple to store in an array of nooks and crannies throughout even the smallest of kitchens.

French cookware brand Staub is well-known for producing premium ceramic dishes, and the Oval Dish is no different. Its hardy construction and glass-porcelain finish make it super durable and scratch-resistant. Since its oven- and broiler-safe up to 570°F,  the range of recipes that it can be employed for is almost overwhelming.

On the savory side of things, I love to roast vegetables, meat, fish, chickpeas, and even tofu in this pan. Better yet, I often combine many of these roastable delights in it for a simple, sheet-pan supper (minus the sheet pan). Its high sides make it perfect for throwing together a ton of ingredients at once, a la last-minute one-pot meals, or the viral no-boil pasta bakes seen on many of our For-You pages.

Its heat distribution also shines when lasagnas, casseroles, oven-baked frittatas, and more are on the menu. For quick snacks, it serves as the most charming serving dish for crudités, chips and salsas, and baked dips. There’s no need to re-plate—just set it out on the table; it’s versatile enough for any tablescape.

As for desserts, whip up fruit crisps, crumbles, cobblers, cakes, and even giant cookies in this dish. The high sides are also ideal for holding both individual ramekins and a boiling water bath for crème brûlée, cheesecake, flan, and custard. The possibilities of this dish are truly only limited by your imagination.

I’ll give you the bad news first: the individual Staub 11-inch Oval Baking Dish has been discontinued since I first purchased it years ago. The good news is that you can get the same 11-inch dish *plus* a 9-inch oval baking dish in the brand’s 2-Piece Baking Dish set for just $50. More good news—it comes in three gorgeous colors, including the classic white, cherry red, and a timeless navy blue. Had this set been available when I got my Staub, I would have bought it since you get double the premium cookware staples for the price of one. Trust me—you won’t regret buying them.