Ceramic Baking Dish Set

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Which one should you buy?

A set of three broiler-safe stoneware dishes with big looped handles covers almost everything, from a family lasagna to a crumble for two. Here's what I'd point you to:

Ceramic baking dishes go from the oven to the table looking lovely. Lasagna, crumbles, mac and cheese, shepherd's pie, gratins: a good dish does the cooking and then does the serving, so there's one less thing to wash.

A set of three sizes means there's always the right dish. A big one for the family meal, a middle one for sides and a little one for a crumble or a gratin for two. Fit the dish to the food and everything cooks better.

Why I bake in ceramic

Ceramic and stoneware heat up more slowly than metal, but once they're hot, they hold that heat. That's lovely for slow, gentle bakes like a gratin or a bread and butter pudding, and it means dinner stays hot on the table while everyone helps themselves.

The bigger advantage is the broiler. A glazed stoneware dish that the maker labels broiler-safe can go under the grill to brown the cheese on a lasagna or crisp the top of a mac and cheese. Glass can't do that safely. Glass dishes can shatter under a broiler or at very high oven temperatures, and that's a mess nobody needs at dinnertime.

The one thing ceramic doesn't love is a sudden change of temperature. Go from very cold to very hot too fast and it can crack. A little patience solves that, and I'll show you how below.

Staub 3-Piece Baking Dish Set at a glance

What to look for in a baking dish

• A big enough 13x9. Around 14 to 16½ cups holds a proper family lasagna without bubbling over the edge.

• Looped handles. Big ones, about 3 inches across, that stick out far enough to grab with thick oven gloves. Little tabs are a nightmare when the dish is full.

• Broiler-safe on the label. If the maker doesn't say it, don't put it under the broiler.

• A smaller dish or two. For sides, crumbles and cooking for two.

• A tough glaze. Stoneware with a hard glaze resists stains and cleans up easily.

The Staub set ticks every box. The only things missing are lids, so keep some foil handy.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• You make lasagna, gratins, crumbles and bakes for the family

• You like to serve straight from the oven

• You want to brown the top under the broiler

Skip it if

• You mostly bake cakes and brownies: metal pans brown and release them better

• You're short of cupboard space

• You want dishes with lids for storing leftovers

How to get the best from it

Lasagna that doesn't overflow

Use the big dish and stop the layers about half an inch from the top. Put a sheet pan on the shelf below to catch any drips. Rest the lasagna for 15 minutes after baking so it slices cleanly.

Golden tops

Bake as normal, then slide the dish under the broiler for the last two or three minutes. Stay with it. Cheese goes from golden to burnt in the time it takes to answer the phone.

Grease it

For egg dishes, puddings and anything with a cake batter, butter the dish well first. It saves a lot of soaking later.

Looking after it

• No sudden temperature changes. Let a dish from the fridge come toward room temperature before it goes into a hot oven. If it's frozen, thaw it first, or put it in a cold oven and let them warm up together.

• Use a trivet. Never put a hot dish down on a wet or cold surface, like a damp worktop or a cold stone counter.

• Soak, don't scour. Baked-on cheese lifts off after a soak. Use a non-scratch sponge.

• Check for chips. A chipped glaze can crack further, so retire a damaged dish.

• Dishwasher: this set is listed as dishwasher-safe.

The one rule

Cold to hot, slowly. Hot to cold, slowly. Treat it kindly and it will last for years.

Questions people ask

Is a ceramic or glass baking dish better?

For broiling and very hot ovens, ceramic. A glazed stoneware dish labelled broiler-safe can take it. Glass shouldn't go under the broiler or into a very hot oven, as it can shatter.

Can I put a ceramic dish from the freezer straight into the oven?

I wouldn't. Thaw it in the fridge first, or start it in a cold oven so the dish warms up gently.

Why does my lasagna bubble over?

The dish is too small or too full. A 13x9 that holds 14 to 16 cups gives you room, and a sheet pan underneath catches the rest.

Can ceramic baking dishes go in the dishwasher?

This set can. Check the label on others.

Do I need to grease a ceramic dish?

Yes, for cakes, puddings and egg dishes. For lasagna and gratins, there's enough fat in the food.

Cook with it

Something from my dessert recipes. A crumble in the little dish is a very good place to start.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.