These cream cast iron dishes are the epitome of quiet luxury - and they're surprisingly affordable

Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Set : £74.99 at salter.com

You can buy these cast iron casserole dishes separately, but I like the set together. They look great and cover a range of different dishes between them.

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If you’ve been lusting after Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dishes, you’re not alone. Cast iron is coveted by all chefs and these dishes are at the centre of it. With their chic cream finish, polished gold knobs, and classic silhouettes, they look far more expensive than they are. Whether you’re planning Sunday lunches or midweek one-pots, these casserole dishes promise the same cosy, home-cooked appeal as the designer brands, but at a price that won’t make your eyes water.

I first spotted Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dishes when I was looking for ways to refresh my kitchen ahead of autumn hosting. Meghan Markle’s Le Creuset famously sent the internet into a frenzy a few months back, but that set costs hundreds. Salter has managed to capture the same timeless look and much of the same performance for a fraction of the price. And while Le Creuset undoubtedly makes some of the best cast iron in the world, Salter’s version is far from second best.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve put these dishes through their paces in my own kitchen: soups, casseroles, risottos, bread, sweet treats, even a batch of cinnamon buns. Spoiler alert: they passed every test with flying colours. Below, I’ll take you through exactly what it’s like to own and cook with them.

Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Set

Who would the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dish Set suit?

Perfect for those who love the luxury look of Le Creuset, but lack the budget, these cast iron pans are nothing short of dreamy. You’ve got all the classic colour options (though not quite as many as Le Creuset) and you can buy these dishes individually or as a bundle.

I think the white looks really elegant (and possibly a little Meghan Markle inspired), especially with the polished gold knobs. I admired these for a long time and even sat them side by side with my Le Creuset to see whether I could justify buying even more cast iron, just this time from Salter.

They’re great for families, especially because they come with a lifetime guarantee. It’s nice to know that you’re getting quality as well as good value for money.

Unboxing the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dish Set

Salter is brilliant when it comes to sustainability, which often surprises people. Brands that offer more affordable price points can go heavy on the plastics, but Salter refrains, serving up the cast iron dishes in an all recyclable cardboard box. In spite of their weight and the fragile cream colour that I opted for, they arrived in pristine condition, looking almost too pretty to cook on (almost being the operative word there).

You’ll see on the outside that these come with all sorts of impressive claims. They have a lifetime guarantee, non-scratch surface, and they’re free from toxic non-sticks and chemicals that seem to find their way into so many kitchens these days. In a nutshell, these are pretty dreamy.

I gave both the shallow and the deep casserole dish a thorough rinse before use, because part of the packaging is open, which makes it easy for dust and dirt to make its way in.

What is the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dish Set like to use?

Salter’s pots are just like lots of other cast iron casseroles. They have a fair bit of weight behind them, but the tactile knob and spacious handles make it pretty easy to lift these up and use them like saucepans. I have a series of tests that I put all cast iron pans through and so I quickly set to work with Salter.

Test 1: soups and stews

The first test that I put all my cast iron pans through is making soup. Sometimes, I roast vegetables in the oven in the dish and then make soup inside the casserole, but in this instance, I wanted to do things a little differently.

I started my browning onion and garlic in a little oil at the bottom of the cast iron. As expected, the heat up was slow, but my onion and garlic turned golden in a wonderfully even way. I sprinkled in my herbs and they didn’t stick to any parts of the pan. I also really liked how the cream offset some of the darker golden colours of my onion and garlic. It’s very attractive.

Next, I added in sliced leeks and fried them with the onion, garlic, and herbs. They still looked great and I noticed that things weren’t really spattering out of the pot. Even the shallow casserole is very cleverly designed, so that it keeps as much in as possible.

Once I was happy with my leeks, I added boiled potatoes, cream, and stock to the mix. In the deeper casserole, there was a fair bit of liquid and weight. It was at least 2-litres full on top of the weight of the cast iron itself. However, when I came to lift it (with oven gloves) it didn’t feel like my wrists were about to break, something I had mentally prepared for. All in all, the soup was a great success: evenly cooked, easily blended, and beautifully presented.

Test 2: Casserole

It’s in the name, so I had to make a casserole in here. As with the soup, I fried my onion and garlic in the base. Then, I added chopped tomatoes and vegetables to the dish and reduced my sauce down.

Next, I added in a mixture of casserole vegetables and butter beans, which needed a long, slow stew to soften up. Luckily, the moisture-locking lids did a beautiful job of making the vegetables soft, tender, and perfectly steamed. I'd have happily left it here, because the vegetables weren't burning, even bubbling away for a few hours, but I wanted to see how this would work when transferred into the oven.

I was grateful for how nice this is to handle and how easily it fits into the oven. It cooked well, browning my potatoes and warming fully though. The vegetables were tender and the potatoes had nice crunch to them.

I made sure to use a silicone spoon to scoop out my portions because I didn’t want to scratch the base, but I’ve been testing this for a while and it turns out that it’s pretty hard to scratch.

Test 3: Baking bread

Lots of people use their casserole dishes for baking bread in because of the high heat distribution, retention, and moisture that can be locked in the lid. It’s also a great way to test how oven proof the Salter is, so I baked a classic loaf in here. As with all my other cast irons, I gave this 20 minutes in the oven to get up to temperature.

When I was ready to put my bread dough in, I was grateful for the handles, which were really easy to grip on to, even with baking gloves. I easily lowered by bread dough in and popped the lid on.

When I lifted the lid off after 40 minutes of baking, I was really pleased with how the loaf had risen and cooked. I left the lid off for a little while so that it could brown off and the proof was very much in the cooking.

I had a wonderful rise in the bread. It was still moist, with a soft crust too. in fact, this was so good, I was ready to face Paul Hollywood with the loaded it’s a great turn out and I put that down to the temperature across the whole casserole and the way that it managed to lock moisture in while the bread was cooking.

One of my favourite things to do with a cast iron casserole dish is to bake a batch of cinnamon buns. The heavy lid helps create a mini-steam oven, so the dough rises beautifully and stays soft. I lined the base with a square of baking parchment, popped my spirals in, and let them prove one final time.

After 25 minutes at 180°C, the smell coming from my kitchen was heavenly. When I lifted the lid off, I was rewarded with golden swirls that were soft and fluffy in the middle and just crisp enough around the edges. A quick drizzle of cream cheese frosting and my Salter dish looked like something from a bakery window.

Test 4: roasting in the oven

Following on from my bread success, I wanted to test just how far this could lean in to oven roasting and baking. My classic test for a casserole in the oven is my baked gnocchi. These little pasta parcels are really sensitive to heat and you’ve got a range of vegetables, from slow roasted butternut squash to lighter mushrooms and sage leaves, that need to be properly and sensitively cooked.

The Salter rose to the challenge though. It served up a seriously impressive dish. I got the crisping in all the right places and could lock in moisture when I needed to. I’d happily use this to replace my dishes and, dare I say my air fryer tray?

Test 5: Risotto

Risotto is my weeknight test for any casserole dish because it’s such a gentle, hands-on dish. I started with a little oil and shallots in the shallow casserole, added risotto rice, and then gradually ladled in hot stock.

The cast iron held heat evenly so I didn’t get any of the scorching you can get in thinner pans. Towards the end, I stirred through lemon zest, peas, and Parmesan. The risotto stayed creamy without sticking and the white interior made it easy to see when everything was perfectly cooked.

Test 6: cake

I love making something sweet in these casserole dishes because it’s a great way to showcase how versatile casserole dishes are (and it makes use of the pretty colour and design of the Salter.)

For this test, I made a raspberry and almond sponge, which cooked beautifully. There was great rise and a lovely, even, golden colour across my bake. Even better, it didn’t burn or stick to the edges, which is every baker’s dream come true. Paired with the cinnamon bun success, it's safe to say that this is a baker's dream.

Cleaning the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Set

The Salter is naturally non-stick, which is the case for most cast iron. This makes the clean up really easy. These are actually dishwasher safe, so when I was finished with some of these dishes, I packed them away into the dishwasher and let it do my dirty work. The dishes came out sparkling clean, if you’re wondering.

In some instances, I wanted to hand wash the dishes, which is equally easy. For the sake of keeping this in the best condition for as long as I can, I used a soft sponge. On the occasion that I had a dumpling disaster (and burnt the dumplings to the bottom of the dish) I had to do an overnight soak, but all the burnt lifted off after 12 hours (to my relief).

One of my biggest scepticisms was that this is white. I thought it might stain, mark, and scratch in a way that’s more notable than other dishes. In reality, it made for a beautiful dish. The white wiped clean and made a great contrast for all my dishes. I’m really looking forward to salads and paellas in here because I think the colours will look stunning. Whether curry spices stain is another question I’m yet to find the answer to.

If you want to get a little more advice on cleaning, we have a page dedicated to cleaning cast iron.

How does the Salter Chester Cast Iron Set compare?

Le Creuset has been the gold standard for decades, and it’s easy to see why: it’s iconic, beautifully made, and incredibly durable. But it’s also incredibly expensive. Salter’s Chester range gives you a similar weight, even heat distribution, and timeless style at a far more accessible price. The cream colour with gold knob feels especially luxe, very much in that Meghan Markle’s Le Creuset territory, without the three (or four)-figure bill.

In terms of performance, I’d say Le Creuset still has the edge in colour choice and a slightly thicker enamel layer, which may help it resist chips over decades. But in everyday cooking, I noticed no real difference between the two brands in how my food turned out.

Should you buy the Salter Chester Cast Iron Set?

Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Dishes are a brilliant alternative to more expensive options. They’re stylish enough to go straight from oven to table, robust enough for daily use, and versatile enough to handle everything from soups and stews to breads and bakes.

They’re also ideal for autumn hosting: you can bring a bubbling casserole straight to the centre of the table and feel proud of how it looks. And because Salter backs them with a lifetime guarantee, you’re investing in something that will last years.

Overall, they’re some of the best cast iron dishes I’ve tested at this price point and an absolute no-brainer if you’re after that Meghan Markle Le Creuset vibe on a realistic budget.