Lidl Malta Cast Iron. Should you get this roasting dish? Good or bad? Here’s what we think.

Lidl Malta Cast Iron Roasting Dish. Should you get one? How do they compare to other top cast iron roasting dishes?

Popular demand has requested that the Lidl Malta Cast Iron Roasting Dish are restocked on Lidl Malta shelves, and we are happy to state that they have restocked these Cast Irons from 21st October 2021. 

You might be familiar with the Le Creuset brand and their hefty price tag. The price range attached to the Le Creuset products means filling our kitchens full of Le Creuset kitchen pots and pans is a dream that is far from realistic for most home budgets. Luckily, Ernesto offers a cheaper alternative at good quality, and a very similar appearance. Both are quite aesthetically pleasing and a great addition to any kitchen. 

Le Creuset are well known for their top quality products made with their life-time guarantee. We got the 4L Ernesto Cast Iron Roasting Dish from Lidl Malta to see how this compares to the Le Creuset Cast Iron Oval Casserole dish 4.1 Litres. We must say, when comparing the two, we were impressed with Ernesto.

Cast Iron dishes are well renowned for their use in the kitchen with recipes such as casseroles (such as meat or vegetable), stews, braising, roasts, pasta, curry, soup, etc. It is also a great dish to bake sourdough bread in. Some cake recipes are ideal for the cast iron dish as well. These kinds of dishes are great for cooking on low or medium-low heats.

The Ernesto Cast Iron Roasting Dish holds approximately 4 litres and is sold for a price of €39.99. The Le Creuset Cast Iron Oval Casserole dish (4.1 litres) sells for £240, or around €280. That’s a price difference of over €200! Both cast iron dishes are compatible with induction hobs and for oven use (no matter if electric, gas or induction). 

 

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The Le Creuset Cast Iron Dish has dimensions of 35.2 x 22.6 x 15.4 cm whilst the Ernesto Cast Iron Roasting Dish’s dimensions are 37 x 23 x 18.5 cm. These dishes serve around 4-6 people. The Le Creuset, made in France, has a 30 year warranty whilst the Ernesto, made in Germany, has a 3 year warranty. Does a 10 times longer warranty warrant a difference of over €200 in price?  

Cast iron casserole pots are the ideal kitchen pot that is great for carefully distributing heat in an evenly fashion around the surface. A distinguishable feature is the cast iron pan weight.  This cast iron pan weighs 7kg (and carrying it you’ll feel every gram of it, trust us) whereas the Le Creuset version weighs 4.9kg. Both dishes sport a durable (and bright) enamel coating which makes it highly heat resistant. Whilst the Le Creuset is listed to have a heat resistance of up to 190°C, the Ernesto has a heat-resistance of up to 240°C. 

If you are wondering how to polish cast iron, rest assured it is easy. First things first, although Cast iron pots and dishes are great against thermal shock, don’t immediately submerge in cold (or even hot) water when heated. Leave out to cool first and then submerge to avoid damage to the cast iron. 

To remove any food residues which you need to remove, fill the dish with some warm water and wait for around 20 minutes before washing. Do not use metallic pads such as stainless steels, or harsh abrasive cleaning agents (basically anything that contains bleach or ammonia). For stains, you can opt for washing with boiled vinegar or lemon juice.

If you’re looking at grabbing yourself one of these Ernesto Cast Iron Roasting Dishes from Lidl Malta at a very affordable price of €39.99 (around €280 for the Le Creuset), check out the Lidl opening hours. 

Lidl Malta:  Mosta / San Gwann / Santa Venera / Zurrieq / Qormi / Luqa / Zejtun

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Lidl Gozo

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Keywords: lidl malta, cast iron casserole pot, how to polish cast iron, cast iron pan weight, lidl opening hours, lidl mosta