Skeppshult Cast Iron Oval Casserole Dish

This Skeppshult cast iron oval casserole dish is wonderfully versatile – use it to bake sourdough, simmer ragus, or slow-cook meat on the bone. It measures 35cm x 25cm and has a capacity of 6 litres, and the non-stick surface makes washing-up a doddle.

This casserole dish can be used in the oven, on the hob, and even over an open-flame. The 5mm-thick base distributes heat evenly for consistent cooking, and the precision milled concave bottom lets it sit with stability on very hot surfaces for long periods of time.

Swedish company Skeppshult (pronounced ‘hep-salt’) has been making cast iron products by hand since 1906. The process starts with raw iron, which is heated to a searing 1,500°C in a furnace. Then the molten metal is cast into special moulds made from sand, which can withstand the extreme temperatures.

Sand moulds can only be used once, and therefore each product is unique – no two items are the same. Each sand mould is recycled and used for another product. Skeppshult seasons its cast iron with rapeseed oil (also called canola oil) from Österlen to protect it from damage. This also gives the cast iron its natural non-stick properties.

Skeppshult’s cast iron is an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic-coated aluminium pans.

Read our guide to cleaning and seasoning cast iron here.