The dish you can use if you don't have a roasting tray available

A succulent roast is a guilty pleasure in itself. From roasting your favorite vegetables to perfection to innovating with roast chicken dinners in a baking tray, the options are endless. Whether you don't have enough space (a roasting tray is quite a large and heavy container) or you prefer cooking in one pot, not having a roasting tray in your kitchen doesn't mean you have an under-equipped kitchen. In fact, one of the simplest alternatives to a roasting tray is more obvious than you might think: the casserole dish!

Using a casserole dish as an alternative to a roasting pan is a great idea, but not entirely new. The two dishes are so similar that they are sometimes called extra-large casseroles. Roasting pans are large, oven-safe dishes prized for their depth and high sides. They are typically made of stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, or aluminum. Casserole dishes are made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass and are also oven-safe. While casserole dishes are most often used for pasta gratins, lasagnas, fruit desserts, and other types of saucy dishes, they are also used for roasting.

Tips and alternatives for using a casserole dish as a grill.

To determine the best baking dish for a perfect roast, size is a good guide. Small roasts are ideal for 23 x 33 cm dishes, while larger roasts, such as turkeys, are best suited to an extra-large dish of approximately 38 x 25 cm. The recipe is also an important consideration. Ceramic dishes are oven-safe, but they may not withstand the same high heat for as long as, for example, a steel dish.

If you don't have a casserole dish or roasting pan handy, the good news is that there are several alternatives you probably already own. A roasting pan is a useful option for roasting juicier dishes that tend to release more liquid. A roasting pan with a rack specifically designed to catch excess liquid would work well; just be mindful of the amount of liquid in your dish, as the pan's sides are low.

Skillets are incredibly versatile (who doesn't love skillet-baked chocolate chip cookies?), but cast iron ones are especially practical for roasting, as they withstand high temperatures and retain heat thanks to their thick walls. Depending on the size of the skillet, small roasts can be perfect. For a quick and inexpensive alternative, a disposable aluminum roasting pan is ideal for hassle-free roasting chicken and turkey. If you tend to prepare special roasts during the holidays but don't usually roast during the rest of the year, this option is for you.