Consumer Reports' Best Ceramic Pie Pan Punches Above Le Creuset

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Le Creuset is widely regarded as one of the best cookware brands money can buy. Stylish designs coupled with superb functionality and durability have made the brand a trusted name in the industry, but not everyone agrees that it outshines the competition. Consumer Reports, for example, doesn't seem to be as keen on Le Creuset, at least when it comes to ceramic pie pans — it thinks Staub makes a superior version.

The team of testers at CR analyzed several pie pans made of different materials — ceramic, glass, and metal — to see which one produced the best blueberry pie (using the same ingredients for each). The ceramic pie pans didn't claim supremacy over the aluminum pan which proved best in show, but Consumer Reports praised the Staub Ceramic Pie Dish, saying, "Of all the pies I baked, the one made in this Staub ceramic dish had the best crust and overall texture." It was also commended for its lovely appearance and large handles that made removing it from the oven a breeze.

The Le Creuset Heritage Fluted Pie Dish which CR used was far from abysmal. It secured the runner-up position in the ceramic pie dish rankings, and Consumer Reports was impressed with the quality of the pie it baked. But Le Creuset's exorbitant price tag and somewhat clumsy handling (it has no side handles for easy oven removal) knocked it down a notch, allowing Staub to take the top spot.

It's worth mentioning that Consumer Reports also ranked Le Creuset Dutch ovens lower than other brands, perhaps indicating some bias against the French cookware. But it's really all about what the customer thinks. People who have rated this Staub pie pan on Amazon give it overwhelmingly glowing reviews, with few exceptions. It has a 4.8-star rating, with one person even comparing it to Le Creuset, saying, "They are perfect for pies, small casseroles,etc [sic] and they are gorgeous. And doesn't hurt that they are so much more affordable than Le Creuset, but just as pretty and functional."

Admirers of Le Creuset bakeware aren't switching to the dark side just yet, and possibly for good reason. The Le Creuset ceramic pie pan CR used has a 4.9-star rating on Amazon with over four times as many reviews compared to the Staub pan. The company's website also displays several enthusiastic reviews, for the most part. How much of that is based on the company's stellar reputation as opposed to an unbiased assessment of how the pie pan performs is certainly up for debate.

On Le Creuset's website, one two-star review noted, "Not really any different than my Pyrex!" That person also wasn't impressed that the bakeware was manufactured in Thailand, not France. But by and large, customers like both ceramic pie pans and the difference between how baked goods turn out in each appears minimal. They both got dinged in Consumer Reports' evaluation for being high-priced, but if you can score a Le Creuset for a deep discount or find a Staub at a thrift store, either pie pan is worth adding to your collection.