Looking for a lovely oven-to-table dish to pair with The 8×8 Cookbook as a gift? Or an inexpensive dish for everyday baking in your own kitchen? Author Kathy Strahs has you covered! Here are her top picks for 8×8-inch dishes and links to where to buy them (prices range from $12 to $45).
Ceramic
Glazed ceramic bakers not only retain heat exceptionally well, they also come in a variety of colors and are perfect for transferring dishes directly from the oven to your dining table. They are an especially good choice for casseroles, pot pies and other company-worthy meals.
Emile Henry Artisan Square Baker — $45 | Buy it at Williams-Sonoma
CorningWare French White 8×8 Square Baker — $15 | Buy it at Amazon
Le Creuset Heritage 2-Quart Square Dish — $40 | Buy it at Le Creuset
Glass
Glass dishes are highly versatile, and often economical (many can be found for less than $15). I especially love the kitschy appeal of vintage milk glass Pyrex dishes–I find them online at Etsy and eBay, as well as in antiques and secondhand stores.
Vintage Pyrex 222 Series 8 inch Square Baking Dish — $12-$19 | Find them on eBay
Pyrex Basics 8″ Square Baking Dish — $12 | Buy it at Amazon
Baked Glass Baking Dish, Square, 8″ x 8″ — $13 | Buy it at Williams-Sonoma
Metal
For cakes and roasts, I turn to my metal pan for its browning capabilities. You can often find basic nonstick metal pans right in your local grocery store, but the pans sold at specialty cookware stores like Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table are only a few dollars more and tend to be sturdier. NOTE: Aluminum pans will react to acidic foods like tomatoes and lemons, imparting a metallic taste, so leave your baked pastas and other tomato-based dishes to the glass and ceramic bakers.
Williams-Sonoma Traditional Finish Square Cake Pan, 8″ — $14 | Buy it at Williams-Sonoma
Sur La Table® Platinum Professional Square Cake Pan, 8″ — $14 | Buy it at Sur La Table