This is the only dish I use to bake pies—and here's why I love it

Baking isn’t my strong suit, but I do enjoy making pies. That’s why I love my Emile Henry pie dish (available at Sur la Table for $29): It’s sturdy enough to make up for my lack of knowledge, and elegant enough to salvage even my messiest attempt at a lattice top.

Made in France, the dish is oven safe up to 520ºF. It can go in the dishwasher or the microwave, and it shouldn’t scratch or craze even if it’s used for serving. If you’ve prepared your pie ahead of time (as I often do when I’m hosting a dinner party solo) it can even go straight from the fridge or freezer into a hot oven.

Unlike other pie dishes, this one can even go under a broiler. That makes it even more versatile than your typical dessert plate. Sure, the broiler-safe design means you can finish a meringue without a torch, but I’ve also used it for savory dishes like lasagnas and gratins. I can happily report back that my cheese toppings browned without incident.

I’m embarrassed to say how many pieces of bakeware I’ve broken by unintentional mistreatment. But despite 14 years of baking, broiling, freezing, and washing, this Emile Henry plate looks just as good as when a friend gave it to me as a gift back in 2002.

That sturdiness is thanks to Emile Henry’s proprietary high-resistance ceramic. Each dish is formed from clay and coated in a food-safe glaze. Then, it’s fired for four hours at over 2,100ºF. The result is an elegant plate that can handle the toughest tasks novice bakers like me can give it—and a reputation for quality that helped the family-owned company survive for 166 years.

At $29.95 on sale, Emile Henry plates cost a few dollars more than their closest competitors, but that extra versatility—not to mention the attractive glaze—makes it an affordable luxury.

Buy one for yourself before holiday baking season starts. Or if you’re looking for a gift idea, the Emile Henry pie dish is a great choice. Just make sure you put a pie in it first.

Buy this Emile Henry pie dish for $29.95 on Amazon

Prices are accurate at the time of publication, but may change over time.