Baking dishes belong to the family of shallow casseroles that go directly from the oven to the table. Choose heavy, heatproof porcelain, glazed earthenware, or glass. The dish must be flameproof if it is to be placed under a broiler for a gratin or brûlée topping. Some recipes specify the volume--from 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml) to 6 quarts (6 liters)--or dimension and shape-8-inch (20-cm) square or 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-cm) rectangle. Other recipes call for baking dishes in generic sizes such as small or large. Still other recipes use small baking dishes designed to yield individual portions.