If you are looking for best dutch oven for bread, look no further!
Trying to bake bread with a perfect brown, crispy bread crust? You need the best dutch oven for bread. While this product might seem straightforward to buy, there are lots of factors to consider for an informed decision.
Also, with the plethora of options offered out there, the decision process becomes a tad challenging and overwhelming.
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What is a Dutch oven
Table of Contents
The Dutch oven got its name from being used in Holland. It was called “Dutch” because of its connection with people from the Netherlands.
Dutch ovens are large cooking pots with lids. These cast-iron pots distribute heat evenly, so you don’t need to worry about hot spots burning your food. Their heavy bottoms work on all types of stoves, including the camp stove in your backyard or the stove in your boat. The lids trap steam inside, which helps keep foods moist and tender while also making them fork-tender.
Dutch ovens can be used for slow-cooked meals like stews (such as beef bourguignon), chili, baked beans, pot roast and meat loaf; they can also be used for breads (like naan) and desserts (such as cobblers). A typical Dutch oven holds 4 to 8 quarts. They are available in various sizes at cookware stores, department stores and online retailers.
Now, let’s check out the top 7 best dutch oven for baking bread.
List of Top 7 Best Dutch Oven for Beard in 2021
Here are top rated dutch oven for bread to buy
Top 1 – Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven
This product is considered as one of the best dutch oven for bread that you can add to your choices.
The Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven has large handles to ensure a more secure and comfortable grip even with oven mitts. This dutch oven features enameled cast iron construction to ensure this model is perfect for both high-temperature searing or slow cooking.
This robust material guarantees it is compatible with most stovetops, including induction cooktops. It retains heat better to keep your bread hot and fresh for the next serving. Thanks to its advanced sand-colored interior enamel, the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven is wear-resistant and guaranteed to serve your purpose for many years.
Similarly, the exterior features a colorful long-lasting enamel to prevent the product from cracking and chipping. The composite knob is large and can heat-safe up to 500 degrees F.
Key Features:
Enameled Cast Iron Construction
Compatible With All Cooktops
Oven-safe Up To 500°f
Tight-fitting Lids
Ergonomic Knobs and Handles
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean
- Available in different color options
- unparallel heat distribution
- Suitable for different cooking style
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Top 2 – Le Creuset Oyster Cast Iron Oval French (Dutch) Oven
The Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron (Dutch) Oven is coming second on the list, with a modest cooking space. This model is designed to be the best dutch oven for sourdough bread.
This dutch oven has the right depth and diameter to create a tasteful flavourful, and eye-catching bread roll. The lid is slightly heavy to optimize your baking purpose without being challenging to manage. The heavy lid helps seal the heat, flavor, and moisture of the dough for excellent results.
Furthermore, this product comes in a wide range of color options to match your color palette and kitchen decor. It comes with a plastic knob touted to heat safe up to 500 degrees F.Although it comes with a salty price tag, the Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Oval French (Dutch) Oven is a worthwhile investment.
Key Features:
Enameled Cast Iron Construction
Light-colored Smooth Interior Enamel
Compatible With All Cooktops and Oven-safe Up To 500°f
Ergonomic Knobs and Handles
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- It comes in several color options
- It has large handles for comfortable grip
- Modest size for baking bread
- Unparalleled heat distribution
Cons:
- On the price side
Top 3 – Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron 5 Qt Round Covered Casserole
Next on the list is the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron 5-Quart Round Covered Casserole with a porcelain-enameled exterior and cast iron construction. The exterior features a durable finish in a wide range of vibrant colors to match any kitchen decor.
This best-sized dutch oven for bread is made using cast iron to ensure it retains heat better and offers excellent heat transfer. Furthermore, the interior rocks a porcelain coat to prevent odor absorptions or impact flavors.
With wide and large cast iron handles, this dutch oven is easy and comfortable to handle and transport. The knob provides a more durable drip and oven safe up to 500 degrees F. Like other top products on this list; this model is compatible with most stovetops, including an induction cooktop.
Key Features:
Porcelain Enamel Exterior
Cast Iron Construction
Oven Safe Knob For Endless Cooking Options And Durable Grip
Wide Cast Iron Handles
Pros:
- Solid and robust construction
- Available in lots of vibrant colors
- Suitable for cooking, entertaining, and serving
- Easy to handle and transport
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- The coating tends to chip after a while
Top 4 – Bayou Classic 7477 Oval Fryer with Griddle Lid
The Bayou Classic 7477 Oval Fryer with Griddle Lid has a rustic appeal and durable black finish that guarantees it will keep looking brand new for a long time. The Bayou Classic 7477 Oval Fryer is an excellent choice for anyone looking to cook or fry a large batch of food while camping or hosting a backyard party.
This cast iron cookware comes with a lid that doubles nicely as an oven griddle. It offers a generous 6 QT cooking space, which should be more than enough to fry chicken, fries, onion rings, and fish. Plus, it can cook a pot of soup or stew.
This outdoor oval fryer with the expansive lid allows you to griddle a large batch of fajitas, burgers, and grilled sandwiches. Also, it can be used on a dual burner cooktop. Besides, cooking with the Bayou Classic 7477 Oval Fryer with Griddle Lid enhances your gourmet adventure’s flavor.
Key Features:
- Cast Iron Construction
- 6 QT Cooking Space
- Expansive Griddle Lid
Pros:
- Comes seasoned
- Perfect for large batch cooking
- Works well with a stovetop oven
- Support versatile cooking
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Top 5 – Lodge Pre-Seasoned Dutch Oven
For a traditional option, you want to consider the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Dutch Oven. This best cast iron dutch oven for bread offers a 7 Qt capacity, which should be perfect for baking a decent-sized loaf.
This dutch oven comes pre-seasoned straight out of the box for a no-hassle cooking experience. The manufacturer touts to season the product with 100% vegetable oil without chemicals or synthetic chemicals.
With its flat-bottom design, this cast iron cookware has enough room for the dough to rise. Plus, it has two robust handles for easier transportation and handling. The lid offers a tight fit to seal your food’s natural flavor, heat and moisture.
Also, it is suitable for outdoor purposes to provide your bread with a tasteful and unique flavor. With the cast iron construction, this unit has excellent heat distribution and remarkable durability.
Key Features:
Loop Handles For Secure Control
Cast Iron Lids Features Self-basting Tips
Pre-seasoned With 100% Natural Vegetable Oil
Pros:
- Unparallel heat retention
- Even heating
- Durable, solid construction
- Comes pre-seasoned
Cons:
- It tends to rust
Top 6 – Tramontina Enameled Cast Iron 6.5-Quart Covered Round Dutch Oven
The Tramontina Enameled Cast Iron 6.5-Quart Covered Round Dutch Oven is another traditional cast iron cookware great for preparing hearty chili, stews, soups, and pot roast. This model offers a generous 6.5 QT cooking space, which is perfect to cook a family-sized meal.
With its cast iron construction, this dutch oven offers even heat retention and distribution. This model is suitable for slow cooking, simmering sauces, browning poultry, tenderizing meats, sauteing onions, and steaming vegetables. This model, without the lid, offers a versatile cooking experience.
Key Features:
Solid Heavy-gauge Cast-iron Construction
Off-white Porcelain-enameled Cooking Surface
Generous 6.5-quart Cooking Space
Pros:
- Robust construction
- Easy to clean
- Support any cooking style
Cons:
- The enamel tends to chip
Top 7 – Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven With Loop Handles
Earning a spot on the list is the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven. This model comes with a lid that doubles nicely as a 10.25-inch skillet for a versatile cooking experience. It comes with loop handles to deliver a more secure control and comfortable handle.
The dutch oven is made of cast iron to offer even heating and remarkable heat retention for excellent cooking results. More so, it comes pre-seasoned with natural vegetable oil for a fuss-free cooking experience.
Thus, the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven With Loop Handles is perfect for grilling, frying, roasting, baking, broiling, simmering, sauteing, and searing. Plus, it can be used on the stove, in the oven, over a campfire, and on the grill. Also, it’s great for induction hobs.
Key Features:
100% Natural Vegetable Oil Preseasoning
Loop Handles For Secure Control
Great For Induction Cooktops
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean
- Outstanding heat retention and even heating
- Durable construction
- Suitable for most cooking style
Cons:
- Some rust appears
How to choose the Best Dutch Oven for Bread
Factors to choose the Best Dutch Oven for Bread are the capacity, depth, shape, convenience of holding/lifting, lid structure and material. Always remember that no matter how good your Dutch oven is, if you use it on an open fire or fireplace then it is not safe for cooking indoors.
Generally, these are the factors to analyze while buying a dutch oven:
1) Capacity
How much food you want to cook at once? A 12-inch oven would be enough for most people but size can range from 6-inch to 18-inch. The bigger the pot the more fuel will be consumed while heating up.
2) Depth
What kind of dish are you going to cook? If you are making steaks then it should have some depth so that oil/fat doesn’t splatter all over the place. When you want to cook something without any liquid, like roasts and breads, then a thin oven is good for this job.
3) Shape
Depending on what kind of dishes you are going to cook you should choose between oval shaped and round shaped dutch ovens. Oval shaped ovens can accommodate large cuts of meat but it cannot contain as much food as a round one because its volume and surface area is more than a round oven.
Round shaped Dutch ovens can hold larger amounts of food but cutting large chunks of meat will be hard or impossible sometimes.
4) Handles
If your pot only has three legs then make sure that those legs are slightly longer than your pot so you can pick it up using the side handles. Never cook with your Lid on top or during heating because pressure will build up inside and could result in an explosion.
5) Material
Cast Iron Dutch ovens are great for cooking over fire but if you want to use it indoors then buy a pot made of aluminum, stainless steel, etc. Enameled cast iron pots are rust proof so they are good for longer term outdoor cooking . If the surface is non-stick then utensils like forks, spoons can scratch its surface.
Also do not leave acidic items like lemon juice or tomato sauce to sit in the dutch oven for extended periods of time because this will damage your pot’s enamel finish. Additionally, never put this pot in a dishwasher and use an abrasive pad or metal utensils to clean it.
6) Lids
Some Dutch ovens come with a flat lid that can be used as a griddle, some have detachable legs and one-pot meals are easier to make because you can put the cover on top to contain moisture from steaming.
Lids, however, should never be placed on top of your oven during heating process because pressure will build up inside and could explode. This is not covered by warranty either so be careful!
7) Price
Usually the more expensive dutch oven would be made of better materials but cheaper ones will do if you just want to test out cooking with one before getting something pricier.
Remember that cheap things usually don’t last for many years and break down quickly while expensive ones can be a great investment and will last longer.
8) Warranty
Usually the warranty only covers manufacturer defects but accidents like dropping your pot on hard surfaces or it suddenly exploding into pieces during cooking is not covered.
Always keep your receipt in a safe place because you never know when you’ll need to return it back.
Different types of Dutch ovens
There are different types of Dutch ovens available. If you do not know which one to choose, read on for more information about the most common ones.
Dutch Ovens are cooking pots made of seasoned cast iron. They have tight fitting lids and can be used in a fireplace or on top of a wood stove, grill or campfire coals, giving it its name “Camp Dutch Oven“. The recipes in this book will give cooking times for using your electric range, but many of these dishes would be just as good cooked over charcoal briquettes too!
The most common type is the stationary cooker with three legs that sits on top of your stove or countertop at home. This is also called oven or “regular” Dutch oven. These ovens have a simple lid and may also come with a flat, cast iron frying pan which sits inside the inside of the cooking pot, upside down so it acts as a lid for frying foods without having to remove the heavy oven lid completely.
Another type is what’s actually called a campfire Dutch Oven. It has three legs, just like the stationary model but does not have a handle on the side opposite from the bail handle. Its purpose is that you can bury it in hot coals or place over glowing embers that you have rake out from your firepit when there was no room in your regular pit to make a fire in it.
The way one seasons these types of cookers is very different from the ovens. These are pre-seasoned when you buy them so they are ready to use when you get them home. No oil is needed when cooking with these ovens, nor do they need polishing unless really abused.
The third type of pot is called a basket Dutch Oven. It has only two legs and no handle on the opposite side from the bail handle. This basket or “swing” pot was originally developed for campfire cooking, but it also works well over coals in your fireplace too. The basket is made of heavy wire mesh which can be opened up all around if you want to place even more hot coals right on top of your dish while it’s cooking.
The most important Dutch Oven accessory is the lid lifter. This has a special heat proof handle which you can slide under your oven’s lid, making it safe to remove from the flames. Also available are trivets, large enough for holding hot coals from your fire for better indirect cooking or baking. These have wide bases so they don’t tip over easily and have a small hole where you can insert a wire bale handle to pick them up with.
Best size dutch oven for bread come in many sizes, from tiny ones that hold only about 1 cup of liquid but will do for heating one serving of coffee or tea water, up to ones as big as 12 quarts (12 liters). When I cook using 8-quart model, I can make food enough for eight or more hearty appetites, but if I were cooking only for myself, I would use my three-quart size.
How you season a cast-iron Dutch oven
- Wash the pot with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush.
- Dry it completely, then coat all surfaces–inside and out–with vegetable oil or melted shortening (do not use butter).
- Place the oven in a 350° F oven for an hour.
- Turn off the heat, let it cool down inside the oven, then repeat this process two or three times until the inside is thoroughly dry. T
- Here’s no need to remove cooking oils from previous uses.
- To clean your Dutch oven, fill it half-full with water, place it over a hot fire or burner and bring it to a boil. Let the water boil for 15 minutes, then dump out the water.
- To clean stuck-on food, heat some oil in the oven, add 2 tablespoons salt and wait until it starts popping; then scrub with a stiff brush.
Dutch ovens are versatile tools that can be used to cook almost anything–from meat to bread–and they will last you a lifetime if you take good care of them. Washing your Dutch oven by hand prevents rusting, while storing it with other cast iron or steel utensils helps prevent dings and scratches.
Remember: Store your Dutch oven away from moisture! For cooking on an open fire pit, which is not recommended for use any closer than 12 inches to the heat, you will need a lid lifter.
Faqs about Dutch ovens for bread
Do you need enameled Dutch ovens for bread?
If you want a durable, preheated Dutch oven for your cooking then it is best to go with the bare-bones cast iron variety. Enameled ones require more care and attention but they’re also better if this type of pot doesn’t need heating up beforehand because sometimes enameling can lead to uneven reactions or spots that wear down over time making them look old before their time!
Why are Dutch ovens good for bread?
Steam is the key to giving your loaf its signature soft and chewy crust. If you want that perfect shape, make sure to use a covered Dutch oven during this part of baking bread so it traps all-important moisture inside for longer before opening up again – trapping in hot air around our yeast!
Can I use Dutch oven as a bread box?
You can keep your loaf of fresh baked bread in the Dutch Oven for up to two days with a lid on.
What are the best size dutch oven for bread?
For the best Dutch oven for baking bread, choose a size between 5-quart and 7.5 quarts – this will ensure plenty of room to rise as well form into an excellent crust!
Conclusion
The best dutch oven for bread is the one that will meet your needs. If you are looking to make artisanal loaves of bread, then a large capacity Dutch oven would be perfect.
However, if you want to bake small batches of muffins or cupcakes in addition to baking your loafs of bread, than an enameled cast iron Dutch oven may suit your needs better.
You should consider what type of foods you plan on cooking and how often before making a decision about which type of pot might be right for you.
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