If you always wanted to bake beautifully browned bread with a crunchy, crackly, and airy center, what you need is the best Dutch oven for bread baking. Although using this device to bake bread may seem a little bit too difficult, when used properly, it can produce a loaf of bread that tastes and even look like it was bought from a professional baker. As a matter of fact, Dutch ovens provide the closest cooking device that can emulate a conventional Bakers Oven.
In this review, we are going to share with you a comprehensive guide to the best Dutch oven for bread baking, including the pros and cons of each oven.
We have been covering kitchenware reviews for many years, and therefore you can trust that we can provide you with a professional review of the best products on the market.
For those looking to step up their sourdough bread-making results, we recommend investing in a Dutch oven. We understand that this is not probably one of the cheapest pieces of cookware on the market, but it is totally worth it. Once you buy one, it will make a very big difference in your bread baking compared to any other cook pot you use.
What is a Dutch Oven?
A Dutch oven is usually the workhorse of the kitchen. It is versatile cookware that can be used for multiple cooking tasks, including stews, stovetop soups, and most importantly oven-baked bread, casseroles, and roasts.
As a matter of fact, anything that can be cooked in a traditional oven can also be cooked in a Dutch oven.
Bread made in Dutch ovens tends to come out as an artisan baked loaf with steam created within the pot.
Dutch ovens are sturdy, cylindrical pots with tight-fitting covers. They are usually made of cast iron, though you can find most of them with enameled surfaces that add durability and strength to the oven. Some models can combine enamel coating and ceramic interior.
One of the most standout features of Dutch ovens is that they have a uniform and constant heat distribution, making them even more versatile and useful cookware that can be put into a variety of tasks in the kitchen.
Generally, Dutch ovens are used for slow baking or cooking, such as braising and roasting. However, they are also extremely effective in baking bread due to the consistent and even heat distribution. The heat comes from different directions, making the oven function like pizza ovens or stone hearths.
Types of Best Dutch Ovens for Bread Baking
Before going to buy a Dutch oven, it is important to understand the different types there are out there on the market. There are many types of Dutch ovens that you can choose from, but the underlying difference is the material. Generally, there are two types of Dutch oven materials, namely cast-iron and enameled.
1. Cast Iron or Bare Cast-Iron Dutch Ovens
Cast iron or bare cast-iron Dutch ovens are known for being an eternal piece of kitchenware offering versatility as well as convenience of use. Cast iron is also known for being a great heat conductor and is the best and preferred material for high-quality cookware. It can endure moderately high heat without any degradation. This in turn makes it a useful piece of kitchenware for a variety of cooking applications.
But if you choose a Dutch oven made from cast iron without any enamel coating, you will need to season it before using it to make it non-stick.
Seasoning stops food from sticking to the interior of the pot and maintains the important property of the oven.
You can find cast iron best Dutch ovens for bread already pre-seasoned to make it ready to use once you get it out of the box. But just like with any other cast iron pieces of kitchenware, the pieces need special cleaning and care in order to preserve the integrity of the material.
If you can learn how to clean cast iron dutch oven and maintain it properly, the cast iron oven can last for many years.
2. Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
Enameled cast iron on the other hand has a ceramic or metalcore. Ceramic is known for being a good conductor of heat while coating makes it easy to use.
Enamel is usually low maintenance and appropriate for indoor use only.
If durability is your major concern, enamel is sturdy and has the same level of longevity as cast iron, though you don’t have to worry about rusting or iron leaching. Another great thing about enamel is that you do not need to season and is also dishwasher safe.
But you should always wash your cookware by hand if you want it to last long.
The downside of enamel cookware is that it is more expensive compared to cast iron Dutch ovens. Also, enamel can chip and tend to come with a non-metal handle that cannot be grasped when the temperatures are high. So before buying this oven, make sure you check its maximum heat because your bread needs to be baked in extremely high temperatures that the oven can take.
Top 10 Best Dutch Ovens for Bread Baking
Dutch ovens for bread are in various sizes, shapes, and styles. Choose the perfect one suited to your requirements from our top 10 best Dutch ovens for bread form below:
1. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven With Loop Handles
Starting our list is a Dutch oven from Lodge Cast Iron, a company known for its manufacturing of high-quality kitchen appliances. The company is located in South Pittsburg in Tennessee. As the only full-line cast iron made in the United States, Lodge boasts high-quality construction that has been unrivaled for more than a century.
It has even heat distribution, natural easy-release finish, durable, and long-lasting among many great features of this oven for baking bread.
The oven has integrated side handles on its lid and a base that is secure and easy to transport. It does not only offer durability, but it also provides superior performance and versatility you would expect from an expensive unit.
Its lid boasts double duty, as it can be sued to cover the oven as well as used as a skillet. The domed-shaped lid is ideal for baking bread or simmering roasts for many hours, but it can also be extremely useful when flipped over and transformed into a sauté pan.
In terms of design, this oven is designed to offer high levels of functionality and convenience, thanks to its ovenproof loop handles that allow for easy handling of the unit when using. And since it is made from heavy-duty cast iron, this Dutch oven for baking bread conducts and retains heat exceptionally well.
What stands out in this oven is its innovative design, which is showcased in its faultless performance. Its metal body was designed through a meticulous manufacturing process, thus giving it an even heating and high tolerance of extreme temperatures.
The elevated dome lid was ingeniously designed to increase the capacity of the pot, allowing room for your bread to “rise” and bake perfectly. Moreover, you can flip the lid over and use it as a frying pan.
The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven is an exceptional pot for baking bread. Many users have raved about how it can withstand daily usage as well as its versatility.
2. Best Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread: Bruntmor Enameled Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven
This Dutch oven boasts a sophisticated pattern design and bright color for convenient use. Combine that with its classic shape, modern design, and delicate details and you have yourself a simple, yet comfortable oven for baking sourdough.
It is made from durable cast iron as well as high-temperature resistant material that makes it oven safe. It is durable and does not scratch, thus it can withstand day-to-day use.
The perfect height and thickness of the oven allow the bread to cook evenly while the lid can also be used as a skillet pan, which you can use in different types of cooking surfaces such as electric coils, induction, and electric glass tops, gas stovetops among many other direct heat sources.
Moreover, the flat base of this Dutch oven makes it settle securely on any stovetop.
Generally, this is a high-quality Dutch oven that you can use for many years and even pass it down to your kids or grandchildren.
Bruntmor is a well-known brand in the field of kitchenware, cookware, and housewares manufacturing and all of their products will bring liveliness to your kitchen.
If you are looking for a Dutch oven that is extremely easy to use and looks elegant in your kitchen, don’t look past this unit from Bruntmor. This oven is designed especially for those who care about the appearance and harmony of kitchen appliances in the kitchen. The pastel design of the oven gives a classy and minimalist look.
The elegant design pattern of this Dutch oven will add a stylish flair to your kitchen.
In terms of size, the oven is 5” high and 10.5” wide without the lid on. But the lid is dome-shaped, giving you plenty of room to hold more food.
This is an excellent kitchen assistant, not just because it allows you to bake your sourdough bread and cook other types of foods, but because the oven itself is easy to clean and features side handles on the lid and base for secure handling and transport.
3. Best Dutch Ovens for Bread in Camping: The Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven, 8 Quart
If you love camping and outdoor activities, this Dutch oven is a must-have. This is dubbed the pot that does it all, and it is not hard to see why. The flanged lid holds hot coals and inverts to be used as a griddle. Its integral legs allow the oven to sit comfortably over hot coals for your bread to cook over high heat. But if you want to slow cook your meals, try hanging the bail handle over a tripod.
The Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven is known in some quarters as a ‘camp stove’, and with its durability and ruggedness, you can take it anywhere you love for baking wants you to go. It is a remarkably designed piece of cookware and can endure some heavy usage.
It also offers unrivaled versatility, and even though it has a rough and rugged design, this unit is still capable of providing a high level of performance. The material used in its construction is enhanced further by its excellent mold tolerance. This makes sure that the heat is distributed evenly and consistently so that your bread can bake as you wanted.
The sturdy gauge wire bale that is fitted over the pot allows the oven to hand campfire or household usage. The oven is also equipped with a versatile lid that can be used as a griddle by just flipping it over, and since the same lid is flanged, you could place some hot coals atop for uniform and consistent heat distribution when baking your bread.
Users love this oven, particularly its versatility and the fact that you can take it anywhere you want. The unit itself can handle just about anything, ranging from baking to braising and simmering to frying. The versatility of this unit is tied to its durable cast-iron material, which lets you use the oven with different types of heating sources.
Because this oven can be used atop an open fire, it is the best among campers and outdoor cooking aficionados.
4. Best Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven for Bread: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Another product from Lodge, this Dutch oven provides the easiest and most effective way to bake your bread. Looking at the features of this unit, it is clear that it has a slight edge over the rest of the market, including other lines of products from Lodge. It just stands apart from the competition thanks to its unrivaled combination of form, design, functionality, and performance. It looks good too!
Its enameled cast-iron construction makes sure that this oven can handle heavy use and a variety of kitchen tasks, even those that you would not normally require a Dutch oven.
It has outstanding heat retention and can heat up your bread evenly. It is easily one of the best Dutch ovens for bread baking, but you could also use it for roasting your favorite meat.
The design is also unbeatable, with the 6-quart oven constructed to handle a comprehensive range of heating and cooling tasks in the kitchen. Additionally, it is also able of handling to arrange non-cooking tasks such as marinating as well as freezing and refrigeration.
Its body is covered with porcelain enamel, thus eliminating the need for pre-seasoning. This combination also gives the vessel some versatility and durability, meaning you can use it over electric or gas stovetops in addition to induction and ceramic stoves. If needed, you could even place the unit into an oven and still get the same consistent results.
As arguably the best Dutch oven for bread making, this vessel has earned a considerable number of raves from users on the internet. Most of its users appreciate its quality construction as well as the weight that makes it portable.
5. Best Affordable Dutch Ovens for bread: Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron
For those who want a new way to bake bread but don’t want to dig a huge hole in their pockets, the Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron oven is a great option. It has an excellent heat distribution and retention as well as a non-stick interior to allow for easy release of food and cleanup.
Its construction allows the vessel to handle the extreme heat of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the side handles mean you can easily carry the pot.
For us, it is the versatility of this vessel that stands out. It can be used not only for baking bread but also for roasting or braising a comprehensive list of recipes. It also moves effortlessly from the refrigerator to the stovetop or oven to the table.
The oven is made with heavy-duty cast iron for durability and functionality. This combination also allows it to conduct and retain heat evenly when cooking in the oven or atop a grill or stovetop.
Its looped handles, as well as the matching lid, enhance the performance of this Dutch oven.
Taking into consideration all its features, it is easy to see why this is considered by many users the best Dutch oven for baking bread on the lower end of the price range.
While it seems small, this oven can serve up to 6 people and can also be used for frying chicken, tossing pasta, and making soup.
However, make sure you always use oven mitts, hot pads, or potholders when removing or moving the oven from or on a stovetop or oven. You may also consider hand-washing it rather than tossing it into the dishwasher to enhance its longevity.
6. Best Dutch Ovens by American’s Test Kitchen: Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron
Cuisinart is known for its formidable legacy in manufacturing kitchenware pieces, and the Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron is just one of the brand’s long lines of high-quality cookware. This durable vessel is easily the best Dutch oven for bread baking in terms of chefs’ approval. It is a remarkably versatile oven that can be sued for not only baking but also simmering, slow braising, searing, and grilling.
It is designed to endure high temperatures while evenly distributing and retaining the heat. With this unit, you will always get the same reliable performance, whether you use it on a broiler, stovetop, or even in a conventional oven. You can also just place it on the dinner table as one of your serving utensils.
The oven features a porcelain-enameled exterior, which gives it an attractive look as well as durability. In addition to that, it also comes in a wide range of appealing colors, making them suitable for any kitchen decoration.
Apart from its great looks and appearance, the Chef’s Classic Dutch oven provides superior versatility and performance, thus making it perhaps the most indispensable piece of kitchenware you can have. Thanks to the cast iron, the oven has incredible heat conduction and retention, making the unit ideal for use on induction stovetops. For its interior, the enameled coating makes sure you have uniform cooking without your food absorbing odors that might affect the flavor of your food.
With its wide handles, which are also made from cast iron, as well as its safe knob, you can easily handle it too and from the stovetop.
7. Crock-pot Artisan Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven – 7 Quart
The Crock-pot Artisan Dutch oven stands out as the best Dutch oven for bread baking thanks to its incredible collection of features. First and foremost, it conducts and distributes heat evenly, but it also comes with a self-basting lid that creates a consistent basting environment.
The huge handles that come with this pot allow for a sturdy grip to enhance portability in the kitchen. It is rust-free, durable, and easy to clean, while its exceptional heat retention enables you to perform a wide range of cooking styles including frying, sautéing, searing, stewing, braising, broiling, roasting, and baking.
The bluish color of the interior of this oven provides some much-needed visual contrast from your bread or whatever food you are cooking. This way, you can always monitor the progress of your cooking all the time, thus reducing the risks of burning or food sticking.
Many users appreciate this unit’s lightweight construction compared to other Dutch ovens on the market. Despite its robust construction and build, most of the users like how it is easier to manage and handle than other iron-cast ovens.
The majority of those who have already used the Crock-pot Artisan Dutch oven have been successful in baking bread as well as preparing other range of foods. Your bread will come out nice and lax.
The Crock-pot is obviously one of the best Dutch ovens for bread baking, even so, that many professional bakers swear by it when it comes to producing the best bread.
8. Best Dutch Ovens for The Money: Crock-Pot Artisan Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 3-Quart
If you are looking for the best Dutch oven for bread baking that will give you value for your money, look no further than this unit from the Crock-Pot brand. The Crock-Pot Artisan Round Enameled Cast Iron distributes and retains heat uniformly and comes with a self-basing lid that helps create a consistent basting environment.
This oven is ergonomically constructed with oversized handles for a strong and comfortable grip to enhance portability. It is durable, long-lasting, easy to clean, and rust-free and can perform an array of cooking techniques, such as sautéing, stewing, frying, broiling, roasting, braising, searing, and most importantly baking bread.
It comes in a variety of colors, so you can be sure that you will find a vessel that will fit in nicely with the interior design of your kitchen. You can choose from burgundy wine, sunset orange, slate gray, teal ombre, blue, scarlet red, or sapphire blue and each color is a beautifully enameled finish.
The vessel is also compatible with all cooking surfaces, including gas, ceramic, electric, and induction cooktop.
You can use either a convection or conventional oven to broil or bake. The stainless knob as well as the entire unit is oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Best Cast Iron Dutch Ovens for Camping: Lodge Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven 6-Quart
Maybe the Lodge Deep Camp 8-Quart is too large for your outdoor activities, in which case you should try the Lodge Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven 6-Quart.
This model has unbeatable versatility, probably more than the 8-Quart model. Its flanged lid can also be used as a griddle as well as for holding hot coal while the in-built legs mean you can set the oven over a wood fire.
Despite its size and construction, the Lodge Cast Iron 6-Quart is capable of some great and sophisticated performances. Its construction also means that the unit has superior mold tolerance, thus ensuring uniform heating for consistent results.
This oven is a multi-purpose piece of cookware that will work wonders with your slow-cooking recipes. Its tight-fitting lid allows you to lock in all flavor and nutrients. Additionally, it comes already pre-seasoned so you don’t have to re-season it again before using.
Speaking of pre-seasoned, you will notice a small chip in the finish of the oven; don’t worry that is just as a result of the seasoning of the pot in production. As a matter of fact, the chip will slowly disappear with use.
10. Calphalon Classic Nonstick Dutch Oven with Cover, 7 quart
Last but not least, we have Calphalon Classic Nonstick Oven. It is designed to save you tons of time in the kitchen without sacrificing delivery. It comes with convenient measuring marks to allow you to know the quantity of food in the pot as well as pour spouts and straining covers to allow you to bake and cook efficiently. The stainless steel long handles will always stay cool even when the pot is extremely hot.
The durable two-layer, which I PFOA-free is nonstick, lets you cook and serve your tasty meals safely and with ease. Each layer on this pot provides enhanced durability as well as ensures unrivaled nonstick performance.
You can stew, braise, broil, and most importantly bake your favorite bread using this oven. It is oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can easily go from the stovetop to the oven.
In terms of heat distribution, this unit is made from hard-anodized aluminum, which offers even heat conduction, allowing you to cook better.
Dutch Oven Features for Baking Bread
When shopping for an ideal Dutch oven for baking bread, you want to look for features that will give you maximum results in the kitchen. The features and characteristics to look for in a great Dutch oven for baking bread include:
1. Quality Control
After unboxing your new oven, make sure you give it an in-depth inspection to make sure it is in good condition. Check for the following:
- Enamel is smooth and does not have cracks or chips
- Cast iron does not have rust, cracks or ridges
- Make sure the handles are strongly attached to the oven
- The lid fits tightly and is heavy enough
- The oven can sit on a smooth surface sans warping
If the above conditions are not met, consider returning the oven back to the store for a replacement or refund.
One rule of thumb when buying cookware: the cheaper the oven the more likely it was poorly made, thus probably has some blemishes.
Some reputable brands usually inspect their products before they pack, so maybe you should consider buying from a popular brand to avoid returning.
2. Dutch Oven’s Lid
When it comes to the Dutch oven for baking bread, the lid is not supposed to allow steam to escape when cooking because the moisture and steam are what make the oven cook perfectly. One of the reasons why Dutch ovens are ideal for baking bread is that they are heavy and have a tight-fitting lid to trap in the steam and help the loaf get its “RISE”.
In baking, the “rise” is when the steam hits the sourdough and makes the bread continue to expand before it is fully cooked.
When the bread rises, the moisture cooks the loaf from inside, while the outside is airtight and encrusted.
3. Dutch Oven’s Shape
The shape and size of the oven also play an important role in ensuring desired results in your baking.
When it comes to shaping, the standard shape of common Dutch ovens is usually round, though sometimes you can find them oval-shaped with around 5 quarts.
In terms of size, the walls should be a little high to allow the bread to expand without any restrictions.
The size of the Dutch oven for bread baking allows plenty of space for the loaf to “rise” as well as enhance air circulation, giving the bread a nice-looking outer shell.
But how big should your Dutch oven be? In our opinion, when considering the size of your oven, always be guided by the future. For instance, if you intend to cook for get-togethers, holidays or you feel your family will expand, you should consider buying a larger oven.
Should you buy an oval or round oven? This depends on the shape of your stove. Most stoves have circle burners, thus a round Dutch oven for baking bread would be a natural fit. You can still buy an oval-shaped oven, but you will have uneven cooking especially if your burners are not large enough. A large oval Dutch oven will often hand over the edge of the round burner, though some stoves might feature sizeable circle burners that can accommodate even larger oval-shaped ovens.
4. Interiors
When buying a new Dutch oven for baking bread, make sure to check its interior design and color. Most ovens have black interiors while others will have lighter colors.
Dark interior tends to hive scuffs, scratches, and crazing compared to the lighter interior. It will make your oven look brand new even after some time has passed and heavy use. You may be forced to turn on the oven hood light in order to see any imperfections inside a dark interior Dutch oven.
A lighter interior oven is usually ideal because you can see inside properly. You can view the contents of your cooking vessels, allowing you to get the desired results. For instance, a lighter interior oven allows you to see when the butter is nicely browned and you can even view the color of the fond – those brown bits that create rich zest for sauces.
But the downside is that the interiors will not stay as shiny as that forever, heavy use will slowly change the color of the oven over time. Extreme temperatures can also cause cracks or lines to form, a phenomenon called crazing. However, this will not impact the performance of your Dutch oven in any manner, but the lines and cracks won’t be pleasant to look at.
5. Accessories
When we talk about accessories, we mean the looped lid handle, the oven handles, and other fittings that might have been attached to it. Remember you will be putting the oven in high temperatures and thus you need to be able to handle it when it is very hot.
6. Color
While this might seem to be less important, you want to pick a color that will look great in your kitchen along with other cookware and the design of the space. Best Dutch ovens for baking bread are designed to last long, and thus they will be a part of your kitchen for the unforeseeable future.
Luckily, these cooking pots are made in a variety of colors and you are likely to find the color that you like.
7. Warranty
An oven is a long-term investment and should come with a lifetime warranty. A warranty on cookware shows that the company has confidence in the product and is ready to stand behind it. Dutch ovens for baking bread are designed to be generational items. If it is made from the right material and you take care of it properly, it can be shared for generations to come.
What Is the Best Dutch Oven for Baking Bread?
This depends on your needs and how you plan to use the Dutch oven. Most ovens on the market are designed for multiple cooking techniques, such as sautéing, frying, broiling, and searing in addition to baking. If you want the best Dutch oven for bread baking, you can choose from the 10 we have reviewed in this article. Any one of them will do.
What size Dutch oven is best for baking bread?
The ideal size Dutch oven for baking bread has to be between sizes 5 quarts and 7.5 quarts, which is big enough to accommodate the standard bread recipe. This size range provides plenty of space for your loaf of bread to rise, form, and crust. Read full details about what size Dutch oven is best for baking bread.
What size Dutch oven works best for bread?
Once again, this depends on the size of bread you want to bake. Most loaves of bread will bake properly in a 5-quart Dutch oven without any hassle.
What is the best kind of Dutch oven for bread?
You should consider heavy, thick- or multi-layered Dutch ovens because they are great for heat conduction, distribution, and retention, which is important for getting uniform browning on your bread.
Which is the best Dutch cast-iron oven to buy for bread?
As with any bread-making using a Dutch oven, the best Dutch oven for your bread depends on the type of bread you want to make and your overall needs. Nevertheless, you want an oven that is large enough, thick-walled, nonstick, and durable.
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