Anyone Ever Make Bread in a Dutch Oven?

[Remy]

I found several videos on this. Looks easy enough. I don't use my oven in the summer. But perhaps someday I'd try this. I do however, not have a dutch oven. Would it be worth a purchase, I don't know. One short video:

 

[jujube]

My dad was a Boy Scout leader and he'd bake a chocolate cake in an old Dutch oven on their camping trips.

He'd dig a hole, line it with hot coals, set the Dutch oven down in there, load hot coals on the lid and then cover it lightly with a layer of dirt.

He'd leave it for about an hour, dig it up and spoon out the cake. I can't say you'd want it for your wedding cake, but it sure made a bunch of boys happy.

 

[Twostep]

I found several videos on this. Looks easy enough. I don't use my oven in the summer. But perhaps someday I'd try this. I do however, not have a dutch oven. Would it be worth a purchase, I don't know. One short video:

Remy - this is good old' no knead bread and the dutch oven goes in the oven. You can make it on a cookie sheet as well.

 

[againstthegrain]

Yes it's worth it; it's not the same as baking it on a pan. The DO creates the right conditions inside for the bread to rise in a humid atmosphere, before removing the lid for the final stage to allow the crust to form. Just get a cheap lodge cast iron, there is no need for the fancy stuff especially for bread.

My wife's recent work.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I would look at other options before spending money on something that I haven’t needed unless I got a a great deal on a thrifted or hand me down Dutch oven.

Do a search on crock pot bread, stove top baking etc…

Good luck!

 

[Lilac]

We make bread in a dutch oven & it comes out great. The recipe came from Grit Magazine years ago. It takes 12 hours to rise after it's kneaded, but it's worth the effort. We make it the day before & bake it the day we want it.

The crust is so good & @againstthegrain is right about the cooking conditions the cast iron creates for this type of bread. It reminds me of the crusty bread we had in Germany. Since we don't have a steam injected oven, this is the next best way.

 

[Twostep]

I would look at other options before spending money on something that I haven’t needed unless I got a a great deal on a thrifted or hand me down Dutch oven.

Do a search on crock pot bread, stove top baking etc…

Good luck!

Unless you have strength issues dealing with a full cast iron pot/lid at 500F it is an easy bread and can be modified from a to z. I ruined a lever user with it and bought Lodge. A sturdy covered casserole dish rated for the baking temperature is a good start. OP may want to check with Radish Rose. I think she mentioned it.

 

[Remy]

Thank you for the replies.

@againstthegrain I really like my two lodge fry pans, (cheap at Walmart) a traditional one and the one without sides, I use more often. Especially for pancakes.

@jujube Thank you for the story about your dad. I'll bet the kids enjoyed that.

Cowboy Kent Rollins' YouTube channel has all the information one might need when it comes to cast iron. I should see if he has a bread video.

 

[jujube]

I use my grandma's Griswold Dutch oven that she got in 1921. I treasure it both because it's a memory of the wonderful meals she made for us and because it's a darn good piece of cookware.

Vintage Griswold pieces sell from the 100's up to the 1000's of dollars to collectors. I don't think mine is a very rare one but I know it's very collectible....and usable.

I wouldn't part with it.