Best Dutch Ovens for Bread Baking | Challenger Bread Pan, Lodge, Le Creuset, Bread Cloche

Today I'm sharing with you the best dutch ovens for bread baking. I'm comparing the Challenger Bread Pan, Lodge Dutch Ovens, Le Creuset, and Emile Henry Bread Cloche.

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Timestamps:
0:00- Best Dutch Ovens for Bread Baking
2:22- Challenger Bread Pan Review
5:44- Comparing Cast Iron vs Enamel Dutch Ovens
6:18- Cast Iron Lodge Dutch Oven Review
7:20- Enamel Lodge Dutch Oven Review
10:16- Le Creuset Covered Casserole Dish for Bread
11:28- Emile Henry Bread Cloche Review
13:29- Wrap Up
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[charlescresap]

Use a $1.25 stainless steel dog water bowl from the Dollar Tree with a second bowl for a cover ($2.50) They make a 1 pound loaf (1 cup water, 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup start, 1/4 tsp salt). I make 2 or 4 loaves at time. I used these to teach sourdough bread at a local university. The class got 4 bowls with the class.

[the_bread_code]

Great video! I personally prefer ones without the knob. That way you can bake upside down which makes loading the loaf a little easier. Just place the lid on top of the banneton and then flip over both. It's very gentle, you won't degas your dough. Then place the large part on top of the lid, spritz a little bit of water inside and you have a worldclass dough sauna.

[SanFrancisco]

Great videos. I like how she gets right to the point instead of chatting up. Great instructions. Thank you!

[johndonahue]

Lodge make the combo 'cabin' cooker for anout $49. it's 3.5 quarts and is a deep 'chicken fryer' skillet with a shallow skillet lid. Together they make a small Challenger style setup. But both pieces can be used in the traditional way separately too. The Chain Baker on YouTube uses this. I got a 5 quart Lodge Double Dutch oven that is made for bread baking as well as other dutch oven styles of cooking. It has no top handle such that lid can be on the bottom in the oven. This allows the deep dutch oven part to be placed on top like a dome in the Challenger pan configuration. So then it is essentially an 'upside down' dutch oven and is easi to load the dough and when the 'dome' is removed for final final browning, the bread is exposed more completely to the heat rather than be down deep in a deep pan; which is less than ideal. Very high quality with tight fitting 'lid'. It was $52. on Wayfair.

[kirkbarley]

Wow, this is the most compact, information packed video on baking I’ve experienced. Well done. Thanks for the overview. Truly impressed.

[charles_the_elder]

I like the principle of the Challenger Bread Pan and the Emile Henry Bread Cloche, but something to also consider is storage. Both items are uni-taskers, only used for one purpose, and when not being used for that purpose just take up space. I use an enamel cast iron Dutch oven from Le Creuset for all of my bread because I can also use the same pot for other cooking such as soups and stews. I have a small kitchen, space is precious.

[kimberlywilkes]

New here. New to sourdough making. I cannot thank you enough for your videos. Truly appreciate your teaching method and additional instructions, tips, and trips.

[BakerBettie]

Something to note about enamel dutch ovens: Some of them have knobs on top that cannot be heated past 450 F (230 C). And you will need to purchase a new steel knob that can be heated higher if you want to heat up to 500 F (260 C). The Lodge Enamel dutch ovens do however have the right knob and can be heated to 500 F (260 C). I also forgot to mention that the Challenger also needs the same kind of care that the Lodge Cast Iron pan does. Any cast iron pan will need this kind of care. However, with both, I rarely even rinse them out. I just dust out the flour. About every 5-6 bakes, I do rinse them out and then put them on a burner on the stove until they are dried out and give a quick coat of oil.

[DebberaThompson]

I’ve been making bread for about a year and everybody say my bread is terrible. Glad I found your show hope you can help me improve.

[LBurou]

Excellent information...And, its not offered anywhere else that we've seen. Well done & THANK YOU!

[mofo]

This EXACT kind of video is what i've been looking for. Liked and subscribed.

[nancypoidomani]

I have always used my camp lodge dutch oven and I line ii with parchment paper, perfect bread every time.

[gregercarter]

Just bought the Challenger, still on sale 225.00, thank you Bettie!

[darkpill]

Excellent video. Straight to the point without any fluff.

[HollyM]

New to your channel and bread making! I appreciate your teaching style and love all of your dishes in the background!

[Rollwithit]

Love your style and your lovely vintage dishes and mixer behind you. Most everything I see there are things I grew up with in my dear mother's kitchen. Thanks for the excellent advice.

[maverickmike]

Bettie, really liked your video - you are so honest about the opinion you give - very helpful - Thank you so very much lady!!!

[myboibill]

I am really happy to find your channel.just filled with clear concise information . I will look up all your episodes. Thanks.

[jessiebeltran]

Thank you for the detailed product reviews. I loved your vintage ending! 📺

[callalily]

Oh no... I did actually find this video very exciting! I'm baking some bread right this minute on an aluminum sheet pan and some parchment. Low tech tonight but it was lovely to look at all these pots. In the meantime, good homemade fresh bread is a wonderful thing (as I watch a thousand bread pot videos).