Why A Dutch Oven Is Key To Baking Delicious Bread At Home

For any task worth accomplishing, you need the right tools for the job. This principle applies to practically everything, from building a rocket to baking bread. As far as homemade bread goes, a bread machine will do the trick if you avoid specific mistakes. However, there is perhaps an even better tool for baking a flawless fresh loaf at home.

Nicole Bean owns and operates two pizzeria locations with her family in Houston called Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana. As a pizza and bread making expert, she has gained extensive knowledge about the kitchen contraptions you should use when baking your own bread. A Dutch oven is one instrument she has a particular affinity for, saying, "It can do amazing things for bread both internally and externally!"

Just like a meat thermometer should be your go-to frying tool, a Dutch oven is quite possibly the ideal vessel for bread-making. "Dutch ovens are fantastic to add to your repertoire," said Bean. "You're basically trapping in the heat and moisture of the dough!" To many7, the perfect loaf should be soft and chewy on the inside with a crackly crust composing the outside. By simultaneously trapping heat and moisture together, the dough gets a chance to rise at the appropriate rate while retaining enough moisture on the inside to form an impeccable texture.

Although a Dutch oven can be just as useful in your bread-making toolbox as bread flour, it doesn't come without its caveats. Some use ice cubes when baking a loaf to achieve a crispy crust, for instance. While you can certainly utilize this technique in a Dutch oven, do so with caution. According to Bean, "You can also add ice cubes into the Dutch oven but be careful not to add too many; again you're trapping these into the oven so if there are too many it can result in wet, unbaked bread."

Considering their bulky construction and the fact that they will be handled while hot, caution is warranted when removing Dutch ovens from the heat. "The biggest drawback of them is size and weight," Bean noted. "Often they are quite large and heavy so do not underestimate that when putting your bread into and taking them out of the oven." 

Well-insulated oven mitts should always be worn when dealing with a hot Dutch oven in order to avoid disasters. Ultimately, a Dutch oven needs to be maneuvered attentively and deliberately as it works its magic