Dutch Oven Bread Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

FAQs

Do you bake bread covered or uncovered in a Dutch oven? ›

Cover with the lid and bake for 20 minutes, covered. After 20 minutes, remove the lid from the oven and continue baking per the recipe (typically 25 to 35 minutes)

Any tips for preventing a thick, hard crust on the bottom of my bread done in a Dutch oven? Make sure you are using a heavy gauge Dutch oven and that it isn't too close to the bottom heat element in your oven. If you are still getting a thick, hard crust, you can put a pillow of foil down, like this.

You just need a lid to cover it and the proper heat-conducting cast-iron material, and your bread will come out perfectly every time. Size & Shape: Look for a 6- to 7-quart, round Dutch oven. Anything much bigger will cause the bread to spread out and go flat.

Usually bread will be dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be sticky and shaggy, do not add any more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf.

As long as you have a lid to cover it, the bread comes out perfectly every time. I found that using a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven yields the perfect round shape. Fight the urge to grease your Dutch oven. Because of the high temperature, the fat will burn off almost immediately, giving your bread a charred taste.

You can shape your dough on a rectangular sheet of parchment paper, then use it to safely lower the dough into your Dutch oven. Once your gorgeous loaf of bread is finished cooking, the parchment paper makes removing the loaf super easy.

Place in the refrigerator for 12-15 hours. Preheat dutch oven on 500 F for 1 hour. Take dough out of fridge, dust with flour, and score. Bake the sourdough bread and allow to cool before slicing.

Preheat Dutch oven in the oven with the lid off at 500F/260C. Many bakers will continue preheating for 10-20 minutes after the oven reaches target temperature to ensure the Dutch oven is at its hottest. Lower the loaf into the Dutch oven using a sling made of parchment or silicone.

Bake – 7:00 a.m. (pre-heat oven at 6:00 a.m.) Preheat your oven with the rack at the bottom third to 450°F (230°C).

When using a Dutch Oven in the oven, however, you should check with the manufacturer to determine the maximum safe temperature for baking. Generally, most enameled Dutch Ovens should be safe to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit, but you'll want to be sure before you get started.

How do you know when Dutch oven bread is done? ›

You can bake a single batch of this bread in a 5-6 quart dutch oven. You can double this recipe and bake it in a 6 quart dutch v. Bake an additional 5 minutes covered (so 35 minutes), then 15 minutes uncovered. Bread should reach an internal temperature of at least 185 degrees Fahrenheit in the center.

Bread will conform to the shape of the pot it is baked in, especially with wet doughs like the 'no knead' variety. So with an Oval Dutch Oven, your bread will bake in a more traditional loaf shape versus a rounded boule shape that results from a Round Dutch Oven.

All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

During those first 20 minutes, your bread will rise and expand. If you would not have it inside the Dutch oven with the closed lid, a thick crust would form too soon, thereby keeping it from reaching its full potential. After the first 20 minutes, you remove the lid and continue baking for another 25 to 30 minutes.

You may need to take the lid off part way through the cooking process. However, some recipes may call for the lid to be off from the beginning, so consult your recipe. If the lid is not oven-safe, you'll need to leave it off no matter what. Tip: Most Dutch ovens come with oven-safe lids, but not all do.

For most loaves there's a simple answer: Put a lid on it. For making a steamy environment, a covered baker is hard to beat.

If you prefer a tender and moist result, covered baking will be the better option. If you're desiring a crispy exterior and bolder flavors, uncovered baking is best.