Cooking Bread In A Dutch Oven

Dutch-Oven Bread

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + rising Bake: 45 min. + cooling

Makes

1 loaf (16 pieces)

Crackling homemade Dutch-oven bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager

Ingredients

3 to 3-1/2 cups (125 grams per cup) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups water (70° to 75°)

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups flour, yeast and salt. Stir in water and enough remaining flour to form a moist, shaggy dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise in a cool place until doubled, 7-8 hours.
Preheat oven to 450°; place a Dutch oven with lid onto center rack and heat for at least 30 minutes. Once Dutch oven is heated, turn dough onto a generously floured surface. Using a metal scraper or spatula, quickly shape into a round loaf. Gently place on top of a piece of parchment.
Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf. Using the parchment, immediately lower bread into heated Dutch oven. Cover; bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bread is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, 15-20 minutes longer, partially covering if browning too much. Remove loaf from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

Dutch-Oven Bread Tips

Why do you cook bread in a Dutch oven?

Dutch ovens are good conductors of heat, making them an excellent vessel for baking bread. They yield crusty, golden loaves with soft interiors. Besides, baking bread is a great way to expand the versatility of your cookware, as are these delicious Dutch-oven recipes.

What can I use if I don't have a Dutch oven for bread?

Use a traditional cast-iron skillet or a sheet pan instead. (If you're in the market for new baking gear, these are the best sheet pans, according to our Test Kitchen).

How should I store my Dutch-oven bread?

Bread should stay fresh 3-5 days in an airtight container on your counter. You can also freeze bread—but consider slicing it beforehand for easy toasting. Learn more in our ultimate bread guide.

Research contributed by Rashanda Cobbins, Taste of Home Food Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 86 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 148mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.