Easy Le Creuset bread recipe I love! (2024)

FAQs

Can I bake bread in my Le Creuset? ›

You can either use a round or oval Le Creuset Dutch oven. Since the dough is very wet and loose, it will take on the shape and size of the pot as it bakes. So an oval pot will result in more of a traditional oval shaped loaf, while a round Dutch oven will produce a round boule shaped loaf.

Le Creuset enameled cast iron is also exceptional at heat distribution and retention to keep the temperature inside the pot more constant than a regular oven, which also helps the baking process. Most no knead bread recipes call for preheating the Dutch oven while the oven heats up.

No, no oil is necessary to bake bread in a Dutch oven.

Look for a 6- to 7-quart, round Dutch oven. Anything much bigger will cause the bread to spread out and go flat. The 6- and 7-quart size yields the perfect round shape, with plenty of springy height. We prefer the round shape to accommodate a round boule, but oval will work.

Dutch oven bread recipes often call for a 5.5-quart pot, which makes these Dutch ovens more desirable for baking, which inspires more recipes — and the delicious cycle continues. All that to say, if you don't have a Dutch oven yet, a 5.5-quart Dutch oven will set you up for decades of baking.

Do not plunge a hot pan into cold water. While Le Creuset's enamel is designed to be the most durable on the market, thermal shock may still occur, resulting in cracking or loss of enamel.

because I put a baking sheet underneath the, um, Dutch oven. So pro tip, you don't need to buy any other fancy stuff. Just put a baking sheet on the rack underneath, and. you don't have a burn.

The high heat inside the Dutch oven brings the water inside the dough to evaporate. Because you have the lid on top, the steam is trapped inside and creates a hot and steamy environment. This helps your bread to stay moist and flexible so it can rise and expand easily.

All Le Creuset stoneware is oven-safe, which means that even the platter lid can go into the oven. This makes this dish set even more versatile and useful for baking. You can bake a casserole in the baking dish and use the platter as a lid while it bakes.

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.

Should I use parchment paper when baking bread in a Dutch oven? ›

If the bottom of your Dutch oven isn't enamel-coated, it's best to use the parchment paper. Mine is enamel-coated, but I find it easier to keep the round shape of the dough if I just place it in the Dutch oven with the parchment paper. Whatever works fer ya!

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.

Haven't had one single loaf of bread stick to the pot. If you might want a larger pot for other cooking, you might prefer the 7 quart, otherwise, as others have said, 5 quart should do. It's a heavy pot, so a 7 might be more awkward to remove from oven.

Why is my bread dense: Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add 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.

Most people don't have one of those, but enameled cast-iron pots are readily available—and they trap all of the internal moisture in the dough and that creates the steam you need to get a crisp and shiny crust. It really is fantastic and it works perfectly with our stored doughs from the book.

Le Creuset bakeware is crafted from premium stoneware clay which ensures excellent heat distribution. This results in uniform browning and even cooking with no hot spots, so that every dish is always cooked to perfection.

This is my method of choice. Simply preheat your cast iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven before you add your sourdough. Place your bread, either on a baking stone or cookie sheet on the middle rack, and then pour boiling water into the skillet.

A: This is what the Le Creuset Care and Use manual says for Oven Use: "For our SIGNATURE range of enameled cast iron, with black phenolic lid knobs, the maximum oven use temperature is 480 degrees. Products with integral cast iron handles or stainless steel knobs can be used at any oven temperature.