10/21/2026
Why are dutch ovens so popular for bread baking? Often times when a friend of ours wants to bake bread, they realize they don't own one, and they also wonder why they even need one.
Dutch ovens provide steady, enclosed heat. This creates steam around the dough, encouraging structure, lift, and a well-developed crust. It's basically the same as baking in a big oven, but on a smaller scale. A baker's cloche is an even better tool, it's basically an upside down dutch oven that doesn't require lowering a dough while avoiding touching the really hot sides of the dutch oven. But a dutch oven can be used for soups, braises, sauces, and more, while a cloche is more of a single purpose tool. So that's why a dutch oven is a worthwhile investment for bread baking and more!
By the way, we recently designed a new silicone sling, which helps lower and raise loaves into a dutch oven without burning your hands. Stay tuned for an announcement.