Bread in a cast-iron pot

Baking bread in a cast-iron pot is the easiest way to get a crisp, glossy, bakery-style crust. The closed pot traps the steam from the dough and stores the heat, so you do not need to add steam to the oven. Here you will find cast-iron pots for bread, the matching silicone bread sling and a steam set.

Cast-iron pots and accessories

• Round, Ø 26 cm: the cast-iron pot set for bread, the enamelled cast-iron pot set and the cast-iron bread pot set with 2-in-1 lid.
• Rectangular: cast-iron pot sets for bread in 28 x 12 cm and 28 x 20 cm – for long loaves and tin-style bread.
• Silicone bread sling: round or oval. It lets you lower the dough safely into the hot pot.
• Steam set: for loaves you bake without a pot, on a tray or a baking stone.

How to bake bread in a cast-iron pot

Preheat the pot: put the pot and lid into the oven from the start so they are hot right through when the dough goes in.

Use the sling: turn the dough out of the proving basket onto the sling, score it with a bread lame and lower it into the pot by the handles. You will not burn your fingers and the loaf keeps its shape. The round sling suits round loaves, the oval one longer loaves.

Lid on, then lid off: bake with the lid on first so the dough can rise in its own steam. Take the lid off for the last part of the bake and the crust browns nicely. A loaf made with sourdough gains a lot of flavour this way – try our country bread with a wheat-ear pattern.

Frequently asked questions

What size pot do I need?

The round Ø 26 cm pot is the all-rounder for round loaves. The rectangular 28 x 12 cm and 28 x 20 cm formats are for longer loaves. Choose the amount of dough so the loaf still has room to rise in the pot.

Is an enamelled pot better?

Enamelled cast iron is easy to care for and clean. For cast iron without enamel, follow the care instructions so the pot stays in good condition.

Can I bake without a pot?

Yes, with a well-preheated stone from Pizza & baking stone and the steam set. More equipment is in the Bread category.