What Size Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread? (Chart Added)
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If you want to bake the yummy sourdough bread, you just need a dutch oven.
But choosing the right size Dutch oven is the key to making your baking easy & perfect.
So, you must want to know what size dutch oven is for sourdough bread.
Don’t worry; we will give a detailed size chart to choose the right dutch oven based on your needs.
What Size Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread?
For Sourdough Bread, the ideal size dutch oven is 5 quarts. It allows plenty of room for the dough to expand. For those who bake on a regular basis, this is the best size to buy.
To improve your baking result, a perfect size dutch oven matters. So, look at the below chart to get an idea about Dutch oven sizes.
| Oven Size | Family Size | Recommended Product |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Quart | Extra Small Family | Enameled Cast Iron 4 Quart Dutch Oven Pre-Seasoned Pot |
| 5 Quart | Small Family | Crock Pot Artisan 5 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven |
| 6 Quart | Medium Family | Lodge Enameled 6 Quart Dutch Oven |
| 7 Quart | Large Family | Calphalon Classic Nonstick 7 Quart Dutch Oven with Cover |
| 8 Quart | Extra Large Family | Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Oval Dutch Oven |
Well, you can choose a dutch oven from 4-8 quarts based on your family’s needs.
For example, you have 4 members in your family, so you need a medium size sourdough, right? You should pick a medium size oven.
The rule is very simple you should choose 4 times larger dutch oven than the ball of bread dough you want to make.
The bread dough requires adequate room to rise, form & crust to make the sourdough perfect.
Do You Need A Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread?
It is not a must-have appliance. You can make sourdough without a dutch oven. But you can improve your sourdough taste by baking it in a dutch oven.
Benefits of using a Dutch oven for Sourdough
When you are baking sourdough, you need to mix natural yeast instead of a commercial type of yeast.
If you don’t use a dutch oven, then the yeast won’t be fruitful enough to rise the dough.
Baking sourdough perfectly must require following some tricks. Using a dutch oven is one of the secret tricks to make your recipe effective & tasty.
When you choose a dutch oven to bake sourdough, you will get the below benefits.
- The dough will rise appropriately.
- It produces a thin & crispy crust on the bread.
- It provides an excellent crump & texture in the interior.
How to bake sourdough with a dutch oven
Yet a dutch oven is a fantastic choice to bake sourdough, you should follow some strategies to make it crispy & crump.
A dutch oven is the easiest way to achieve professional baking results for sourdough. So, let’s learn how to bake sourdough with a dutch oven.
>> What size dutch oven to use for camping?
1. Preheat Dutch oven
When you already made the ball of dough the next step is to heat the oven.
You need to heat the oven for 30 minutes before putting the loaf. It is better to keep the temperature at 0°F initially. Then you can reduce the temperature gradually.
2. Apply Proofing Basket
Well, if you don’t want to give the exact oven shape to your sourdough then you can use a proofing basket. As sourdough is very soft shaping is a bit tricky.
A proofing basket is cheaper & helps to give a beautiful shape to your sourdough.
3. Load the loaf of bread
The easy way to load the loaf into the oven is using parchment paper.
You can take two pieces of parchment paper & place them in a cross pattern in the pot where you make the loaf.
Now reverse the pot to switch your loaf on the parchment paper.
Now catch the bottom of the parchment paper to place it inside the Dutch oven. Stay careful on this step so that the dough won’t deflate.
Don’t worry if the parchment paper is come out of the oven. The lid is strong enough to lock the oven even if the parchment paper is hanging outside.
4. Score sourdough bread
Scoring in sourdough bread is essential to prevent unwanted bursts.
It is better to do scoring after loading the loaf. You can follow the below tricks for scoring bread.
- You can score sourdough after putting the loaf in the oven. It is an easy way of scoring. You can use a blade with a handle to score your bread. It will protect your hand from high heat. So there is less chance of burning.
- You can also score the loaf when you switch it on parchment paper.
5. Avoid bread bottom burning
Well, parchment paper not only makes it easy to load the dough inside the oven but also prevents burning issues.
It protects the dough from sticking to the pot & getting burnt gradually.
You can also apply cornmeal or semolina on the bottom of your loaf to create an extra protection layer between the oven & dough.
This layer will help to avoid bottom burning & ensure minimal airflow for baking nicely.
When you are preparing the loaf in the proofing basket you can apply semolina flour on top of it.
Or you can apply it on the parchment paper before you switch the loaf on the paper.
6. Baking Time
You need to preheat your oven initially for 30 minutes.
Then remove the dutch oven from the burner or microwave to load the loaf inside the oven.
Then place the lid to seal the oven & return it to the stove or microwave.
Now keep the temperature between 220°-430°F for baking the sourdough. You should bake it for up to 20-25 minutes.
7. Take out the Sourdough bread
Now it is time to take out the oven from the gas stove after 25 minutes.
But unfortunately, it is not possible to check your loaf condition during baking in a dutch oven. So, it is your experience that will help you to fix the exact baking time.
Now remove the lid & hold the parchment paper to take out the bread from the dutch oven.
Remove the parchment paper & place the bread inside the oven again. Now put the lid & keep it on the stove for 20-25 minutes at 220°-430°F.
Well, removing the parchment paper is important to give the bread bottom an excellent crust & color. You can skip it if you find it hard & time-consuming.
Finally when you are done with baking doesn’t forget to keep the bread rest for cooling perfectly.
So, when you finally remove the pot from the oven keep it rest for 2-3 hours before removing it from the pot.
How To Choose The Best Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread?
In the market, different types & brands of Dutch ovens are available. So it is tough to choose the best oven to make sourdough.
You need to consider the below factors to choose the right Dutch oven for sourdough.
- For baking sourdough, you can choose both indoor and outdoor Dutch ovens. But makes sure you choose a flat bottom style with a tightly sealed lid. It helps to distribute heat evenly to raise your dough perfectly & form an ideal shape.
- To make a perfect sourdough, the size of the Dutch oven is also essential. You need to choose 4-7 quarts Dutch oven to bake sourdough. The oven needs to be deep enough to avoid an overflow of dough. You need to pick a 4x larger oven than the dough ball.
- Choose a shape that you want to give in your sourdough. For example, if you want to make an oval shape sourdough, then choose an oval shape oven.
- Don’t forget to check whether your favorite Dutch oven offers a tightly sealed lid. The lid is important to lock steam inside to promote oven spring. That is essential to make an outstanding sourdough.
Best dutch oven for sourdough bread
Well, if you have a hectic schedule & don’t have enough time to research to buy the best dutch oven for sourdough, have a look at the below list.
We are going to share an informative review on the top 4 best dutch ovens for sourdough.
1. Enameled Cast Iron Dutch oven – 4 quart capacity
- ★Lock in Deliciousness & Nutrition: The shower design on the inside of the lid can promote the circulation of water vapor in the dutch oven, lock the moisture, and maintain the flavor of the food. The black microporous enamel inner wall absorbs oil making food healthier.
- ★ High Thermal Conductivity: It has good thermal conductivity and saves time during cooking than ordinary dutch oven pots. Thanks to this, the enameled cast iron pot is good at keeping warm, and you can eat steaming meals even in the cold winter.
- ★Healthy Material: The safe enamel coating is non-stick, anti-rust and anti-corrosion, resists the growth of rust, and does not react with food. Suitable for cooking and storing food, and easy to clean.
- ★Simple & Pleasant Cooking: The cherry red color with elegant design makes the cooking more enjoyable, bright colors decorate your kitchen or dining table. It’s perfect for braising, stewing, boiling, even a novice in the kitchen can cook delicious food with it.
- ★Multiple Applicable Occasions: 4 Quart pots suitable for 4-6 persons which is the perfect vessel to cook foods and desserts. whether you are single or you are preparing for a party, our enamel pot can be part of your life.
This oven provides an excellent design, finishing & silicone handles. That makes it handy & stylish. It is a pre-seasoned oven, so there is no risk of getting rust.
Besides, it is enamel-coated that’s why it is the best dutch oven for sourdough bread.
The tight & exclusive lid enhances sourdough taste & flavor by locking the moisture inside.
The black enamel absorbs extra oil to make food healthier. It also reduces your cooking time. This oven is ideal for a family who has 4-6 people.
Pros:
- Safe enamel coating to protect from rust & corrosion
- The lid can lock moisture inside
- High thermal conductivity makes cooking easy
- Enough space to ride sourdough
Cons:
- Cleaning the pot is a bit tricky.
2. Crock Pot Artisan- 5-quart capacity
- Crock Pot Artisan Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 5-Quart, Slate Grey w/Lid
- Hand wash recommended
- Perfect for slow-cooking, simmering, braising, baking and more
- Durable cast iron construction retains and distributes heat evenly
- Porcelain enamel finish is easy to clean and naturally nonstick
- Vibrant finish adds a pop of color to any kitchen or dining room
- Self-basting lid ensures effective steam retention
- Wide handles allow easy transport
- Suitable for use gas, electric, ceramic, and induction stovetops
- Oven safe up to 500°F
It is a round shape dutch oven that is manufactured with enameled cast iron. It is specially designed for baking. It is deeper than another oven to make the perfect sourdough bread.
Durable cast iron ensure long durability & also distributes heat evenly. The enameled coating protects from rust & corrosion.
The vibrant finishing enhances your kitchen’s beauty. It also provides a tight lid to ensure proper steam retention to make your bread perfect.
Pros:
- Highly durable
- Easy to clean
- Evenly distribute heat so ideal for baking
- Well fitted lid
- Rustproof
Cons:
- Bit heavier
3. Lodge Dutch oven- 6 quart capacity
- 6-Quart Dutch oven made of cast iron with chip-resistant porcelain-enamel finish
- Broil, braise, bake or roast in the oven up to 500 Degree F
- Cast-iron loop side handles for a safe, secure grip when transporting
- Smooth glass surface won’t react to ingredients; hand wash only
- Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven measures: 10-3/4″ diameter 4-1/2″ deep
- Item Shape: Round
Lodge Dutch oven must grab your eye at first glance. The exclusive design & smooth chip-resistant porcelain enamel finishing enhances its beauty.
It also offers multiple color options to meet your kitchen needs. It is manufactured with durable cast iron.
That ensures even heat distribution which is essential to making a perfect sourdough.
It also provides a tight lid that enhances your sourdough taste & flavor. You will also get convenient handles to safely carry it.
Pros:
- Round shape oven with large room
- Tight lid
- Convenient handle & rust resistance
- Even heat distribution
- Smooth finishing
Cons:
- Bit heavier
4. Calphalon Dutch oven- 7quart capacity
- Dual-layer nonstick for easy food release and quick cleanup
- Convenient measuring marks, pour spouts & straining lids 3
- Durable hard-anodized aluminum construction
- Tempered glass lid
- Oven safe up to 450F
Calphalon dutch oven offers an amazing price with some outstanding features. It will be a money-worthy purchase. Despite its large capacity, it also maintains quality.
It provides dual-layer nonstick coasting to ensure easy cleaning. You will get a lid with handles to make it easy to remove from the pot.
It is an oven-safe pot that can tolerate up to 450F. You will also get convenient handles to carry it. The oven is enough deeper to make a perfect sourdough.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Large capacity
- Oven safe
- Well fitted lid
- Easy to clean
- Durable
What Is The Best Dutch Oven For Baking Sourdough?
The Crock Pot Artisan 5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven is the best dutch oven for sourdough baking because it heats evenly and maintains temperature fluctuations well.
What to do if I don’t have a Dutch oven?
If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can use a clay pot or any casserole dish or pot for baking sourdough. But the pot must need to be oven safe, deeper & roomy enough.
Besides, it is essential to ensure a lid that sealed the pots perfectly to avoid steam leakage. The best alternative for a dutch oven is given below:
- A soup pot or stockpot
- Crockpot or cooker
- Electric tabletop fryer
FAQs
Does Size Of Dutch Oven Matter For Sourdough?
Yes. The size of the dutch oven for baking is very important to get the sourdough bread crumb just right.
Is A 3 Qt Dutch Oven Big Enough For Bread?
No. The 3 Qt Dutch oven is too small for baking sourdough bread.
Is My Dutch Oven Too Big For Bread?
If you put your dough in the oven and it’s about 1/2 inch below the lip of the Dutch oven, then it is probably too big for baking bread.
How Long Does It Take To Bake Sourdough Bread In A Dutch Oven?
Depends on the size of the dutch oven and the dough weight, but it’ll take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Can I Use Aluminum Dutch Oven For Sourdough Bread?
Yes, of course. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and can be used to bake sourdough bread.
Would The Size Of The Dutch Oven Be Different If It Is Cast Iron Or Metal?
Yes, of course. The size of your dutch oven depends on the outer material you are using for baking sourdough bread.
Does The Lid Of Dutch Oven Need A Hole For Sourdough Bread Baking?
Yes, it does need a hole in its lid to release some steam when baking bread in it. If there’s no hole in the lid, then it’ll be hard to get the good crumb.
Final words
Now you know what size dutch oven you need for sourdough bread. We try to give a detailed size chart according to your needs.
We hope it helps you to make your sourdough perfect, tasty & healthy. You can choose the dutch oven from the above list.
We only include the best quality dutch oven that is especially ideal for baking sourdough.
If you already failed to make a bulge sourdough with perfect texture, give this dutch oven a chance.
You will be glad to know that a newbie can make sourdough like a master chef with this convenient Dutch oven. Happy baking!
