Bake Perfect Bread with the Bread Oven
Take your home baking to the next level with our speciality Bread Oven - the ultimate tool to achieve delicious and beautiful bread right in your own kitchen. This purpose-built cast iron shape easily delivers bakery-quality results and accommodates a wide range of recipes, including the ever-popular sourdough.
Read on for expert advice on maximising its potential, making your home baking a masterpiece to share and savour.
What are the benefits of using a Bread Oven?
The Bread Oven is crafted from enamelled cast iron just like our legendary casseroles, but has been specially optimised to help you bake bread like the professionals.
Cast iron construction
The exceptional heat distribution and retention properties of cast iron create the ideal conditions for bread baking. The Bread Oven is oven-safe up to 260°C.
Low profile base
This design cue allows dough to be placed into and easily removed from the Bread Oven, while interior edges raise the dough slightly to promote even browning.
Domed lid
The lid traps and circulates steam and heat inside the pot which creates the perfect environment for a crispy crust to form, and maximum rise and spring.
Matte black interior enamel
The interior enamel allows a richer crust colour, easy cleaning and less sticking. It also won’t show oil stains or marks that are a natural result of baking.
Step-by-step with the Bread Oven
Whether you prefer a sweet or savoury loaf, the possibilities are endless with our easy-to-use Bread Oven.
In just a few steps, you can have a freshly baked, homemade bread on the table.
Prepare your dough: allow to proof and rise (times will vary per recipe).
Brush the base and sides of the Bread Oven with butter, if specified by the recipe.
Place the dough into the base and bake in a pre-heated oven.
Once baked, remove from the Bread Oven to reveal a loaf with our three-ring hallmark.
Bake bread, colourfully
Whether you prefer a bold pop of colour or a timeless neutral, find the perfect match for your kitchen aesthetic.
Find your next bread baking project
From brioche to focaccia, discover some of our best bread recipes to try in your cast iron Bread Oven.
Bake your best
Shop a selection of our best bread-baking tools and accessories.
Mastering the Bread Oven: Answering your questions
#1. Should you preheat the Bread Oven?
You can preheat the Bread Oven at the same time as the oven, as this helps with the lift and rise. The dough is placed in the hot Bread Oven, ensuring maximum rise on certain breads, especially those that use natural yeasts (like sourdough, for example).
#2. Do you need to grease the Bread Oven?
Greasing the Bread Oven does make it easier to remove the finished bread from the casserole. However, the black enamel of the Bread Oven does develop a natural patina (brownish film produced from oils released from foods) over time, which also assists with food release.
#3. How to prevent the bottom of the bread from burning?
Our best tip here is to avoid using too high of a temperature for the entire time of baking. Start with a high temperature, then lower the temperature once the bread is set. The Bread Oven should also be uncovered at this point.
#4. Do you need to use parchment paper?
Parchment is not necessary when baking with the Bread Oven. The low sides of the base make it easy to transfer the dough to/from the casserole, and the rings on the base help to elevate the bread slightly, so there is some air flow and circulation which helps to prevent burning.
#5. What are some guidelines for timings and temperatures?
Timing is highly dependent on the recipe for making bread. But a good rule of thumb is as follows:
- Start covered at approx. 230-260°C for about 30 minutes
- Remove lid, reduce heat to 180-190°C until bread is golden brown all over and reaches an internal temperature of at least approx. 90°C.
More to explore
Be inspired by more of our helpful guides and articles – from getting the best out of your cast iron cookware, to expert tips on ensuring its longevity, and much more.
