@Gina 😆 I had the same experience. What kind of a recipe are you trying?

@Gina Ah! Is this for the "no knead bread"? I have been thinking about this for some time, but this pan held me back. I wonder if it can be done in a regular pan. I have the Sigg pans you could safe stamps for at AH, about 20 years ago. Brilliant pans, but no Dutch oven pan...

@Gina But gluten-free bread baking doesn't save much versus buying.

@Gina #FunFact, while the casting process of the #DutchOven was inspired by the #Dutch process of casting #brass into sand molds rather than loam & clay for a finer finish on the brassware, it was actually the #English #AbrahamDarby who developed and patented (in 1707) the 'Dutch oven' by replacing the brass with #castIron to cut costs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven#Early_European_history

So, 'Dutch' is merely a nod to the type of sand molds traditionally used.

Also, if you don't want to use one:
https://www.lifeasastrawberry.com/crusty-bread-without-dutch-oven/

@Gina I do think that you can get a #braadpan for quite a bit cheaper if you check out the various charity shops.

Same with other #castIron skillets and pans. Though they likely need quite some cleaning and re-seasoning to get back to a working order.

(Though you might have to wait a bit till this #breadBaking craze has calmed down again, for them go drop in popularity and thus price again)

@Gina You don't *need* to use that, though...

@Gina If you're going to get Le Creuset, at least get Star Wars(TM) Le Creuset. https://www.lecreuset.com/star-wars-collection-darth-vader-round-dutch-oven

@Gina We use something like this:

https://img0.etsystatic.com/164/0/12680655/il_570xN.1106006446_b75i.jpg

Fully ceramic and cheap. The dough is lowered into the hot dish using parchment/vegatable paper which we just cut to this shape with scissors.

https://chickadeesolutions-woo-6drz229racfsh09p7h.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/61vpCJ7MbcL-1024x676.jpg

Easy in - easy out.

@Gina This is just a substitution for steaming your oven. You don't necessarily need it.

@Gina We have that same Dutch Oven. Le Creuset make absolutely the best ovens. 10/10 would recommend.

@Gina We've been using our slow cooker for sourdough, cooking it with the method in this recipe: https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2019/01/11/slow-cooker-bread-recipe/ The bread spreads wider and flatter than with a Le Creuset pan in a regular oven, but we care little for shape and our solar panels power the slow cooker for free, so we're hooked!

(I'm not sure how UK-centric the term "slow cooker" is 🤔)

@Gina I've always enjoyed Lodge products in the US. They have reasonable prices and good quality. Not sure on shipping for you. https://www.lodgemfg.com/shop?Material=Seasoned%20Cast%20Iron&Type=Dutch%20Ovens

@Gina one of the best purchases ever: I can cook almost anything in it, and being Italian that means a lot. Plus, it’s not so expensive if you think how long it will last compared to those other cheap-o pans...