A Dutch oven comes to mind when you think about the finest technique to make sourdough bread. Dutch ovens provide the greatest constant heat and steam for a fantastic loaf of sourdough bread, everyone’s favorite Artisan bread.

So what if you don’t own a Dutch oven? Do your sourdough bread-baking ambitions have to come to an end? Nope. There are many fantastic methods to bake sourdough without a Dutch oven, whether you want to use your stovetop or get creative with a slow cooker.

Hey there! My name is Shea, and my family and I are big fans of sourdough bread. Needless to say, it’s a kitchen staple in our house. Yet, we may not always have access to a Dutch oven. Well, I’ve found several inventive methods to bake sourdough bread without a Dutch oven, and I’m here to share them with you.

Who’s up for some sourdough bread? (Don’t forget to bring your sourdough starter).

5 Ways to Bake Sourdough Without a Dutch Oven

While making sourdough bread, the objective is to get a beautiful crust and a juicy inside. Although Dutch ovens offer superior outcomes, you may still bake attractive and delectable sourdough bread without the famed Dutch oven. These are five fantastic ideas!

1. Baking Stone + Stock Pot + Oven

The first approach makes use of an oven. Since, well, practically everyone has an oven, they may surely use this straightforward way! This is how you do it.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and insert a baking stone (two are suggested). Baking stones are great at maintaining heat, which is important for baking sourdough. Put one on the top rack and one on the bottom.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to its maximum setting for an hour. I know it sounds like a long time, but it is the best method to guarantee that your sourdough receives the continuous heat it needs to thrive.

Step 3: Score the sourdough and generously sprinkle it with water. Water is required to generate steam within the oven. Toss some ice cubes into the stockpot or place an oven-safe dish of water in the bottom of your oven.

Step 4: Put the sourdough on the bottom baking stone and cover with a stock pot. Any oven-safe vessel will do, but a stock pot is best due to its size.

Step 5: After 30 minutes, take the stock pot from the oven.

Step 6: Bake for a further 15 minutes. This allows the sourdough crust to firm up nicely.

2. Steel Pot + Baking Sheet + Oven

It’s understandable that not everyone has a baking stone (although I highly recommend buying one, especially if you bake pizzas regularly). If you don’t have a baking stone, you can still bake sourdough on baking sheets. Follow these straightforward instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to its maximum setting. If you’re using a steel pot, don’t worry about waiting an hour before placing your sourdough inside. Otherwise, you would have to wait the full hour.

Step 2: Put the sourdough in the oven with a few ice cubes in the steel pot. Again, a steel stock pot is suggested purely for its size.

Step 3: Place your baking sheet on top. If your pot comes with a lid, you may use it instead. Nonetheless, I feel that the baking sheet is simpler to deal with. To generate the appropriate steam, your bread must be covered in either case.

Step 4: Bake according to package directions.

Step 5: Remove the baking sheet or cover and continue baking for another 15 minutes. This crisping step is responsible for the well-known sourdough crust!

3. Two Bread Loaf Pans + Oven

If you prepare conventional bread on a daily basis, you almost certainly have bread loaves on hand. But did you know that sourdough can be baked in a bread loaf pan? It won’t look the same, but it will make cutting into slices simpler. Who doesn’t like convenience?

Step 1: Preheat the oven to its maximum setting for an hour. However, this approach necessitates let the oven to warm for an hour before inserting the sourdough. As you wait, read a book or watch a nice program!

Step 2: Put the bread in the bread loaf pan, cover with ice cubes, and set aside. Basically, you’re making a small Dutch oven that allows for maximum steam and steady heat.

Step 3: Bake the bread according to package directions, removing the top pan 15 minutes before it’s done. This ensures that your bread develops the distinctive sourdough crust!

4. Slow Cooker

I’ll be completely honest with you today: I’m infatuated with my slow cooker (and my air fryer, but thats another story for another day). Consequently, I had to experiment with making sourdough bread in my slow cooker.

The end result?

Sourdough bread prepared in a slow cooker is not the same as sourdough bread prepared in a Dutch oven or oven. It is, nonetheless, really good and has a very crunchy crust that will fulfill all of your sourdough desires.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat the slow cooker on high for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Put the sourdough on top of the parchment paper in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Cook for roughly one hour on high.

Step 4: Put a clean dish towel or cloth below the cover and simmer for a further 90 minutes.

5. Bread Machine

If you don’t want to bother with the sourdough process, you may always use a bread machine. Bread machines make it simple to make sourdough, from the kneading and rising to the final baking.

Step 1: Load your bread maker with ingredients.

Step 2: If sourdough is an option, choose it. Not every bread machine has a sourdough setting like this one. If yours does not, try a long-rising cycle like French bread.

Step 3: Have a nice cup of tea while the bread maker does all of the work.

Please keep in mind that each bread machine is unique. Before using, read the directions carefully since some may demand you to chose kneading and rising before baking, among other things.

FAQs

I know you thought you needed a Dutch oven to make sourdough bread. It’s very unexpected that you can produce sourdough without it, isn’t it? If you’re still interested in this subject, here are a few interesting Questions to read.

Can I bake sourdough on a baking sheet?

It’s not optimal to bake on a baking sheet. It’s ideal to place the baking sheet over a stock pot containing your sourdough. If you just have a baking sheet, you may still use it, but the results will be less than ideal. Preheat the oven for an hour and add an oven-safe basin of water.

Can you bake sourdough in Pyrex?

Sourdough may be baked in a Pyrex dish, but it must be covered. Several Pyrex dishes come with lids that may be used. If you don’t have a lid, cover it with something else, such a stock pot or baking sheet.

Can you bake sourdough uncovered?

There is no regulation that says you can’t bake your sourdough bread uncovered, but your taste senses may not be pleased. Covering the sourdough guarantees adequate heat retention and sufficient steam to produce a good sourdough, so I wouldn’t ignore this important step.

Baking Sourdough Without a Dutch Oven is Easy!

While I strongly advise buying and utilizing a Dutch oven for making sourdough bread, they are not required for success. You may also utilize other cooking utensils and gadgets. The second best option is to bake on a baking stone that has been covered with a stock pot. Perfection!

Have you ever tried making sourdough bread without a Dutch oven? Did you utilize any of these strategies or something completely different? Comment below with your opinions, insights, and experiences!