Oblong Cast Iron Baker | The Fresh Loaf

i have been baking bread for about one year. I have found that I get the best results using the Lodge cast iron double Dutch oven. Unfortunately, this limits me to round (boule) shaped bread. I was wondering if anyone knows of an equivalent oblong shaped cast iron baker (with lid similar to the double Dutch oven) for batard shaped loaves. Ideally, something that would cost under $100. Thanks!

Welcome to TFL!

By "double dutch oven", I assume you mean the "Combo cooker."

Do you have the 3 qt model or the 5 qt?

https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Cooker-Pre-seasoned-Skillet-Convertible/dp/B0009JKG9M?tag=froglallabout-20
Or:
https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L8DD3-Cast-Iron-Dutch/dp/B000LEXR0K?tag=froglallabout-20

The inner diameter of the lid portion (skillet) is about 9". So you can get up to 9" long batard (ie, oblong) loaf.

The 3.2 qt and the 5 qt have the same size lids, as far as I know. The "pot" portion of the 5 qt model is deeper and has less-angled sides, that give it more capacity.

The trick is to get a nice tight and dry gluten-cloak or "skin" so that the sides of the dough don't spread out to fill the pan.

Most of the batards you see on TFL and Instagram are not really that big.

There are a couple of foreign made cast iron "roasters" that might fit your purpose. This one from Pit Boss:

https://www.amazon.com/PIT-BOSS-68014-Roaster-Griddle/dp/B07TTDV3M6?tag=froglallabout-20

There used to be one from Bayou Classic, but I can't find it on Amazon any more.

Both of those have flat lids that let you place the dough on the lid, and then cover it with the pot/deep part.

Thank you! Very helpful. I think it is the 5 quart. I appreciate your help.

For the longest time I’ve been baking my batards, usually 900 g dough weight in my Le Creuset oval Dutch oven 6.3 L size. If you turn your dough out onto parchment, then you can score your dough and then transfer it into the oven dutch oven without fear of burning yourself. There are much less expensive dutch ovens than the Le Creuset if you don’t want to drop that much cash on it. I do like it because the enamel is pretty easy to clean and I use it for a lot of roasting in addition to bread.

i have a 4.5 quart LeCreuset Dutch oven but I never got the hang of loading the bread without some sort of catastrophe (either to me or the bread). Perhaps it is worth trying again. Thank you!

I was thinking about this thread the other day when some new vessels popped up on my Amazon feed, but I couldn't remember the title of the post. Glad it surfaced again :)

This one reminds me of the Challenger pan, but smaller. Unfortunately, the price tag is quite high:

AmazonSmile: LoafNest: Incredibly Easy Artisan Bread Kit. Cast Iron Dutch Oven [Blue Gradient] and Perforated Non-Stick Silicone Liner.: Home & Kitchen

Here is an interesting one that is much more affordable:

AmazonSmile: Fercienda 2 in 1 Enameled Cast Iron Pan, 3.5 Quart Double Dutch Oven Set and Rectangle 1.8 Quart Skillet Lid, Use as Loaf Pan or Bread Pan,Cherry: Home & Kitchen

An oval dutch oven under $100:

AmazonSmile: Geoffrey Zakarian Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Loop Handles, 6 Quart: Home & Kitchen

Thank you! I think the second two could very well work. I saw the loaf nest before but the price is out of my snack bracket.

I have this one

https://www.bayouclassicdepot.com/collections/cajun-classic-cookware/products/cast-iron-oval-casserole-dish-cast-iron-crawfish-lid

It works very well now but it took some doing. As manufactured, the top didn't fit the bottom well, so I bought some oven gasket material and glued it on with high-temperature, food grade silicone seal. Works much better now for batards.

Also it's very heavy and difficult to load into the oven when hot.

Thanks. I appreciate the information!