comments:
Oh! Hmm well that is a challenge. Without the lid you can’t trap the steam for a good rise. Your loaf looks really good if that’s how you baked it! Ok so basically you’re doing an open bake. If you have an electric oven this can work. If it’s gas, ignore everything I’m about to say. Put a baking tray on the bottom rack when you’re preheating the oven. At the same time boil a pot of water. I just use a tea kettle or coffee pot. When you put your dough in the oven, pour the boiling water into the tray. Be careful because it will burst into steam. Wear your oven mitt if you have one. Quickly close the oven door. Ok now bout how to temp your oven. You’ll need an oven thermometer. They are not expensive. Here is one for $10 at Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-Oven-Thermometer-100-Deg-F-To-600-Deg-F-3-1-4-X-3-3-4-Dial/431632607?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1609&sourceid=dsn_mpmax_b7816648-c1aa-4cbe-a348-bade7e6d185e&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_mpmax_b7816648-c1aa-4cbe-a348-bade7e6d185e&cn=00pd_fy27_mp_mp_lo_int_dis_mpmax-p13n&wl9=&wl11=Online&msclkid=23568321063a1bbbaa54e9621c2067a0 place it inside your Dutch oven with the lid off (I guess you don’t have a choice … very sorry to hear). Now preheat your oven as you normally do. Peek inside the oven to see the thermometer. Keep going until it gets all the way to whatever temperature you’re going to bake at. Remember how long it took to get there. That will be the time you use to preheat every time. You only need the thermometer this first time. Use tongs to remove the thermometer from your Dutch oven. It will be HOT!