“This bread pan changed my (no, I won't say life) bread making completely. My previous adventures with steam-baking were largely OK, but not revolutionary. This pan was and I use it for all my bread baking. Just following the clear instructions result in beautifully crusty professional looking bread. And I do not aim at the currently fashionable very dark look - deep golden-brown crust is so easily achievable and the the crumb is baked to perfection. Not a single bake went wrong (so far - over a year of me using the pan). If you bake regularly and can handle a hefty piece of hot cast iron safely (proper gauntlets are advisable), and if you are willing to spend quite a lot on the kit - I highly recommend this bread pan.”
“I am so pleased I decided to but the Challenger to optimise my baking results in the early stages of learning about sourdough. The results compared to a cast iron pan are just so much better as the loaves have the space to expand properly, more heat produced and more steam can be created.”
“I have been in the business of food & teaching people to cook, along with appraising cooking equipment, for 50 years. Bread baking is a passion. I decided to treat myself to the Challenger & I am thrilled with the oven spring, ease of use, the thoughtful design with the all importnat good fit between base & lid to retain the steam generated by ice cubes. I attach pics of my first bake in the my new Challenger. I use this in the Aga, it works perfectly, in the Roasting oven, grid shelf set on the floor & Challenger sitting on the grid shelf. I remove the lid after 15 - 20 minutes of baking, and finish the bake for a further 20 minutes or so. I would not hestiate to recommned this purpose built Dutch oven. My first one arrived with a crack in the lid, but Bakery bits had a new one to me next day, outstanding service.”
“An excellent Dutch oven, turns out a very good sourdough with crisp crust. The only downside I found was that although it had been factory seasoned, my first loaf stuck to the base. After re-seasoning it worked a treat. Working at such high temperatures and being heavy I do recommend good oven gloves. The on line supplier of everything has Geekhom gloves rated at 800°C. Using these gave me more confidence of surviving burns.”
“My challenger bread pan has arrived! Very quickly after preordering, I've had three sourdough bakes in the first few days.
You can believe the hype! I really have produced my best bread ever.”
