LoafNestinTune Precision Baker : 9 qt (4+5) Multipurpose Baking Dish and Cloche with Built in Oven Thermometer and Water Tray

Have used a Cast Iron Dutch oven for years. This is a breeze to use and has a water pan. The bread crust is noticeably more crusty, color goog, and a breeze to handle and clean. Additionally may use for other entrees!The construction is durable enameled steel with and a removable water pan, and ability to use for other cooking. (Which I am currently using for bread baking only. This one, Amazon, brings the real taste of home baked bread to the forefront of kitchen ease.

I’ve tried a the standard methods—Dutch ovens, steam pans—to get that crusty, quality loaf at home. This setup makes it repeatable and simple to get that delicious loaf every time.The built-in thermometer helps dial in the temps in the critical early phases. And the removable water tray simplifies the steam process—no more ice cubes or pans of boiling water. Less worrying about kids near the kitchen.It does weigh around 12 pounds, so expect a moment of “Oh, that’s heavier than I thought.” But it’s not as intense as lugging around cast iron.The metal lid can feel a bit much at first, especially once it’s blazing hot, but after a try or two, you get into a rhythm—just make sure your oven mitts aren’t paper-thin.The wire mesh tray is critical to the consistency; it circulates heat and keeps the dough elevated and the water easy to get into the pan. Try pairing it with a silicone mat.

I am using it to cook on top of a wood burning stove.

Huge fan of LoafNest and this in particular brings all of the things that I usually have to cobble together into an all-in-one bread baking solution. The only thing that I felt could make this perfect is handles of some kind. I found it hard to get a good grip anywhere with my thick gloves on.

Love that you can bake bread or pastries or steam some veggies or bake chicken, casseroles, lasagna or even brownies. Very good size for baking. Love the tray and water dish for humidity. The thermometer is great for baking. Pretty red and easy to take in/out of oven.I am still experimenting with it - have roasted squash, made casseroles and baked chicken breasts - I want to bake bread and pretzels next. I will probably cook a small turkey in it for Thanksgiving (dinner for two).Customer service is top notch - contact them directly with any issues.

I was so excited to get my Loafnest! I am someone who bakes bread occasionally, but I’ve been working on up-ing my bread game both in quality and frequency! I keep my pots and pans for decades, and I'm confident that this one will last that long. It's a real treat to unbox, because it's such a special kitchen tool.TLDR: If you need an excellent pan for lasagna, or roasted veggies. This of course will do the job. I also found that it's FANTASTIC for roast chicken! It has the added benefit of a tall lid with a built in temp gauge. But this baker shines for it's intended purpose: helping you create perfect (or almost perfect in my case) loaf. I've now had this for a few weeks and find that I'm using the bottom pan more than expected as it's such good quality, a convenient size, and lightweight (compared to enamel coated cast iron), that I find myself using it for far more than just my weekend bread making endeavors.MORE BELOW:This cooker comes with four parts: bottom, lid, rack and a small water container that can attach to the rack. With these 4 parts, you have a ton of flexibility and most importantly, the ability to create bread with a crispy crunch and a fine crumb!The instructions describe 3 modes: Boulanger, Patissier and Chef.A. Boulanger Mode uses all four parts of the cooker to create steam during the bread loaf bake.B. Patissier Mode is for pastries or custards (anything with a bain marie) and does not use the small water container, although the bottom of the cooker can be filled with water for custards like creme brulee.C: Chef Mode just uses the base and the lid (no rack, no water tray) for cooking items like lasagna or fish or even meatballs. I've found that Roast Chicken is fantastic in this!USE:I have three main types of cooking pots and pans: Enamel Cast Iron, Copper (from Deh***n in Paris), and Cast Iron (skillets). I use my cast iron skillets the most. But I’ve wanted to try carbon steel for a while now, so was thrilled to get this cooker. Given its size, it’s very lightweight compared to my Le Cr***t or St**b enamel cast iron. I love this about this cooker!The temp gauge on the outside is very convenient. It’s one of those things that once I’ve tried it, I never want to be without a gauge for the inside of my pot!The edges of the pot are wide so I can grab it anyway and move it easily. The wire rack has very tall handles so it can also be safely handled, even when its hot. This is a well designed baking tool!INSTRUCTIONSThe instructions are very very good. Probably the best instructions I’ve read for any cooking device, Kudos for these!MY FIRST LOAFMy first loaf came out pretty well! The bottom was a bit softer than I prefer. But I re-read the instructions and it recommended that if you like a crispy bottom, that it’s best to remove the parchment paper during the bake. The top and sides of the loaf were the best I’ve ever made. The steam made all the difference I think. Definitely better than my old method of using a water bottle sprayer and loosing all the heat in the oven to get that moisture in!SUPERB AFTER SALES SUPPORT:I admit I have high standards for after sales support for my cookware. But anyone who makes this investment will also. If you are concerned about buying an expensive pot from a young company, rest assured. This company provides superb after sales support. My first cooker had a small manufacturing defect. The company immediately reached out to me and made it right. I feel strongly that this company takes pride in it's products and wants to share their love of baking. This is the company's second product. I will certainly watch this company in the future as, based on this product, they design and manufacture high quality, versatile cookware with specialized, non-gimmicky, features. What a refreshing find. I'm a fan.

So easy to use and bakes so well. Love the built in temperature gauge.