If you are deciding between purchasing The Challenger Bread Pan and a standard Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven for bread baking, this post is for you. I have been using my Lodge Dutch oven for over three years and my Challenger Bread Pan for just over two years. Getting to use both of these baking vessels side-by-side has been really fun and I love comparing the similarities and differences.
Hopefully, with a little bit of information about these two products, you can decide which one is right for you. Go ahead and scroll down to the video if you want to go right to the comparison/review!
First, here are the two baking vessels I will be comparing.
The Challenger Bread Pan
The Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Let’s get to it!
Testing the Two Baking Vessels
A few weeks ago, I put these two products to the test. I baked two identical loaves of sourdough bread, one in each vessel, and I filmed the whole thing. How did the two loaves of bread turn out? Watch the video to find out!
Video: Challenger Bread Pan VS Dutch Oven
Watch this video to see my full comparison of these two baking vessels.
My Conclusion
A few things are true for both of these baking vessels. (1) They both trap steam under the lid to provide a humid baking environment. And (2), you can preheat both vessels in your oven, offering a piping hot baking surface for your bread. While these similarities are significant, each baking vessel has its pros and cons to consider.
Lodge Dutch Oven – Pros and Cons
The Lodge Dutch oven is a very affordable kitchen item (around $69 USD) that, while not designed for bread, is wonderfully suited for baking. However, due to its round shape, the Dutch oven can only fit round boules or smaller batards, which some bakers might find a little limiting. And because of its high sides, you’ll need to use some parchment paper to safely transfer your bread into the hot pan. In my opinion, this type of Dutch oven is perfect for someone who bakes once a week or less. If you’re looking for a solid baking vessel that won’t break the bank, this enameled Dutch oven will work for you.
The Challenger Bread Pan – Pros and Cons
On the other hand, the Challenger Bread Pan is specifically designed with the bread baker in mind. Many of the classic Dutch oven’s bread baking pitfalls have been solved by the Challenger’s design. The pan is long enough that it can fit boules, batards, and even demi baguettes under its wonderful steam-trapping dome. Its shallow base, two sets of handles, and dark cast iron construction make this the closest thing to an ideal bread baking vessel. While the higher price tag cannot be ignored ($225 USD), if you are a serious hobby baker who wants to spoil yourself with an amazing bread baking tool, you seriously cannot go wrong with the Challenger Bread Pan!
I hope you’ve gotten some value out of my comparison of these two products. I’d love to know what your preferred baking vessel is! Let me know in the comments below.
Check out some of my favorite recipes that would be perfect to bake in either the Challenger or your favorite Dutch oven 🙂
- Good Sourdough Bread (my go-to sourdough recipe)
- Pumpkin Sourdough Bread
- 100% Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread That Is Actually Good