If you’re looking for the best cast iron bread pans, you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to review the best models on the market. They’re not that many.
However, the couple of loaf pans made of cast iron that I’ve selected are excellent. One is really affordable and the other pan is from a famous Dutch oven manufacture and it’s really pricey.
I have a confession to make: I wasn’t aware that cast iron bread pans are exactly a thing.
When I think of loaf pans, I think of aluminized steel or aluminum or even silicone. Those are the kind of bread pans I’ve selected when reviewing my recommendations for the best loaf pans. It turns out that I’ve overlooked one important niche: cast iron bread pans. I will remedy that mistake by dedicating them an entire article.
Moreover, I also plan on touching upon some other cast irons bakeware that can be used for baking breads and even for baking pizza.
Basically, I’m going to create a mini cast-iron universe that serves our needs of baking breads in some of the best, most resilient cast iron bread pans & cast iron baking pans and maybe even a cast iron Dutch oven.
Contents
Cast Iron Bread Pans: My Recommendations
1. Overall Best: Camp Chef Cast Iron Bread Pan
This is an awesome choice, an amazing bread pan with a really affordable price. If cast iron bread pans are what you’re looking for, this model form Camp Chef is a great place to start. It measures 5.25 × 11 inches so, it’s slightly bigger than the traditional 9 × 5 inches pans made from aluminum. The major attraction is that it promises even heat distribution and a golden brown crust for your loaves. What more could we want?
2. Just as Good: Lodge Cast Iron Loaf Pan
Lodge Cast Iron Loaf pan is manufactured by one of most popular brands. Moreover, it’s a cheap cast iron bread pan that is on the smaller side. It measures 8.5 x 4.5 inches. It’s definitely one of the best pans for people who are looking to bake slightly smaller doughs. This one and all the other models are also awesome for baking sourdough sandwich breads.
3. The Expensive Option: Staub Cast Iron Loaf Pan
First, if we were to compare the prices between these two options, they couldn’t be further from each other. I’m not saying that the Staub Cast Iron Loaf Pan isn’t amazing. Staub is one of the most renowned manufacturers. Moreover, this model is enamel-coated, meaning that it doesn’t require seasoning as classic cast iron bakeware does. It measures 4.8 × 11.2 inches.
Best Cast Iron Bread Pans Reviews
These loaf pans have obviously one thing in common: they’re made of cast iron – the material that’s famous for lasting longer than our life spans if you take proper care of it. Some of us are definitely obsessed with it.
Cast iron is famous for its awesome heat retention properties and, when it comes to breads, its ability to bake loaves with golden brown crusts and an even bake due to the even heat distribution.
And they have a rectangular shape.
It’s perfect if you’re not into the oval shape that can be achieved by using a Dutch oven or even a baking stone for bread. Also, the rectangular shape of loaf pans is amazing for making sandwich bread.
However,
Having similar price tags is not a common feature. We just have to establish if a high price is actually worth it.
Keep in mind that an excellent loaf pan made of aluminized steel is around $15-$20.
Even the cheapest cast iron bread pan is going to cost a bit more than that but not by much. It’s definitely nice to know that not all cast iron bread pans are expensive.
Let’s see which are the best options.
1. Camp Chef Cast Iron Bread Pan – Overall Best Cast Iron Loaf Pan
In my opinion, the Camp Chef Home Seasoned Cast Iron Bread Pan is truly great and it’s my first recommendation.
Even better,
This is also one of the cheapest cast iron bread pans. It’s pretty much perfect, you should definitely check it out and see what you think. It can be an excellent choice that matches all budgets.
It’s already ready to use out of the box because it’s pre-seasoned with their Camp Chef’s True Seasoned Finish (100% plant oils).
While classic loaf pans measure 9 × 5 inches, this one from Camp Chef is quite bigger, longer. It measure 5.25 × 11 inches.
Camp Chef Home Seasoned Cast Iron Bread Pan promises even heat distribution and a golden brown crust for your loaves.
It also has 2 handles for easy handling. They’re definitely a nice addition.
Another very important feature is that the loaf slides right out of the pan.
You can do the proofing (the final rise) directly in the pan. Just grease the pan before adding the dough for proofing. And once the final rise is done, you’re good for baking.
2. Lodge Cast Iron Loaf Pan
This Lodge Cast Iron Loaf Pan and the above pan from Camp Chef have quite a few things in common.
The first thing you’ll notice is that their prices are similar. Thus, we have two absolutely awesome cast iron loaf pans to choose from. Frankly, it’s really hard to choose a favorite since they’re so similar.
I prefer the Camp Chef one just a bit more because it seems prettier to me and it’s a bit bigger. But choose whichever you can find and whichever loaf pan has the best price and you’ll be happy either way.
The main difference between the two is in size.
Lodge Cast Iron Loaf Pan measures 8.5 x 4.5 inches. Thus, it’s a significantly smaller cast iron bread pan. Even a bit smaller than the classic loaf pans, which generally measure 9 × 5 inches.
If you’re looking for a smaller pan for your sandwich bread then this one from Lodge will be just what you’re looking for.
If you also want to bake sourdough sandwich breads, you can definitely do it. You just won’t believe how beautiful the bread will end up looking after being baked.
It is seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that this Lodge is on the smaller side. If you want a bigger pan, choose the one from Camp Chef.
3. Staub Cast Iron Loaf Pan
If the above cast iron bread pan is really affordable, this one is extremely expensive. But it’s Staub we’re talking about.
Even so, if you are willing to spend a great deal of money on something to bake bread into, instead of choosing to spend the money on this loaf pan, I would rather choose a Dutch oven from Staub.
The Staub Cast Iron Round Cocotte 4 qt has almost the same price as their loaf pan but a Dutch oven offers a lot more versatility. You just have to bake round loaves but you can also use it for cooking all kinds of dishes from meat to soups to pasta, and so on.
Getting back to their Staub Cast Iron Loaf Pan, it’s indeed of high quality.
You get a quite large loaf pan that measures 4.8 × 11.2 inches. It also has 2 handles. But there’s no lid for this loaf pan.
This is a cast iron bread pan but it has a black matte enamel interior.
Since the interior is coated in enamel, it doesn’t require seasoning as simple cast iron does.
That’s one advantage and it’s a characteristic of Staub . Their Cocotte that I’ve mentioned is the same – cast iron coated in black matte enamel that promises superior browning for golden crusts.
It’s oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Season a Cast Iron Bread Pan
How do you season a cast iron bread pan?
There are quite a few methods when it comes to seasoning a cast iron. Everyone has an opinion on it.
Method 1
You can use Crisco shortening. It’s one of the best and a very inexpensive option for seasoning cast iron pans and cookware. That makes it really popular and everyone should consider it.
Grease the pan with a light layer of Crisco shortening and then wipe it down with a paper towel. It will look shiny. After that, place it in the oven upside down at 550 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
In the beginning, you can season the cast iron bread pan after each use, since the pan is new.
After a few more uses, the pan will be seasoned well and you will just have to re-season it once in a while.
Bread pans are greased before baking and that applies to cast iron bread pans, too. Every time you bake in a pan it potentially adds another layer to the seasoning.
Method 2
Other people think that you should never use lard or shortening to season a cast iron because it might have an unpleasant smell if it’s not used for a long time.
Some recommend using flaxeed oil or grapeseed oil.
Flaxseed oil is actually excellent for seasoning cast iron and it’s especially famous for ensuring a seasoning that lasts, you won’t have to do frequent reseasoning if you’re using flaxseed oil. It’s thanks to its high content of fatty acids.
Method 3
Lodge recommends using vegetable oil because it’s affordable, easily available and has a high smoke point, which olive oil doesn’t so don’t use olive oil to season your cast iron.
You can also use canola oil.
Once a very thin layer of oil has been added inside and out, place the cookware in the oven upside down and bake it at 450-500 degrees F for one hour.
Other Amazing Cast Iron Pans for Bread & Pizza
I told you that I’m going to talk about more than cast iron bread pans.
Maybe you decided that sticking to aluminized steel or aluminum is the way to go when it comes to loaf pans. But there are some other interesting cast iron bakeware for bread and pizza that you might be interested in knowing about.
1. Lodge Cast Iron Baking Pan
I came across this baking pan when I was searching for alternatives to pizza stones. It’s especially great for baking amazing pizza but you can also bake bread.
You just have to shape the dough with your hands or you can shape it with the help of a proofing basked in a round or oval shape.
I decided to recommend it to you because even though it’s as different from a bread pan as it comes, its multiple use is what makes it so interesting.
It’s made of cast iron, has a 14-inch diameter, comes pre-seasoned, and has 2 handles. It only needs to be preheated for 10-15 minutes before baking.
2. Lodge Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven 5 qt
Another really fantastic option for baking breads with amazing crust is this Dutch oven from Lodge that also comes with a lid that can be used for cooking and baking, as well.
So, you get a 5 qt Dutch oven that can be used for cooking all kinds of dishes and for baking round loaves.
But you also get a lid that can serve as a 10.25 inch skillet.
The cast iron is pre-seasoned but you might want to season it properly when you get it, before using it for the first time. I think it’s a good idea.
And this awesome combo is really affordable. The Lodge Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven 5 qt is impressive. And a perfect alternative to cast iron bread pans if you are looking for a bakeware and cookware with a lot of versatility and a low price.
