Dutch Oven Artisan Bread
Updated: Oct 6, 2020
Servings: 1 loaf
Storage Life of Ingredients: 1 year
Nothing is more surprising than a camping trip with homemade bread. It is doubly nice to know that in an emergency, when the power and gas are out, you can still make this amazing bread for your family.
Pictured Process
Combine the flour, salt, yeast, and water together, stirring until all the flour is incorporated in the dough. If you have trouble working the flour in, add a little more water.
Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 12–18 hours.
When you are ready to bake the bread, start the coals in your charcoal chimney.
While the charcoal is heating up, punch down the dough.
Sprinkle some flour on a cutting board, form the dough into a circle, and place it on the flour.
Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little bit of flour and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes.
When the coals are partially gray, place a ring around the bottom perimeter of your oven. Following the Dinwiddie Chart, place the rings of charcoal on the top of your Dutch oven for a 450° oven.
Dinwiddie Chart (Coals on Top for 450°)
8" 1-1/2 rings
12" 2 rings
14" 2-1/2 rings
16" 3 rings
When the Dutch oven has warmed up and the dough has been resting for 30 minutes, place the dough on a piece of parchment paper and then put it in the heated Dutch oven and cook covered for 20–30 minutes.
Bread should be golden brown. Yield: 1 loaf
Storage Tips
Unbleached Flour: Store unbleached flour in a 5 gallon food-grade bucket with a resealable lid. As the flour is poured into the bucket, layer bay leaves with the flour to protect against weevils. Flour package this way will store for at least a year. Flour can also be canned in #10 cans with oxygen absorber packets for longer storage (five years at 70° F). This is an estimated storage shelf life. You should always check the expiration date on the container or check with the manufacturer.
Yeast: I always keep my yeast in the freezer. Label it with the date bought and the date it expires so you will know how long it will last on your shelf if the power goes out. It will last at least a year if kept in the freezer.
Salt: Salt is a preservative and will last indefinitely on your pantry shelf.
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