May 24, 2012 - 12:31pm
Using calphalon stock pot as dutch oven? Safe?
I've been baking no-knead recipes for a short while. I have never done it with a Dutch Oven since I don't own one. Today, I thought of the possibility of using a soup stock pot. The one I have is a calphalon with rivetted metal handles and a glass lid. Would the glass lid withstand oven heat of 450 F?
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Don't know about the glass lid but better safe than sorry. And replacement lids are hard to come by. Alternative (and safer) is to slide proofed loaf onto a cookie sheet or other metal/stone surface and flip your Calphalon pot over on top of it. No need to pre-heat the pot. Then remove it after about 20 min and bake for another ~20-40, depending on loaf size, at slightly reduced temp (425-430). Folks usually start at 500˚F and reduce to 450 as soon as you close the oven door.
Good luck with it.
Tom
I just tried using the Calphalon and its glass lid. It worked! :) Finally, I have my own "Dutch Oven".
However, I like your idea of cookie sheet with Calphalon as lid MUCH better! I'll try that next time.
I've used the glass lid from a Calphalon soup pot for about a year on a cast iron dutch oven and it's been fine. There was silicone insulation on the handle which I removed. I've wondered about the Calphalon bottom. Is it OK?
Regarding the Calphalon bottom, I don't know, my first time using it seemed to be just fine. As I understand, the Calphalon I have is made of stainless steel with an aluminium core inside.
I also did some internet digging and Calphalon says their lids are safe up to 450°F. It's tempered glass. Of course, this does mean we should preheat the lid with the pot, because the shock of sudden temperature change isn't good for glass. See this URL for info on the stock pot and tempered glass lid: http://store.calphalon.com/calphalon-tri-ply-stainless-steel-8-qt-stockpot/299017
I preheat my oven to 500 degrees. The Calphalon lid hasn't complained in the year that I've been using it. I think manufacturers usually err on the conservative side. I've also tried letting the bread do its final rise in a room-temperature pot with its lid, and put it into a 500 degree oven. Never a problem.
And the solution to handling hot pots is lined welders gloves. They cost $10 at the hardward store. Not even a hint of burnt knuckles, hands, or forearms, and they have much more dexterity than big silicone mitts.
I won't tell you how many DO's I have bought at Goodwill the last couple of months. Clay and aluminum are easy to find for $2 -3 or $1 on dollar Thur days with the right colored tag. Can't use then until winter when the mini oven comes back inside for a rest.