Can You Bake Great Sourdough Bread in a Gas Oven?

This post is sponsored by Blue Star Cooking. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a baker, the “gas versus electric oven” is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when buying a range. With the time and energy that goes into making homemade bread, having an oven that does a proper job baking it into the golden loaf you’ve dreamed of is so valuable!

When I began baking sourdough bread, we had a duel fuel range in our St. Paul kitchen.

A duel fuel range has a gas cooktop with electric oven, giving you the convenience of gas for sautéing and searing, while having the heat control and precision of an electric oven.

Many say this is the ideal setup for avid bakers because the temperature doesn’t fluctuate during the process, and it’s a dry heat source, producing crisp and golden crusts.

We later moved to our current home in Hudson, and a full kitchen renovation began to shape. The focal point of our design was going to be a unique backsplash with an eye catching range, that also needed to handle a lot of wear and tear with my job as a recipe developer. I definitely wanted to stick with a duel fuel range, because I had had such great results baking sourdough with it.

We looked at many different brands and styles, but I fell in love with this stunning, white 48 inch Blue Star RNB Series Gas Range with Griddle, with brushed brass knobs/handles. It was so dreamy!

There was one problem…. it wasn’t duel fuel.
After many conversations, I decided to give it a go with gas anyways, and deal with baking issues as they came. If it was a complete failure, we could install an electric wall oven in the back pantry.

So, could I bake great bread in a gas oven?

I’ve been baking sourdough bread (my Whole Wheat Sourdough recipe is what you see in these photos) in our Blue Star gas oven for an entire year, and I’m happy to report that my sourdough baking is even BETTER than it was before!

Here’s why:

• High heat is crucial for baking sourdough bread, one of the main contributors to great oven spring. Blue Star ovens can reach 500+ degrees F, which my electric oven could never get to.
• Because you bake sourdough bread in a covered vessel, like the cast iron Challenger Bread Pan that I use (or dutch oven) there’s no need to worry about the slight temperature fluctuation that occurs with gas ovens. Nearly all the constant heat is held within the pan! Rather than relying solely on the oven.
• Using covered cast iron also reduces the likelihood that hot or cold spots will affect the bake.

The Challenger Bread Pan is the best I’ve used for baking sourdough in a gas oven. I’ve tried combo cookers, dutch ovens, you name it, and I would never go back. In combination with my Blue Star oven, my bread consistently rises higher, and the crust is so thin! The pan is great for baking bread because:

• Shallow base: Loading your dough is easy.
• Sealed environment: Creates the perfect amount of steam.
• Top handles: Easily remove the cover mid-bake.
• Deep cover: Plenty of room for your oven spring.

Tips for Baking Bread in a Gas Oven

• Preheat your baking vessel in the oven to achieve the hottest environment for your bread.
• Bake in the top third of the oven to ensure the loaf doesn’t burn, as the heat source for gas ovens is on the bottom.
• Good oven technique comes with getting to know your oven. The more baking you do, the better you’ll work in tandem with it.

Best Sourdough Bread Recipes:

• Jalapeño & Cheese Sourdough Bread
• Delicious Everyday Sourdough Bread
• Easy Seeded Sourdough Bread
• Dreamy Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls