krustic oval bread dome

The Krustic bread dome has taken the sourdough side of social media by storm. It’s a heavy, high-quality cast iron bread dome at an affordable price.

Its more expensive, bougie cousin is the Le Creuset bread dome. That one retails for more than double the price – about $300 (sometimes it’s cheaper on Amazon, depending on the day).

Let’s take a look at how the Krustic bread dome performed, and whether or not I’d recommend it to a friend.

Disclosure: Krustic sent me these bread domes, and I am affiliated with the brand, meaning I earn a commission when you use my discount code, REBEKAH20. This review (and all other content I have produced about Krustic's bread dome) is not sponsored, meaning I have never been paid to talk about or endorse it.

TL;DR: My Opinion on the Krustic Bread Dome

If you’re not a big reader, here’s the scoop: I love the Krustic bread dome and would recommend it to a friend (in fact, I have!). It’s a high-quality, heavy bread dome that traps steam well and prevents burnt bottoms.

The price point is a big bonus, considering it’s less than half the cost of another leading brand, Le Creuset. Is it as high-quality as the Le Creuset bread dome? I tend to think not, but I don’t have their bread dome – just their regular Dutch ovens (which are fantastic).

But is it pulling its weight for the price at which it’s sold? Yeah, I think it is. If I had to choose, I’d go with the oval shape.

Oval Krustic Bread Dome Video Review

I find I prefer the oval bread dome. Here’s my review of it after about a month of use. You can see lots of bread reveals toward the end!

Round Krustic Bread Dome Video Review

Here are my thoughts on the round bread dome after a few weeks of use (originally posted in September, but reposted to YouTube since TikTok may be going away).

Krustic Unboxing

The Krustic packaging was great. It’s packaged very well, ensuring it’s not dented or cracked when you receive it. I was immediately impressed at how heavy this bread dome was.

I got this bread dome at the same time ALDI was selling its limited edition $24.99 bread dome, and the weight difference was stark.

I plopped each one on my scale, and the Krustic bread dome weighs 12.6 lb, while the ALDI version is 10.2 lb. Heavier vessels tend to produce better results.

So, I had high hopes from the get-go.

I had the same experience when unboxing the new oval-shaped version more recently. It’s well-packaged and very sturdy.

Using the Krustic

The first time I used the round Krustic bread dome, I tested it side-by-side with the ALDI bread dome.

krustic vs aldi rise result
Krustic bread on left; ALDI bread on right

From the moment I lifted the lid off, I could tell the Krustic was doing a much better job at trapping steam.

The Krustic boule had much more rise than the ALDI one, and when I eventually cut into it, it had a wilder crumb. You can also see it got a nicer golden brown color as well as some blistering on the crust.

Related: Does ALDI’s Viral Bread Dome Live Up to the Hype?

The next thing I noticed was how the bottom of my loaf wasn’t burnt! It was perfectly cooked and browned. I often run into issues with a burnt bottom, and since I took no extra steps to prevent that, I was super impressed.

I’ve since used the Krustic bread dome many more times, and each time, I’m pleased with the result.

Boules vs Batards

Krustic sells two different bread domes: a round one and an oval one.

The round one naturally fits a boule (round-shaped loaf) much better than a batard (oblong-shaped loaf). And vice versa.

I have baked a batard in the round Dutch oven, and it fits – but barely. I did the cold proof in a Rosehill Sourdough banneton, which is a bit shorter than other oblong bannetons. You can see that here:

If I proofed my dough in my longer Bulka or Flourside banneton, I’m not convinced it would fit.

Krustic’s oval bread dome accommodates batards perfectly. I do find it inconvenient that neither bread dome comfortably fits both a boule and batard.

That said, this seems to be a universal problem with round-shaped bread domes, especially if they’re not on the larger end.

I personally prefer a batard shape, so if I had to choose over the other, I’d lean toward the oval one.

Krustic Wear and Tear Over Time

At the time of this writing, I’ve been using the round Krustic bread dome for around 4 months and the oval Krustic bread dome for just over 1 month.

On the round version, I have noticed some wear and tear.

First, the lid of the Krustic used to fit more tightly on the base than it does now. It has a slight wobble, leading me to believe the heat of my oven could have warped the shape of the lid. Is it a major issue? Maybe not, but it’s worth noting.

The Krustic also has discoloration on the enameled bits, but that’s typical for any Dutch oven. My Le Creuset Dutch ovens look the same. This can be cleaned and restored, but it takes a bit of elbow grease.

Perhaps this is a reason to choose a more forgiving color than beige!

Finally, I have noticed some slight rusting on the edges of the bread dome where the lid meets the base. This could be my own fault as I might not be fully drying it after cleaning it, which obviously leads to rust when we’re dealing with cast iron.

There is also a small chip on the handle, which is disappointing.

chip on krustic dome

I have no chips on my Le Creuset Dutch ovens that I’ve used for about 2 years, but then again, they’re quite a bit pricier.

Pros and Cons of the Krustic

Pros:

  • Mid-range price point – not dirt cheap, but not $300+, either
  • Oven-safe up to 500°F
  • Traps steam well, leading to well-risen bread and blistering on the crust
  • Prevents burnt bottoms
  • Made of enameled cast iron, so it’s quite heavy and durable
  • Aesthetically gorgeous in my opinion

Cons:

  • The lid on the round one doesn’t fit as tightly as when I bought it (potential warping?)
  • Small chip on the handle of the round one after 4 months of use
  • Requires more care when cleaning to prevent rust
  • Lighter colors stain easily
  • Should buy both sizes if you want to bake boules and batards

Krustic Bread Dome Sales & Discount Codes

Krustic’s round bread dome retails on their website for $189.99, but it’s virtually always on sale for $159.99. To be honest, this type of marketing tactic gets under my skin – just make the price what it is!

Rant aside, Krustic often does additional sales to lower the price even further, especially if it’s a holiday.

They have a similar setup with their oval bread dome. It’s listed for $199.98 but is typically marked down to $179.98. I am curious as to why one ends in 99 cents and the other ends in 98 cents.

Anyway…

Krustic provided me with a discount code, REBEKAH20, that you can apply at any time to get an extra $20 off.

The lowest price I’ve ever seen this bread dome is on Amazon during Amazon Prime Day. It was listed for $99.99. Snagging it at that price is a rarity, though. I haven’t seen it anywhere near that price since.

Conclusion

The Krustic bread dome delivers excellent results at a mid-range price, making it a great option for sourdough bakers who want great bread without spending over $300.

Its ability to create beautifully risen bread with evenly browned bottoms makes it a solid choice.

While minor issues like light colors staining easily and slight wear over time exist, they’re manageable and don’t diminish the overall value, in my opinion. With frequent sales and my discount code REBEKAH20, you can grab this bread dome for under $150—a solid investment for any sourdough baker.

Related: The 30 Best Gift Ideas for Sourdough Bakers

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for the info regarding the Krustic Bread Domes; certainly gives me something to think about. I have a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, which, of course, I use for many other cooking adventures. I do need something for baking a Batard as the last time it did not fit in my Dutch Oven.
    So my question is: have you, or could the the oval Krustic be used for cooking other things like perhaps a pork chop or a veggie stir fry etc. ? I do like things with a multi-purpose use.
    Thank you and I enjoy all your posts, newsletters, recipes, comments etc.

    1. I hear ya. I use my Le Creuset Dutch oven for all kinds of things, too, which is something I love about its high sides. I have not tried making anything other than bread in these bread domes. They really seem best suited to bread, though they are enameled cast iron so I have no reason to believe you couldn’t. The shape of it just wouldn’t make sense to me. The sides are very low and most things would spill over

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