Can I bake bread in a cast iron Dutch oven with the lid on, or should I use tin foil instead? I have a Cuisinart cast iron enamelware dutch oven that I purchased recently to bake bread in the oven.  I am supposed to bake at 450 degrees.  The pot states it can be baked up to 500 degrees, however does that include the lid.  The lid is cast iron but has a knob on it that I am unsure of. Please send me info as my bread is rising and needs to be baked.  Should I just cover it with foil?  I don't think I will get the same results.
Presuming the Cuisinart knob is made of the same material as the Le Creuset one (Phenolic), the given maximum temperature is 375°F.

However, many people (including this thorough article) recommend covering it with foil to protect it at higher temperatures. Also, I would suspect that giving 375°F as the limit means that it's OK to go higher, just not too often, and also they won't guarantee it above that temperature.