Two comments: First, I have been preheating my KA cloche empty for years without a problem. As I recall, when I purchased it, the instructions said it was OK to heat it 450 before putting in the bread dough. Second , if you are handling a pot from an keen at 450, ditch those oven mitt and get a pair of welders gloves. They cost less, protect better, and allow better control of your hands. They may not be pretty but prettiness should be a non issue at that temperature.

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