HI Marianne, I generally don't recommend greasing a pot that you're going to preheat empty, because it usually results in a lot of smoke. However, greasing the pot can be helpful when you plan to allow the dough to rise in the pot before baking (which is a situation where the dough is more likely to stick to the pot). When preheating the pot empty, parchment paper or a silicone loaf lifter (as illustrated in Martin's video) can be helpful for transferring the dough and preventing sticking. 

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