Hi Alice, if you have a ceramic or stoneware pot, I wouldn't recommend adding ice or cold water to the pot (although a little hot water added to a preheated pot should be okay). However, if you're working with a preheated cast iron pot, you can place the ice directly in the Dutch oven. 

With sandwich loaves that are baked in a metal pan, you'll want to add steam to the bake via a pan that's placed on the rack beneath where the loaf is baking. This is generally only necessary if you're baking your sandwich loaves at a high temperature (400°F or higher). Most often boiling water is added to a preheated cast iron frying pan to generate steam, although some bakers do use ice cubes. 

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