What is the difference between baking bread in a loaf pan made of stoneware vs metal vs iron cast?

Sandwich or quick bread has different heat requirements than artisan breads.

Artisan breads require a blast of high heat and humidity right from the beginning. They are usually baked on flat, preheated stones that store a lot of heat.

With breads baked in loaf pans the bread is proofed in the pan which is obviously not preheated. The goal is not a blast of high heat but generally even heating.

Stoneware and cast iron will hold a lot of heat but that isn't very useful for this type of bread. The big difference that a stoneware loaf pan will make is in the bread's crust. Unglazed stoneware will let some moisture escape during baking. Stoneware loaf pans are often used for dishes other than bread such as meatloaf where the even heating and heat retention when serving is valuable. Bread baked in stoneware will be crustier in the area covered by the pan than bread baked in metal. This is a more compelling advantage with quickbreads. In my opinion sandwich bread doesn't need to be crusty.

Metal bread pans are cheaper, lighter, and less fragile. They won't even out any heat gradients in a sloppy oven. If you know your oven is unreliable consider getting a thermal mass (such as a pizza stone) to even out the temperature.

I haven't used a cast iron loaf pan but my first inclination would be to use it for southern-style cornbread. This type of cornbread is normally cooked in a cast iron skillet. The pan would be preheated with hot fat and the cornbread batter would be poured in. The stored heat in the pan would fry the bread before it rose and set. I don't know why a cast iron pan would be used for normal bread.

Given that they are used in the same way, thermal conductivity is the only difference. This is the rate in which heat is transferred from the oven through the walls of the pan to the bread

The bread exposed at the top of the pan will cook using the available radiant heat of the oven

The bread contacting the surface of the pan will cook using the heat transferred through the walls of the pan. If the thermal conductivity of the pan is low, you will not get a hard or browned crust. Earthenware, stoneware, and glass have a much lower thermal conductivity than metals used in pans

Stoneware by definition in non-porous, traditional earthenware is somewhat porous. Most modern earthenware (from Asia) though is effectively non-porous. Either way, the ability for stoneware to be "porous" to steam in any quantity will be very limited in the short trip in the oven. If you want surface stream escape use a perforated metal pan such as baguette makers use

Note: baguette makers use these sort of pans so stream can get to the bread, not escape from it. They use steam ovens to promote "oven spring", which is the process of using steam to keep the bread crust from hardening while the bread still rises internally in a hot oven. A lidded pan, cast iron or other material, generally simulates this effect

I have baked bread in both stoneware and in cast iron loaf pans. In my opinion, cast iron loaf pans win hands down. The crust comes out a beautiful, even, golden brown all the way around the bread loaf. I will not bake bread in any pan other than my cast iron loaf pans.

As far as artisan breads, they bake as well in cast iron as they do in stoneware. You can put cast iron in an oven at the recommended temperatures needed in order to achieve the crust so desired in these types of breads.

I know this is an older post but just want to throw my 2 cents in.

I was lucky enough to come across 2 new stoneware bread pans (NEW) at a resale shop. I bought them for 10 dollars and they are from the "Sassafras" company. Good pans.

I have been seasoning the inside of them with a canola oil spray. They have a real nice patina on them now. I also sprinkle white cornmeal in them sometimes before a bake.

I preheat oven to 450 degrees F with a Pizza stone on middle rack for 45 minutes. Dough is proofed in the pans and ready to go in the oven. I cover each pan with a metal bread pan (to trap the moisture for self steaming and awesome oven spring) I got lucky my metal pans fit perfectly on top.

I put the Stoneware pans directly on the pizza stone. The bread pans suck the heat right out of the pizza stone and it works very well for me. After 20 minutes I take the lids (metal bread pans) off the bread and drop the Temp to 375 and insert a instant read thermometer in the loaf. I bake the bread until it reaches 210 Degrees F and it is done.

Bread falls out of the pan..... cool for 20 minutes on a rack and get a slice of heaven!

I have baked in metal pans but not cast iron. I prefer stoneware. I like the crust it produces.

My recipes use a 20 minute autolyse than a 4-5 hour bulk fermentation than a 1-1.5 hour rise at 78 degree dough temp. 78% hydration with small amount of yeast to get the long fermentation.

Cheers, Happy Stone baking. RJ