Brown crusty bread

It has been awhile since I have posted here. Basically I had nothing to add till now. There are many ways to have a very crusty bread. Egg wash, brush with water; these are good but I found a new trick that I have now been doing on all my loaves.
The rule has always been to preheat the oven to the desired temp for me it is 400 degrees. I no longer preheat the oven I slide my bread in and bake it till it is golden brown. To be sure it is done I stick a meat thermometer in it 190 is what it should be in the center. You know it is done and crust on the outside and chewy on the inside. Try this trick I think you will like the outcome.