Abstract: The invention provides continuously-cast product free of ambient atmosphere contaminants and free of nonmetal solid entrapment. Methods and apparatus are provided for flow of molten metal from ladle to tundish to mold machine, free of contact with ambient atmosphere; and, tundish slag cover is removed, by discharge of a nonreactive gas to provide a selected limited surface area of tundish metal, which is free of slag cover, for insertion of a ladle shroud to deliver molten metal, free of entrapment of nonmetal slag cover, for continuous casting. Transitional casts, before clean metal is obtainable with each new ladle of molten metal, are eliminated; and the duration of uninterrupted continuous casting of clean metal is extended.