A quiescent melt handling system includes a holding furnace (2, 120, 320-720) for a molten metal melt. The holding furnace has a relatively large surface area and a relatively shallow depth, having a width to depth ratio in the range of 4-100 to 1. Also provided is structure (650-680) in the holding furnace for separating inclusions from the melt in the holding furnace. A quiescent transfer casting method includes melting a metal to form a melt and transferring the melt into a holding furnace. A hydrogen content in the melt is passively equilibrated with a dry atmosphere maintained in the holding furnace. Subsequently, the melt is withdrawn from the holding furnace.