I have been using a dutch oven for making my sourdough bread...one loaf at a time!! I have a double oven and would love to be able to make upwards of 2-3 loaves in each and I'd rather not have to invest in that many DO. I have seen several articles about using lava rocks to help with the steam. Just wondering if pieces of granite would work? What about any other type of rock that I can take from my neighbors yard ;).
Thank you!
I don't use DOs, but have a custom cut 3/4 inch thick granite slab that lives in the lower box of my double oven for years now. I went to a kitchen counter fabricator and gave them the dimensions, picked out the stone from their yard and it was ready a day later. Maybe I got lucky as they charged me only US$20.
If you buy a slab ensure that you leave some room on each side between the stone and the oven walls.
Any rock or even metal will do, but many prefer lava rocks as do I. Cheap as can be at a gardening/BBQ center. Perhaps popular because they are lightweight.
Won't do any good. I would suggest finding out why lava rocks are used and matching those properties (then you'll see why granite isn't used). enjoy!
Don't really do a good job (IMHO). You need a lot of hot surface area to vaporize the water quickly then shut the door and trap it. I think alfonso is advocating the use of granite as the base stone rather than as a steam generator although I may be mistaken. He also uses 'Sylvias Steaming Towels' for his steam strategy. I use a Rofco steam tray that forces water over many hot metal rods to vaporize the water and you only need a littte water (2-4 oz depending on oven size) as it will expand greatly.
Just read that post and I think something may have gotten lost in translation. I was commenting on the op and granite as a steam generator as compared to lava rocks.
And on that, and the reason for my other post - (I'll save folks the trouble of looking it up) - lava rocks are very porous - they can hold a lot of water - and ya can't have steam without water. The wet towel works great - cuz it'll hold a lot of water - like lava rocks. Just keep it wet so it doesn't have a chance to combust! Enjoy!