stones/tiles 4 baking--where to buy, pdx area

I found unglazed quarry tiles at the Home Depot in Mall 205 a couple of years back for 99 cents each.  The staff there wasn't much help, so I had to just poke around the flooring section for 15 minutes or so until I found what I needed.

Good luck!

Floyd

I just came back from picking some up!  I don't live in your area, but I know you can find some there the way I did here.  I Google'd manufacturers on the web and then looked up their local distributors.  The manufacturers I identified were Summitville Tiles (the one I bought), and Seneca Tiles.   From there I started calling the distributors and asking for referrrals when they did not have what I wanted.  In three phone calls I had located a local tile and stone distributor that had exactly what I wanted, in stock. 

The in stock part is the trick.  If they don't have it on the floor in the warehouse, the freight is prohibitive.  I just bought 12 6"x6" brick-red unglazed quarry tiles, enough for two shelves in my single oven, for $2.90 per square foot.  They cost about $1.02 per tile with tax and all in.  I just put  them in the oven to heat them up and cook the manufacturing smell out of them.  I can't wait to bake some more bread now.

you might try Bed Bath and Beyond for their pizza stones.  They have these 20% off coupons everywhere (we get them regularly in the paper and in the mail) and with that discount you might be able to come within your affordable price range. 

Their website, BTW, is showing a 15"X14" Oneida pizza stone for $20. 

I know it's more expensive than unglazed tiles, but I've had my pizza stone for more than 20 years, multiple cross country moves, and hundreds of loaves with no breakage, so amortized over all those years it was a good buy! 

I'd love to bake on this relief tile...

Unfortunately it is priceless.  Ancient Korean.

I bought 9 unglazed tiles at Home Depot for 39c apiece a year ago.  Only 6 fit in my oven, so I have 3 spare which I should really put on the lower shelf to absorb extra heat.  Before that I had cracked 2 pizza stones, one within a week.  I think its less chance of cracking because they are only 6x6.

Salma

I have them at better prices than almost anyone else. check out my website.

Stan Ginsberg
www.nybakers.com

I am a contractor in northern minnesota, I just put soapstone countertops in for a client and ask for a piece of soapstone 19" x 23" for baking. Works great, problem is it is an inch thick and soapstone weighs 30# per sq. ft., my wife can't even lift it and we worry about the oven racks. But I can do 4 loaves on it

This 3/8" stone served it's purpose well for over 4 years(still does actually), occasionally baking pizzas. Shortly after I began baking all my breads and pizza doughs(about 6 months ago), I went to load it and discovered it had cracked.

Since I didn't discover it when it actually cracked, I can't exactly say what caused it. I can only guess it was thermally shocked, probably by a mass of cooler bread dough, or from spraying(misting) for steam. I never misted until I started baking bread.

Even though cracked, it still performs as it always has. Still makes great pizzas.

Saving up for a bigger, thicker, rectangular stone.

I found a wonderfully thick stone for bread at Bobs Red Mill. About  $29.00 a few years ago. I believe it was made locally. I think it is Best, but my memory may fail me. I also have seen many Pizza stones at garage sales especially the large church rummage sales. Odd lots or Big Lots, can't remember the name next to Office Depot at Mall 205 always carries pizza stones for around $10.00. They are not the thinest. Also Ross on 82 often has them.  I spray my bread whether on the bread stone or pizza and never had a problem. Now I use the Lava rocks in the bottom of the oven so I don't feel the need to spray. 

Try used restaurant supply for a peel. Boxer down town always has peels. Maybe they would have a stone. 

Love to hear what you find in Portland. It always changes and it's hard to keep up.

Mariah

pizza stone and metal holder for $10 about a month ago in the back to college displays.

I have a large rectangular pizza stone that I bought at Bed Bath adn Beyond with a 20% off coupon AND some unglazed quarry tiles from Home Depot - 6 at 49 cents each.    

I do find that the thicker stone does a better job, but frankly I think the quarry tiles are just fine.  Try Home Depot, if you have that in your area.

Good luck!

MommaT

I had looked high and low and either found the perfect stone at a price I could afford and the shipping was outrageous OR couldn't find an affordable stone at all....that is until I stumbles upon the site webstaurantstore.com. I got a large stone for only $10!! With purchasing two of them, even with shipping it was STILL cheaper than Bed Bath and Beyond or ALOT of other sites!! It is an AWESOME stone and is made from the same material used in bread/pizza ovens. Check it out!! www.webstaurantstore.com

Jannrn

I bought Floyd a nice pizza stone at the Troutdale Outlet Mall and it cracked. Well, so did the tiles and the cheap stone we got at Fred Meyer that he'd been using before that, and so did our oven coil heating unit (which really scared the pants off our kids - that's not an experience I recommend to anyone! We couldn't even boil spaghetti for a month after that without our son freaking out about the steam!)

In the end, I'd say he's had much better luck with the one we got off Amazon - not as inexpensive as all the other options, unless you count the price of them all together since they kept exploding! ;) We've had it for 2 years now and he's managed not to break it yet.

(arg! Edited because I put the wrong link in there! The stone is $37.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.)

Georgies in North Portland sells many different kiln shelves. Don't skimp on your baking stone or you will be going through this process again.

Try a pampered chef or superstone baker. A cast iron pan and cover, can use cast iron pan without cover. Another option is fool yourself. Set aside as much money as you can afford. Next month do it again. I bet if you think about it you probably can find many of life's pleasures you can say no to for a short time and the money adds up quickly. Another way to think of it is the saving you are doing by baking your own bread. 

Happy shopping and baking.

Mariah

I bought my baking stone at Bob's. They no longer sell them. Manufacture is Best Manufacturing in Portland Oregon. They have the stone on line in their catalogue but I couldn't find a way to a price sheet or ordering. The retail catalogue lists it and the commercial catalogue gives their phone number. I left a message for Thea in customer service to call me with pricing and ordering info. You can do the same. I will post it as soon as I know. It may be as simple as driving out there and picking it up. It is 5/8  and 14 x 16 porous ceramic.  I have splashed and sprayed and it's still going strong. I remember it being very reasonably priced. My next stone will be a larger one.

Mariah  

BEST

@P.0. Box 2009'1 Portland, 0R 97294

Tel. {503) 253-1528

Fax 1503) 253-0878 Toil f ree {800) 500-1528

Thicker is better in terms of heat retention and durability, but having used a one-inch thick baking stone for about 2 years now, I find I've had to plan on considerably more time for my stone to heat up to the desired temperature. 

Thicker is better! I am sure it will help retain more heat.  When I bought my unglazed tiles at Home Depot, since they were so cheap, I bought 9 not knowing how many will fit.  Only 6 fit and 3 are laying around in case any cracked.  I am thinking of buying 3 more and laying them under (so they stay clean) the ones I already have in the oven.  This will provide almost an inch of thickness.

Salma

I taked to Best Manufacturing today. They make only one size and do not sell to individuals. The stores that sell them and have had an order recently are:

Mirador, Pasta works, Sweetwares, SurLa Tab,  Bob's has an order in that is ready to be shipped. The stones are 5/8" and made of that Cord....stuff. I don't know how to spell it. It has been mentioned previously. The Pizza peels are made of alder. Going to one of these stores is a good option if you don't want mail order.

Mariah 

I have been using unglazed 6" quarry tiles to line the shelf in my oven for over 15 years. I have two rows of four tiles each plus one row of 4 half-tiles.

There is still space around the edges to allow air circulation. I have never had any problem with cracking.

I have also used thicker pizza stones and -honestly-I can see no difference in the results. The giggest difference is that I can bake six loaves at a time instead of two-

                                                  Jim