looing for good quality baking stone or unglazed quarry tiles in Montreal

[kleinca]

Hello. I am trying to find a high quality baking stone (not the cheap ones at Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire) to make pizza and bread in my oven. Failing that, I have heard that unglazed quarry tiles can be used as a substitute, but I haven't found them at Rona or Reno Depot. Does anyone on this list know?

Cherie.

[Simon Patrice]

I've been using an Old Stone Oven (IIRC) pizza stone for at least 2-3 years and never had a problem. I bought mine at Quincaillerie Dante but they also sell them at La Soupière on Ste-Catherine O. There is a clearance sale going on at La Soupière so it might be cheaper there.

[mtlalex]

Out of curiosity - what's wrong with the cheap ones?

[C70]

they tend to break if heated too quickly/used wrong.

[wattacetti]

I have used unglazed terra cotta tiles which I had purchased years ago at Rona; they were in the tile section *and* the gardening section but I haven't looked in either for years. You may be able to find something at Montreal Brique et Pier. Note that the terra cotta tiles are very fragile and chip/break/shatter pretty easily.

I have a couple of American Metalwork cordierite stones on order from a US restaurant supply store. Have not been able to find similar in Montreal, but these were $50+ shipping and will cover the available oven space.

While it does work, the dutch oven method is limited to certain doughs and bread forms e.g. you're not doing baguettes in one nor does something like vollkornbrodt work.

[Whygee]

I've heard that you can get good results with a "kiln" stone" (used to bake pottery). Unfortunately, the only place I know that sells them is SIAL in Laval.

However, I've havent tried it yet. For the bread, the dutch oven method will yield the best results.