What can I substitute for a bread stone/warmer??

[SandrA9810]

I had a brilliant idea of using a bread warmer for Christmas Dinner. We're having dinner with friends, and I'm bringing the bread, and probably some pies and other goodies. I found a really cute woven basket, now I just need a stone to put in the bottom.


Every store I walked into, the associate looked at me like I had 10 heads. I've tried high end store, low end stores, and even grocery stores.
I've looked in:
Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Sears
Jc Penneys
Macy's
Garden Ridge
Walmart
Target

I've called:
William Sonoma
Sur La Table
Tuesday Morning
Home Goods
Central Market (grocery store)
Whole Foods (grocery store)
Crate and Barrel
Ace (restaurant supply)
and maybe a few more.

Tomorrow I'm going to go search out thrift stores. I've seen them before at thrift stores in Cali, but never picked one up. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't have brought it with me.

My aunt suggested those terra cotta plates for plants. But I'm not sure if that's safe for it. Do they treat it with anything?

I'm in Dallas, so there's pretty much everything here. Well except for bread stones apparently.

 

[thebeesknees]

Maybe a ceramic tile from Home Depot or Lowe's? Would one of those work to warm in the oven and then put your bread on it? You could always wrap it in foil if you didn't want it in direct contact with your food.

 

[scrapquitler]

I had a brilliant idea of using a bread warmer for Christmas Dinner. We're having dinner with friends, and I'm bringing the bread, and probably some pies and other goodies. I found a really cute woven basket, now I just need a stone to put in the bottom.


Every store I walked into, the associate looked at me like I had 10 heads. I've tried high end store, low end stores, and even grocery stores.
I've looked in:
Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Sears
Jc Penneys
Macy's
Garden Ridge
Walmart
Target

I've called:
William Sonoma
Sur La Table
Tuesday Morning
Home Goods
Central Market (grocery store)
Whole Foods (grocery store)
Crate and Barrel
Ace (restaurant supply)
and maybe a few more.

Tomorrow I'm going to go search out thrift stores. I've seen them before at thrift stores in Cali, but never picked one up. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't have brought it with me.

My aunt suggested those terra cotta plates for plants. But I'm not sure if that's safe for it. Do they treat it with anything?

I'm in Dallas, so there's pretty much everything here. Well except for bread stones apparently.

Try an unglazed tile from Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[java]

Sur La Table was a liar liar pants of fire they sell it

http://www.surlatable.com/product/P...3EB&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&mr:adType=pla

 

[MommaluvsDis]

I bought my stone and basket from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

 

[beansmom]

http://www.ehow.com/way_5817786_homemade-bread-warmer.html

"That's where your luck comes in, because you can easily repurpose the base of an unglazed terra cotta planter to fulfill this task for all your bread-warming needs. It's necessary that it be unglazed, because you don't want any nasty chemicals leaching into your food, nor fumes poisoning the air as you heat the disks up. Make sure you know that the terra cotta planter base you choose has not been manufactured or otherwise treated with any chemicals that would be harmful to you or your family, such as lead paint.

If you're sure that the unglazed terra cotta planter base you've chosen is reasonably safe, all you'll need to do is heat it up in your oven or microwave for a few minutes. Wrap it in some decorative dish towels or linen napkins, and then place it at the bottom of your bread basket. Arrange your warm bread attractively on top of it, top the bread basket with another napkin or dish towel, and your bread will stay pleasantly warm and tender throughout the duration of your meal."

 

[carebee21]

Most pizza stones say they can be used for bread as well; I'm fairly certain they're made out of the same material. I'd bet if you called asking for a pizza stone or baking stone you'll find one.

 

[SandrA9810]

Sur La Table was a liar liar pants of fire they sell it

http://www.surlatable.com/product/P...3EB&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&mr:adType=pla

I actually spoke to two associates on the phone. The first one said they didn't sell any bread stones but had other stones for like pizza making that were smaller. The second associate I talked to, when I called back to ask if they could set something aside for me, had two or three others looking on the sales floor. They were sold out of everything. Of course, they were one of the few stores that knew what I was asking for.

I bought my stone and basket from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

I checked the shelves of that store myself. The only thing they had were 14" pizza stones. Of course the guy looked a bit clueless too as to what I was asking for.

At Sears, the girl tried to send me down to the jewelry department.

 

[SandrA9810]

Most pizza stones say they can be used for bread as well; I'm fairly certain they're made out of the same material. I'd bet if you called asking for a pizza stone or baking stone you'll find one.

They're usually too large. I think 10" is about as small as I've seen it.

My basket is maybe 8"x5"

 

[SandrA9810]

I guess I'll be heading out to Home Depot tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure a terra cotta planter dish would work.

I don't want any nasty surprises with my rolls, especially since I'm serving them to more than just family. Even then, I wouldn't want to have any chemical poisoning.

 

[Straitlover]

Get an unglazed tile at HD and wrap it in a towel. Works great!

 

[lovehoney]

What about a brick or river stones wrapped in aluminum foil. You could put them in the bottom of the basket and cover with a towel.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

why don't you just use one of those microwave heat packs under the towel/cloth in the basket ?

 

[mbf]

So weird, I was just thinking about this today! I am so glad for all of these suggestions. I am going to go to my local hardware store tomorrow to look for some unglazed tile or terra cotta pot bottoms.

 

[3boymthr]

A brick. It's what they used to use. They have those 1/2" paver ones at garden stores.

You could also just go out in the yard and get a large flat stone and wrap it in a cloth napkin.

 

[SandrA9810]

I picked up two 4" terra cotta planter plates. They were 78 cents at Lowes. I did read two websites that said to coat the plates in oil, place in cool oven and heat to 350. Once it reaches 350, turn it off and let it cool overnight in the oven. The following day, do the same thing. Then it'll be sealed.

I'm washing mine first to get all the dirt off of it, then it'll go in the oven tonight.

 

[Green Tea]

Any tile will work. Just wrap in foil and heat in the oven.

 

[mbf]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone has put out. I stopped at my local hardware store today and picked up a fireplace brick (about 1 inch thick) that is not too large. I will wrap that up in foil and use it!

 

[SandrA9810]

The bread stayed toasty warm till dinner was served today. We were visiting with friends today, and had about a 1/2hr drive. I pulled the bread out of the oven just before walking out the door.

Next time I see one at the thrift store, I'll remember to pick it up.