Remember my stoneware loaf pans?

15 years ago

Do you remember when I was looking for some ceramic loaf pans, and I picked up 4 off of Freecycle? They were brand new, still had the stickers on them.

I only use them for baking bread, and they get these little shadowy cracks in the dishes. It doesn't feel cracked, the dishes are perfectly smooth.

Does this mean they aren't really heat-proof, even though on the bottom says they are.

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Comments (16)

Cherryfizz
15 years ago
Personally I wouldn't use them now they are cracked. I don't like the idea that "stuff" would leach out from the clay into my food. Cracks form, bacteria gets in. I don't use any dish for food that has a crack in it but that might just be my own issue. LOL

Anne
ntt_hou
15 years ago
The stoneware may be heat proof but not the glaze. Also, does it stated what is the max temperature? Many are only safe up to 350F degrees.

I just use cast iron loaf pans.
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Oh, WOW! Now that looks so yummy. Not to hi-jack your post, but my tale of honey-wheat bread. We used to buy frozen honey-wheat bread dough and bake it, all of the family just loved it. Then I had a temporary lay off from my job so I decided to try to make my own at home, so I bought all the makings, including a large jar of dry yeast. I mixed up the first batch, let it raise, put it in the pans, let it raise again, then out it in the oven. MMMM the smell was so good. When the time was up, took the pans out of the oven and they were flat. After a short cooling time took them out of the pans and they looked like bricks. I repeated this several times with the same outcome. My son, Brian finally said if I made enough of these we could build a BBQ. LOL They tasted good, just......flat. That was the end of my home made bread making, until I got a bread machine, years later. Jasdip, THAT is what a loaf of bread should look like. Pans are cute too. Good going!
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Jasdip
Original Author
15 years ago
I don't know that they are cracked though. As I said, the stoneware/ceramic is perfectly sealed. Just these shadows show up, that look like heat fissures.
cynic
15 years ago
I know nothing about them but it looks more like stains to me than cracks.
petaloid
15 years ago
I had that happen to a ceramic pie pan too, and I don't know why. I used normal temperatures to bake the pies, and they came out fine.
breenthumb
15 years ago
Could it be age cracks, crazing ? I find those sometimes in older things, although yours look different--so far. The cracks are inside and surface is still intact.
cwnev
15 years ago
It is the glaze that is cracked, or crazed. You can't feel it, but it is cracked just the same. I wouldn't use them for cooking. Bacteria gets in and stays. also, could cause and explosion in your oven next time you use them if the filling or liquid soaks down into the clay part and then heats up.

I am a potter and know all about clays cracking in the oven. Happened more than once here.

They were probably those cheap walmart pans you find at the holiday time. I see them every year, look so cute with a pie or cake mix in it and all wrapped up pretty to be a gift. Not really usable though.

Same with some pans you will find dollar stores. They come from china and unless they are well made and the clay and glaze are of the same quality you will get those tiny hairline cracks.

I have some of my pottery that I do use even though it is cracked. I just use them for fruit or something NOT liquid and I do not bake in them.

Usually pottery is dishwasher safe and oven safe if made properly.

For what it's worth.
Jasdip
Original Author
15 years ago
Darn.
It's not easy finding ceramic loaf pans. I have 1 metal one that I use for meatloaf, and wanted some stoneware, ceramic, etc for my breads.
dotmom
15 years ago
Years ago I had dinnerware that was Ironstone. I just loved them, but after a few years, they formed these cracks, that i couldn't feel. The dishes were discontinued, so I couldn't get them any more. I looked it up and it was called crazing. I didn't use them for company any more, just displayed in the hutch. As for you using your pans, Jasdip, I guess I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you. They are pretty pans, I can see why you liked them.
ntt_hou
15 years ago
Jasdip, have you tried to look them at TJ Max/Marshalls, Ross and Tuesday Morning? I find decent stoneware from Italy and Le Creuset there. Good quality stoneware loaf pans are plenty there too.
Jasdip
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm in Canada, Ntt, and we don't have those stores near me.
Prior to being given these from Freecycle, I had looked all over for stoneware pans, to no avail.

Pampered Chef probably has something but I don't like their prices! I'll probably have to stick with metal ones.

Here they are when I first got them and posted them here.
cwnev
15 years ago
Yep, those look like the cute, cheap ones you get at the holidays. Mostly for decoration. You can find them at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels.... usually used for decoration, not to bake in.

If you find some other cheap ones, you might have luck by not preheating your oven. My pottery is oven safe IF I put it in when cold, and then heat it up while the oven heats up. If you put them in a preheated oven, that could cause the crazing.... the glaze can't handle fast temp changes.
ntt_hou
15 years ago
They are very pretty. Too bad they're not of good quality.

From Canada, can you order from Amazon.com? They have lots of loaf pans to chose from, some are very affordable. I see one from Corningware which is pretty quality and price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stoneware Loaf Pans at Amazon
cwnev
15 years ago
I did a search for pampered chef loaf pans+cheap... got this.

You might check out other places, ebay or this place. The prices are better anyway....

http://bakingstonesforless.com/Baking-Stones/Pampered-Chef-Stoneware-Baking-Stones

Here is a link that might be useful: pans for less
Cherryfizz
15 years ago
I use Pyrex loaf pans for my quick breads and even to bake bread. I collect vintage Pyrex and have a few of them but always use the same white Pyrex loaf pan.

Anne
Jasdip
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, I'll be on the hunt at second hand stores for some loaf pans, I think!

Remember my stoneware loaf pans?

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