Brod & Taylor Baking Shell (Batard)
$85.00
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Guests are saying
The baking shell has transformed the bread-making experience for many guests, offering a lightweight and easy-to-use alternative to traditional heavy cast iron pots. It effectively retains steam and heat, resulting in beautifully risen loaves with a perfect crust. Guests appreciate its versatility, allowing for various loaf shapes without the hassle of preheating. While some have experienced minor sticking issues, the overall feedback highlights its efficiency and the quality of the baked bread.
Summary created by AI from text of reviews reflecting recent feedback provided across different star ratings (includes incentivized reviews)
4.8 out of 5 stars with 168 reviews
5 out of 5 stars
6 September, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
First time user of the batard
The batard helps my sourdough loaf come out perfectly!
5 out of 5 stars
2 September, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Kitchen Bell
Total freedom now from blazing hot - and heavy- cast iron dutch ovens when baking sourdough boules. But since receiving the item, I have used it to cover dough proofing bowls, placed it over loaf pans when baking sandwich bread (goodbye to lava rocks and ice cubes), used it as a cover for cakes and pies... I'm certain the list will grow with time and use. I now call it my "kitchen bell"!
5 out of 5 stars
29 May, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Works great
The baking shell is easy to use and so light. It works as well as my cast iron pots-maybe even better.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 4 months ago
Robin, we're Bouled over by your five-star review! Happy baking!
5 out of 5 stars
23 May, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
So easy to use
The crust of my first loaf using the shell was beautiful. No more using my heavy Dutch ovens. The shell is so light and easy to work with
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 4 months ago
Rick, we're so glad the baking shell is making your baking life easier and turning out such beautiful bread! Sounds like your Dutch oven days are behind you! Thanks for the great review!
5 out of 5 stars
24 April, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Excellent
An excellent tool to achieve better baking results for my loaves.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
Annette, we're so glad the baking shell is helping your loaves come out beautifully - thanks for the wonderful review!
5 out of 5 stars
21 April, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Fantastic!!!
Lightweight, yet holds steam and heat beautifully. SO much easier than cast iron!
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
Mary, we're dough-lited to know that your Batard Baking Shell is working out so well! Happy baking!
5 out of 5 stars
14 April, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Well worth it
After multiple fails and restarts, the combination of the right instruction with the right tools transformed my sourdough bread from meh to awesome. The baking shell consistently creates good oven spring and improved the texture of both the interior and exterior of my bread. It's lightweight and easier and safer to use than heavier, awkward options like a Dutch oven. The shell worked well with both my old baking stone and my new baking steel. I purchased the boule version of the shell, but nearly always bake batards. The boule version works well for both shapes.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
Stan, we're dough-lited to know the Boule Baking Shell has transformed your sourdough bread! Happy baking!
5 out of 5 stars
10 April, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
(no review title)
Lightweight and yet holds heat beautifully. I checked a couple of ice cubes underneath it and it even held the steam in. I cook on top of a cast iron sheet with this on top. It's perfect for sourdough.
5 out of 5 stars
4 April, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
My game changer
Love this baking shell.Light & easy to use. I wish Brod&Taylor will have non-stick options in the future.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
Ying, we're on a roll hearing the baking shell has been a game changer for you, and your loaves look absolutely beautiful! We'll pass along your non-stick suggestion to our team!
5 out of 5 stars
31 March, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Amazing and Lightweight
I love my baking shell! I wish Brod and Taylor would make a big baking steel that would fit 2 batard shells side by side but it works great with another brand and I love the results. It is so much easier and safer to handle than a smoking hot HEAVY pan/dutch oven! I purchased a refurbished one and it looked like new.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
Siera, we're so glad you're loafing the baking shell and that the refurb looked brand new! We'll make sure to pass along your suggestion for a double-wide steel to our team!
3 out of 5 stars
31 March, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Not my favorite purchase....
On one hand I love using this baking shell anytime I'm making a plain batard with no inclusions. No hour long preheat saves a lot of time and the shell is so lightweight. I also think my loaves come out beautiful so no complaints there. Unfortunately though, if I'm doing any sort of inclusions then I wish I'd gone a different route. I just brutally ripped the side off a ham and cheese sourdough loaf because a tiny bit of cheese fused to the side of this thing during the steam bake. I try to be so careful about placing the shell perfectly over the top of the dough but then one side will expand slightly more and it'll be a fight for my life trying to separate the shell from the loaf in a 450 degree oven.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 5 months ago
KAT, thanks for your honest review. We are thrilled to hear that your baking shell is great with plain batards. However, when it comes to inclusions, we would love to help you troubleshoot your issues. Many times we find customers add inclusions to their base dough without adjusting their final dough weight. Please make sure to adhere to our dough capacities on the product page - a max of ~800g final dough weight for the Batard Shell. In addition, properly developing strength as well as shaping with tension are especially important with additions to base doughs as this helps in maintaining shape. For more tips and tricks, and if you have any additional questions/concerns, please reach out to our customer suppor team at contact@brodandtaylor.com.
5 out of 5 stars
20 March, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Lightness
This shell is so light! What a difference from heavy Dutch ovens!
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 6 months ago
Kate, we're dough-lited that the Boule Baking Shell has made your baking easier!
5 out of 5 stars
26 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
(no review title)
This is amazing. It ha a few minir scratches but works perfect. So light weight!! Game changer for my mini loaves!!
3 out of 5 stars
25 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Bread sticks to the shell
When I bake high hydration sourdough, the expanding loaf bakes onto the shell. Then I have to pry the finished loaf off the shell with a spatula. I've also tried using parchment between the shell and the loaf. That prevents the sticking, but I wind up with a flat spot on the loaf where it comes in contact with the shell. The oven spring using the shell is only slightly better than not using the shell. That includes placing ice cubes under the shell. It does enable some nice blistering on the crust. Bottom line - I wouldn't buy this shell again and I'll stick with using a Dutch oven that I already had.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Thank you for your honest review. Please check your email - one of our customer support specialists has reached out to help troubleshoot your issues!
5 out of 5 stars
19 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
So easy to use
This shell works perfect with the baking steel. It is so easy to use and the rise and crust I have been getting on my bakes are perfect!
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Rebecca, we're glad the Boule Baking Shell is making your baking easier and more consistent. There's no better feeling than pulling a loaf out of the oven that has the perfect rise and crust - a true winning combination!
5 out of 5 stars
18 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
So glad I decided to try it.
I bought the boule baking shell to try since dutch ovens are getting to be too heavy for my back. I finally got a chance to use it to bake my first batard earlier this week. I love that it's lightweight and cools off quickly. It worked great along with the bread steel.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Cindy, we're glad the boule baking shell made your batard baking easier and safer. Lightweight and quick to cool, it sounds like a perfect match with your bread steel!
5 out of 5 stars
15 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
The Baking shell
It worked perfect, I put my 9x5 loaf pan on a cookie sheet and then the large shell over it and did not have to balance another loaf pan on the other loaf pan.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Sandra, we're dough-lited the Baking Shell made your setup simpler and more stable. No balancing acts required is always a win in the kitchen, especially with hot pans! Thanks for sharing how you're using it and for the review.
5 out of 5 stars
13 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Excellent tool
Works perfectly, and as novice bread baker with a twitchy back, this baking shell makes a difference! Love it.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Hilary, we're so glad the Baking Shell is making bread baking easier and more comfortable for you. It's great to hear it's helping you focus on the bake without the heavy lifting. Thanks for sharing and happy baking!
5 out of 5 stars
10 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Saves me from the heavy lifting
I'm so glad to be relieved of hauling the heavy Dutch oven to be pre heated and then all the shuffling to load the bread to cook. Now I can load my bread onto my oven steel and cover with the much more manageable baking shell. It's a big upgrade.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Nancy, we're dough-lited to hear the Baking Shell has saved you from all that heavy lifting, and exactly why we developed the Bread Steel and Shell. Thanks for baking with us!
4 out of 5 stars
2 February, 2026
originally posted on brodandtaylor.com
Perfect for the job!
I have been using my giant Le Crueset Dutch oven upside down to make my sourdough. Has to be preheated, very heavy, difficult to pick up without smushing the bread. This does the job MUCH better. Lost one star because i think it's overpriced for what it is.
1 reply from Brod & Taylor Customer Service team - 7 months ago
Kristine, we're dough-lited the Batard Baking Shell is making your sourdough baking easier and safer than the upside down Dutch oven method. We appreciate your feedback on value and will keep it in mind as we continue to improve our products.