Brod & Taylor Bread Steel Max

Works but idk why the bottom of my loaves come out burnt!! :(

I already had the smaller bread steel, and I am grateful to have a larger one. It’s particularly helpful for something like ciabatta. I’m a fan of this company‘s products, which I find very helpful for home baking. I also have the sourdough home, and both of the lids, which can very successfully be used with this stone to get steam into your baking bread.

I genuinely love Brod & Taylor products and recommend them all the time, which is why I’m so disappointed to be writing this review. I own quite a few of their sourdough products, including their proofing boxes, Sourdough Home, bannetons, Sourdough Glass Container, Bread Shell, and Bread Steel. Most of my sourdough setup is from Brod & Taylor, and I’ve always been extremely happy with the quality of their products. The Bread Steel, however, has unfortunately been a different experience. I received it as a Christmas gift and have only used it about 2–3 times. Despite such limited use, it developed a significant orange/brown area that appears to be rust. I’ve tried cleaning it, but the discoloration will not come off. Even more disappointing, the orange residue transferred onto my Bread Shell and has permanently stained that as well. I’ve tried cleaning both pieces, and the orange discoloration will not come off either one. I’ve attached photos because this isn’t just normal discoloration from baking—the orange area is very noticeable. At this point, I’ve stopped using the Bread Steel and Bread Shell altogether and have gone back to baking my sourdough in my Dutch ovens. I’m genuinely disappointed because I love Brod & Taylor and have invested in so many of their products because of the quality I’ve experienced with them. I will absolutely continue recommending the products I’ve had great experiences with, but after only 2–3 uses, I didn’t expect my Bread Steel to look like this or for the issue to permanently stain my Bread Shell as well. Unfortunately, the Bread Steel is the one Brod & Taylor product I can’t recommend based on my experience.

Made a medium to thin crust pizza on this and it was light brown but not burnt on the bottom, just right! No more droopy slices! I hesitated to buy any steel because of the weight, but this one is easy to manage; just wait until it's completely cool before cleaning off the flour bits. Very happy with our new steel!

Having aged into a bad shoulder, I can no longer lift the challenger bread baker. This is an excellent substitute with the light aluminum covers. We also leave it in the oven as a base for our cookie and Jelly Roll pans. It evens out the heat and gives a crisper bottom to our other baked goods.

This steel heats up quickly as promised with great spring on my sourdough french loaves and baguettes. So glad I bought it. Well worth the money!

I got started with baking sourdough during the winter this year. I am always looking to improve the whole process in general. I really appreciated reading the reviews which helped me to decide on my purchase of the baking shell and the max baking steel. What really appealed to me was cutting out the preheat time (40 to 45 min), whether using cast iron or clay. I admit I was nervous on my 1st bake with the baking steel. The loaf turned out beautiful! The bread had a nice rise and was browned evenly top and bottom. I took the advice in the brochure that accompanied the steel and shell. I used a piece of tin foil on the lower rack, as a precaution, to prevent burning. I am "extremely pleased" with this combination. I do have 1 question though. With the summer heat dome going on, we have in the past baked the bread on our charcoal Green Egg to keep heat out of the house. Would it be safe to use the baking steel and shell in the Green Egg? We use a cast iron diffuser during the baking process.

Another excellent product. Improved the quality of my bread and pizza baking. Easy and efficient to use.

I already had the smaller steel and love it but sometimes I want to make two loaves at once and couldn’t and this new steel is still light enough that I can easily put in oven or remove. I have a 27” bosch oven and the steel fits the exact measurements of my oven rack and can now fit the two loaves perfectly but you do need two lids as well if making sourdough loaves. Love the fact that aside from two loaves, it will make it easier to use when making pizza or even baguettes.

I had been using my heavy dutchovens to bake my sourdough. Heavy, hot and cumbersome. The baking steel was a gamechanger, lightweight and easy to store. The texture of the crust has improved on the bottom. I would recommend the extra large.

I am baking for the first time today. Do I need to preseason the steel ever? How do I create steam on the bread? Spray the bread? Very excited to use my birthday present!

This steel, paired with the baking shell, is the best purchase I've made for my sourdough baking. The loaves are beautiful with a wonderful ear. The steel works great for making a pizza as well. It saves electricity since the steel is ready for baking when the oven is to temperature for my bread. It has cut my bread baking time more than half. A wonderful bonus is that it isn't heavy for me to move. I love this product and highly recommend it.

I am loving the Bread steel. My sourdough is cooking perfectly.

Absolutely loved it so much, I bought my SIL one too. As we are starting our SD journey together

My first bake of bread on the steel produced a loaf with a perfect bottom crust. No more dark bottom loaves for me!

The baking steel has helped with consistency in my oven and bakes! Thank you!

This steel is just the right size for my level of baking. Not too heavy and holds heat very well! Results in the pic.

I've thoroughly enjoyed sourdough in my Dutch Oven, but I like to see how it's baking and that's impossible. With the B&T Steel Max, I get great oven spring and I can see it! While it's heavy, its lighter than most, but has exceptional peformance.

dont hesitate this is one of the best tool in my kitchen. open bake method for the win!

Great material. Brod and Taylor is one of my favorite companies for baking. I have bought many items from them and love them all.