“I have been using lava stones in a baking tray under a refractory stone for many years. The system works well. So much so I was worried that buying a Challenger might be wasted money. It wasn't. The Challenger heats to 250 C in 30 minutes in my oven if I split it across two shelves. My refractory stone took 50 minutes. The dough cooks faster in the Challenger as opening the door to load the dough resulted in minimal temperature drop. The Challenger retains water vapour very well. I mist the dough before putting the lid on and when it is time to remove the lid to 'build the crust' there was little crust already formed. Perfect! That means the uncovered period is not thickening an already formed crust to make one thicker than I would like. Result? Thin crackly crusts.”
“The moment you grab one of these bread pans you know it’s built to last. The pan has no drawbacks and is pretty much perfect in every way for the results we’re all looking for in bread: crispy, airy, crunchy, fluffy, delicious bread.Love this pan.”
“A fantastic bit of kit! I have used it 4 times, so far, and I have produced some of the best sourdough loaves ever! The pan is well designed and well made. It is expensive but it is a great investment.”
“Love it! Is it necessary? No. But absolutely worth the price tag if you love baking. Heavy and heavy duty, I suspect it will last several lifetimes, infinitely easier than the casserole pot I have been using for the last year and it creates an amazing crust on the loaves. Arrived quickly and well packaged.”
“A superbly made item that is perfect for baking sourdough bread. Trial and error leads to excellent bread. You have to get your oven temp sorted and learn how to manoeuvre the pan and lid whilst cold before diving in to bake bread. It’s a heavy item and needs careful handling when it is very hot, but practice makes it manageable and the design of the handles is excellent. I’m new to sourdough but even my first loaf was beautifully baked and it is clear this pan will be an heirloom. An exceptional product.”
