Frieling 8-inch Round Brotform

Yes, these bannetons do lend an interesting look to the loaf of bread, but its function is its value to bakers. It was/is used primarily for breads leavened with a natural yeast/bacterial culture. Breads made with these cultures ferment over a long period of time, and produce acids and alcohol which weaken the gluten structure of the bread. This results in a flatter loaf. These baskets are used to support the shape of a round loaf in the case of this round 'boule' basket. The loaf is turned out and immediately slid on a stone (or pan) and baked, scored or not. The idea of cleaning them is not very practical. I have used them for years and never clean them. If they build up too much flour, I use a paring knife to scrape out the dried bits in the grooves and start over. It is kind of like seasoning an iron skillet. If you don't get it wet and reuse it with the flour in it, your bread will stick less and less each time, until you can simply invert the dough onto your peel with...Read more

My husband is bread baker and I purchased the round Brotform for him. Advertised as "Ideal for baking European-style hearth breads"
Unless you click the discrete link "Read all product information" they don't tell you it was made in China and until it arrives you won't see the lack of quality.
I thought I was buying an authentic Banneton, not a poorly crafted (over priced) imitation.

After mixing your dough and letting it rise the first time, this basket helps shape the dough into a perfect loaf, with an interesting pattern on the crust. My first loaf with this basket turned out perfectly. It is much easier than hand shaping a loaf, and much more rustic/natural than using a loaf pan. The natural coils shape and decorate the loaf the old-fashioned way. When it's done rising, carefully remove it from the basket and care fully put it on a pre-heated bread stone in the oven. The loaves look and taste great.