versaTILE unglazed quarry tiles?

[spymonkey]

Hello, this is probably a silly question, but I went down to Lowe's earlier today to find some unglazed quarry tiles, and I found some with the brand name versaTILE.  On the box, it said something about containing .1% silica or something, and that if the tile breaks, the dust could cause problems to the lung or something.  Is this typical of unglazed quarry tiles?  I thought that unglazed quarry tiles were pretty much the same despite the brand, but I guess I could be wrong.  So I asked a worker if they were ok to cook on, and he told me that unglazed quarry tiles were terrible for holding heat, which I thought was definitely wrong, but now I am befuddled.  Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

[Ronzo]

Those are the same ones I bought. They hold heat fine.

[spymonkey]

Thanks for the quick reply.  So do you suggest any sort of procedure for burning the tiles in, so to speak?  Anything besides just plopping them in the oven before I heat 'em up?

[GioTurano]

Hello, this is probably a silly question, but I went down to Lowe's earlier today to find some unglazed quarry tiles, and I found some with the brand name versaTILE.  On the box, it said something about containing .1% silica or something, and that if the tile breaks, the dust could cause problems to the lung or something.  Is this typical of unglazed quarry tiles?  I thought that unglazed quarry tiles were pretty much the same despite the brand, but I guess I could be wrong.  So I asked a worker if they were ok to cook on, and he told me that unglazed quarry tiles were terrible for holding heat, which I thought was definitely wrong, but now I am befuddled.  Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

Yeah, that guy was quite wrong.  Those are the same tiles I've got, and not only do they hold heat, I'm pretty sure they generate their own energy in a strange sort of matter/antimatter dilithium crystal kind of way.

Seriously, they're just fine.  I simply rinsed mine off with hot water before using them (don't use soap, as it may be absorbed into the tile), and let the oven do the rest on the first hour-long preheat at 500 degrees. 

Good luck. 

[spymonkey]

All right, thanks for all the replies!

[Ronzo]

Spy... I agree with Gio 100%



I'm happy with my tiles. Less than $15 for a box of 16 beats buying a $50 stone any day.

[gpaparo]

Can someone post a picture of what the tiles look like.  I am going to purchase the same ones.  Thanks.

[Pete-zza]

I have been meaning to try out unglazed quarry tiles just to compare with the other methods I use (pizza stones and screens). However, when I went to both Lowe's and Home Depot the other day, neither had the 8-inch tiles like nytxn recently purchased from Lowe's. Lowe's had no unglazed quarry tiles whatsover. They told me that they could order some for me but I would have to take a box of 50 tiles, at a price of close to $50. I managed to find some 6-inch tiles at Home Depot, at $0.30 each. There were only about 10 tiles left, which I bought. I would still prefer the 8-inch size but I guess the 6-inch will have to do for now. One advantage that Lowe's has over Home Depot when it comes to tiles is that Lowe's will cut them for you (I didn't think to ask whether there is a charge). Home Depot doesn't offer that service.

You might want to call ahead to see what unglazed quarry tiles Lowe's or Home Depot has in inventory. Don't be surprised if they don't know what you are talking about. When I have been in the stores and tell store workers that I want the tiles that I can bake on, they look at me as though I was just dropped onto the planet by an alien spaceship.

Peter

[GioTurano]

Can someone post a picture of what the tiles look like.  I am going to purchase the same ones.  Thanks.

I've found them in 8X8 and 6x6.  I use them doubled up, to form a heating surface about an inch thick. 

They weren't hard to find, but good luck in your quest all the same. 

[Ronzo]

Gio,


Them's the ones I got too.


Mine have burnt cheese, sauce, and semolina all over them now though.


  LOL



Pete,
When I went to Lowes (during a lunch hour), there was no one working the tile section. I just looked around until I found the tiles.

They were on the floor. I was looking for the 6x6 but they only had the 8x8. Trade ya! LOL

[GioTurano]

I have been meaning to try out unglazed quarry tiles just to compare with the other methods I use (pizza stones and screens).

I got my tiles at a local flooring place (20 for 8 bucks) but Lowe's had them as well.  The guy at the flooring place wasn't surprised in the least when I told him what I was doing with them.  Go figure.

I also use a screen, then transfer the pizza to the tiles after about three minutes.  (I call it a screen, but it's actually just a 14" aluminum disc with holes punched in it.)  It's made all the difference in the world so far; I can use a higher hydration without worrying about the skin sticking to the peel, and there's no difference in the taste or texture.

[Ronzo]

(20 for 8 bucks)

BLAST IT!!!!



LOL!

[Pete-zza]

I revisited my local Lowe's on the chance that I missed the versaTILE unglazed tiles when I was last there. They still weren't there, but I did confirm that Lowe's will cut tiles. For the Lowe's I was at, the first five cuts are free. After that, it's $0.25 a cut. Using the dimensions of the oven rack on which the tiles are to be placed, it should be fairly easy to get the layout for any desired pattern and have the tiles cut for that pattern. I found that using 6-inch tiles in 3 rows (to make an 18-inch pizza) won't work in my oven because the oven door won't close completely. An 18-inch screen will just about make it.

Peter