I just started looking to buy a few bannetons and was surprised at the cost. These are simply a wicker basket (I'd eschew pulp style for personal preference) - the sticker shock I got probably comes from the fact that everything has gone up in price in the last few years.
That said, what do bakeries do? It is my understanding that they need quite a few of these.
I saw a bunch on TEMU.com for single digit prices, some even come with a cloth liner/cover. Has anyone tried these? I'm going to order a couple and I'll report back here.
Any comments? A search here yielded suggestions to try Cost Plus - but they are gone....
have a constant stream of baskets of all sizes and shapes being donated to them, around here, anyway. Typically sell for a buck or two. I prefer the oval ones and sew up liners from old cotton sheets. Works great.
Back in the day, luckyclover.com was the best cheapest place to source banatons. That is if you didn't mind sourcing from unscrupulous small far eastern countries that could possibly be using child labor. Anyway, I digress. The last time I visited the site the only banatons I could find were listed under the closeout tab. You still may be able to find a deal. By the way synthetic bread baskets from the restaurant supply work a treat too.
Kind regards,
Will F.
For boules, I have a number of stainless steel mesh colanders which I line with appropriately sized hemp canvas squares and cover (top and bottom) with shower caps. The colanders have come from various sources but the best ones I have were from Crate & Barrel with some similar ones from Bed Bath & Beyond. Try Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Michaels, ...
For baguettes I use a homemade hemp couche cut from bulk hemp yardage and finished with straight stitch 1/8" from the edge and oversewn with zigzag to 19" x 36'. Best current source I know of for the hemp yardage is:
https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/Pure-100-Hemp-Canvas.html
I bought several medium sized plastic colanders from a Dollar Store, for $1 each. I line them with squares of unbleached linen cut from a piece I bought at a fabric store. For boules up to about 750 grams they work perfectly.
OldWoodenSpoon