How to Clean a Pizza Stone
Do you use your pizza stone? If not, you might want to start. Pizza stones are a great way to cook and bake different foods like bread, pizzas, and pies!
As you use your pizza stone, grease will accumulate on its surface from all the cooking. This isn't good for your food or for your oven.
It's time to learn how to clean your pizza stone.
Before we start, know that most stones are not dishwasher safe or easy to clean with soap and water.
It is possible to wash yours lightly in the dishwasher, but it's not recommended. There may be a risk of scratching or chipping if you do so repeatedly over time.
Here’s how to clean a pizza stone in 10 easy steps.
1) Make sure your pizza stone is cool.
Allow your pizza stone to cool completely before cleaning it. The stone could crack or break if it comes into contact with water while it’s still hot.
2) Scrape the surface lightly with a plastic spatula or scraper.
Use the spatula to loosen any melted cheese or stuck-on bits.
Do not use a metal spatula or knife, as these can scratch the stone.
If you can’t get a lot of food or dirt off of your stone, don’t worry. We’re just getting started!
3) Wipe the loose food and crumbs off the pizza stone.
Wipe off any remaining debris with a soft cloth. Be careful not to scratch the pizza stone.
4) Make a baking soda paste with three parts baking soda and one part water.
If some crusty bits remain, try spot-treating them. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste.
5) Scrub the pizza stone gently with a scrub brush.
Apply a small amount of the paste to the problem areas on your pizza stone. Then scrub it gently with your brush in a circular motion.
6) Wipe off the pizza stone with a dry cloth.
7) Cook off the stubborn bits.
If you still see baked-on pizza on your stone, don’t worry.
Place the pizza stone in the oven then turn the heat up to 500°F.
Once it reaches that temperature, let the stone cook for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. This will break down the stubborn stains.
8) Let it cool for 1-2 hours before using it again.
9) Once it’s cool, wipe off any excess bits of food.
10) Let it air dry.
How to Dry a Pizza Stone
After you’ve cleaned the tough grease and bits off your pizza stone, set it on a wire baking rack or prop it up on something. Or make one by rolling a few cylinders of aluminum foil. Set your stone on the foil and let it dry completely.
Allow it to air dry completely for one to two hours. Don't skip this step.
Note: If you use your oven to dry the pizza stone, the water trapped inside can lead to cracks.
That's all you need to do to clean your pizza stone. Keep reading for more tips and tricks.
Should I oil my pizza stone?
Do not apply oil to your pizza stone. Pizza stones are made of porous material, so They will absorb the oil into the stone and it eventually go rancid. It will also your pizza stone difficult to clean.
Oil also leaves a strong smell when it burns off. Pizza stone manufacturers never recommended oiling your pizza stone.
To keep the stone safe and dry, store it in your oven whenever you are not using it.
Say goodbye to grease stains with these best kitchen degreasers out there.
Can I use soap to clean my pizza stone?
Like with oil, manufacturers will tell you to never clean your pizza stone with soap. Since the stone is porous, soap will absorb into it and you may be left with a soapy tasting pizza after use. Yuck!
It's important to dry your stone completely before cooking. This will improve the performance of your pizza stone. It'll also prevent any chemicals from getting soaked into the surface.
Do pizza stones stain?
Pizza stones do stain if they go a few weeks without cleaning. Even with cleaning, as months pass, pizza stones stain.
Most pizza stone manufacturers will tell you that stains are normal on pizza stones. They are just a sign of aging and do not affect the performance or flavor of your oven in any way.
If you are having trouble removing a stain, don't worry! The marks and stains on a stone will not affect its performance. All porous cookware, like pizza stones, will stain and darken with use.
How do you get pizza off a stone?
Getting pizza off your stone is easy. All you need is a plastic scraper to lightly scrape the baked-on food from your pizza stone. Don’t use metal, because it may scratch the stone.
If you are having trouble, heat up the pizza stone for about 10 minutes in your oven first. Then use the scraper to remove the tough baked-on pizza.
Don't use a damp cloth. If a hot pizza stone comes into contact with water, it may crack.
To help with cleanup, cover the pizza stone with foil before putting it in your oven. Foil is safe to use in your oven.
This will keep the food and debris from falling onto the bottom of your oven or sticking to the oven racks.
Why is my pizza stone black?
Pizza stones are made of a porous material so they absorb fats and oils from your pizza. Over time, this will darken the stone. This is not harmful to your pizza stone and it does not affect cooking performance or flavor in any way. In fact, this blackening is natural.
Be careful that you don't cook any food with a strong odor on your pizza stone. It might absorb the odor of fish or vegetables like onions and garlic.
You might look at your black pizza stone and wonder: do I need to get a new one? The answer is no. Most pizza stones last several years, even after developing these black stains. Just do routine cleaning after every use or when you notice buildup.
It's important to clean your stone because it can make your oven dirty. Neglect a few cleanings and your oven can get grimy fast.
Wipe out your oven after every couple of uses to prevent any buildup of grease and food residue from cooking. This will keep your oven cleaner for longer!
In Summary
We hope that this step-by-step guide on how to clean a pizza stone was helpful for you. Remember: don’t worry too much about stains or blackening over time. It’s natural!
Also, avoid oiling your stone or cleaning it with soap. It will absorb which may leave a strong smell or make your pizza taste soapy. Just clean your pizza stone with baking soda paste after every use or two and it’ll last you for years.
Now that you’ve started cleaning, you might as well keep it up! Check out the articles below to continue your cleaning spree.
