Do you consider yourself a pizza lover? Of course, you do! Who doesn’t love that perfect combination of crispy, melted cheese and delicious toppings piled onto a hot slice of cheesy goodness? Whether it’s stumbling home from a late night at the bar for some extra greasy pepperoni or grilling up some gourmet slices with friends on a sunny afternoon, pizza is always there to fulfill your cravings.
But if you take your pies seriously, then one kitchen staple you need to invest in is a pizza stone. A quality pizza stone can help create amazing homemade pizzas with crispy crusts perfectly cooked through – but only if it’s properly maintained. In this blog post, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about cleaning your pizza stone so that your favorite snack continues to impress!
What is a pizza stone?
While a pizza stone is sturdy, heavy and heats up like a stone, it’s actually not a real stone. Pizza stones are flat pieces of unglazed clay that are usually about one inch thick and round. They are meant to fit inside a home oven, so they are usually small enough for a standard oven rack.
Pizza stones exist because most regular home ovens don’t get hot enough to properly cook certain styles of pizza. Thinner crust styles, like Neapolitan and New York pizzas, tend to suffer from the lower heat of a home oven, which is why the crust is never quite right without a stone, no matter how much you labored over making the perfect dough.
Pizza stones absorb heat easily and retain that heat for a long period of time. This mimics the effect of a pizzeria’s brick oven by raising the temperature and providing an extra-hot surface to bake the pizza. The higher heat creates a perfect pizza crust but can also cut the baking time to less than 10 minutes, meaning you can pump out pizzas like a real pizzaiolo.
How to Clean a Pizza Stone
Cleaning your pizza stone is a crucial step to ensure that you always get the best tasting pizzas. After using, it’s important to clean and maintain the pizza stone so it will last you for years to come. Here are four steps on how to properly clean a pizza stone:
- Let cool: Allow your pizza stone to cool completely before cleaning it. Again, it could crack or break if it comes into contact with cool water while it’s still hot.
- Scrape lightly: Use the spatula to loosen any melty cheese or stuck-on bits. Do not use a metal spatula or knife, as these can scratch the pizza stone.
- Wipe the stone: Wipe off any remaining debris with a soft cloth.
- Make a paste: If some crusty bits remain, try spot-treating them: Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste.
- Use it as a scrub: Apply a small amount of the paste to the spot and scrub it gently with your brush in a circular motion.
- Wipe the stone again: Wipe up any debris with your damp cloth.
- Cook off stubborn bits: If there are still chunky bits that you can’t remove, 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 about an hour to cook off the stubborn bits.
- Let dry: Allow your stone to dry completely (for at least 1 to 2 hours) before using it again.
What to Use to Clean a Pizza Stone
A pizza stone is flat and usually made of a porous material like ceramic, stone or cast iron. The pizza stone will absorb whatever substance you use to clean it with. This can potentially impact the flavor of the food. Also, too much moisture will affect the pizza crust texture.
The pizza stone absorbs moisture from the dough when heating the pizza, making a crispier crust. If there is water trapped in the stone, it won’t cook the crust to a crisp.
Always make sure the pizza stone has cooled down before attempting to clean it. Heat can be trapped in there, and you don’t want to burn your hands or drop the stone like a hot potato.
The tools you need to clean your pizza stone are likely already in your kitchen. You want to use a tool that is thin and can slide under stuck pieces of food or something abrasive to scrub away leftover grime. Try to have one or more of these handy when it’s time to clean your pizza stone:
- Bench scraper
- Blunt table knife
- Metal spatula
- Plastic spatula
- Stone brush
- Sandpaper
- Scouring pads
- Toothbrush
Some of these tools could scratch your pizza stone, so only use them when you can’t get rid of burnt or stuck pieces of food any other way. No matter what you do, never use dish soap or any cleaning chemicals on your pizza stone unless you like the taste of soapy pizza. The only cleaning liquid you should use with your pizza stone is water — and even that should be used in moderation.
Key Takeaways
• A quality pizza stone helps create amazing homemade pizzas with crispy crusts.
• Pizza stones are flat pieces of unglazed clay about one inch thick and round. They help raise the temperature of a home oven and provide an extra-hot surface to bake the pizza.
• Cleaning and maintaining your pizza stone is a crucial step for achieving the best tasting pizzas.
• Use a stiff bristled brush, baking soda paste, and warm water to properly clean the pizza stone. Dry thoroughly before storing or using again.
• Now you know how to clean a pizza stone the right way, so go forth and enjoy all the delicious pizzas your heart desires!
Preparing the Stone
Now that you know how to clean your pizza stone, it’s time to learn how to prepare it for the oven. Before preheating, sprinkle some cornmeal (or other grain) on the surface of the stone. This will help prevent the crust from sticking and give you an extra crispy base. Once your pizza is ready to go in the oven, slide it onto the preheated stone and watch as your homemade masterpiece bakes up perfectly!
Scrubbing the Stone
As a general rule, you should never use soap or detergent when cleaning your pizza stone. The porous material is designed to absorb the natural flavors of your food, so using a harsh cleaner might risk imparting an unpleasant flavor. Instead, stick with the simple steps mentioned above and you’ll have a beautiful stone that will last for years!
How to Clean Pizza Stone With Baking Soda
Stains on a pizza stone are symbols of love and attention. Think of the delicious pies you’ve created and baked on your stone. These stamps of good meals and good times are natural and desired parts of the stone. There is no need to remove the stains unless you can’t stand the sight of them. If you want to remove stains, here’s what to do:
- Remove pieces of food first by scraping them away with a spatula or brush.
- Make a paste that consists of equal parts water and baking soda. For example, you might mix 1 tablespoon of water with 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
- Scrub the paste on the stains. Use a brush and work the paste in circles until the stains are removed.
- Wipe with a damp cloth.
- Allow the stone to completely dry.
For grease stains, cover the spot with the baking soda paste, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub the paste off with a brush and wipe the stone down with a damp rag. Unlike soap, baking soda will clean the stains off the stone without affecting the flavor of future pizzas.
Remember, it’s natural for your pizza stone to have darker stains, and you don’t need to worry about over-cleaning. A darkened pizza stone means more seasoning and better non-stick power. Be proud of your stains!
To season a new pizza stone naturally and without caking it with oil or grease, bake a loaf of buttery bread or some cookies on your stone to begin the seasoning process. Just avoid cooking anything with a strong smell on your stone, such as fish, because the stone might absorb the odor.
How to Clean a Burnt Pizza Stone
If there are pieces of food that refuse to come off with a scraper or brush, you can give your pizza stone a deep clean in the oven. Here’s how:
- Set the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the pizza stone in the oven on the top rack.
- Allow it to bake for about an hour.
- Check the stone. There should be grease bubbles forming and popping.
- Start the auto-clean cycle when the bubbling has stopped. If the stone is very dirty, it might produce a lot of smoke.
- Pieces of food should burn off.
- When the cycle has finished, wait for the oven to cool down.
- After it is cool, remove the pizza stone and wipe it down with a clean cloth.
Finally, if the heat doesn’t clean the stone, you can sand down crumbs with a piece of medium-grit sandpaper.
How to Clean a Moldy Pizza Stone
If your pizza stone is moldy, the stone may have been exposed to too much moisture. Moisture is necessary for mold to grow, so you may be forgetting to let your pizza stone dry completely before storing it.
So, what should you do? Try a baking soda and vinegar paste to remove the mold. All you need to do is:
- Mix a splash of vinegar with around a teaspoon of baking soda until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency.
- Scrub the mold with a brush and the paste.
- Clean the stone with a damp cloth.
This paste can be used to remove stains, too. If this method does not get rid of the mold, you may want to toss your beloved pizza stone and get a new one. Although most molds cannot survive temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it might not be worth the risk to keep a moldy stone.
Other substances like bleach, detergent, hydrogen peroxide and tea tree oil kill mold, but we don’t recommend using any of these on a pizza stone. Remember, a pizza stone is porous, so it would absorb any chemicals placed on it, and some mold-killing chemicals are toxic.
Keeping Your Pizza Stone Safe
Yes, boring old water is the only moisture you want to introduce to your stone. However, there is a baking soda and vinegar paste you can use for cleaning, which we’ll discuss in more detail later. And here’s what not to use on your pizza stone:
- Soap
- Cleaning chemicals
- Oils
Oils from the foods you cook will naturally build in the stone and make it a non-stick surface. If you let the pizza stone get too wet, the stone will not bake the pizza crust right. Instead, you want your pizza stone to be completely dry before using it. If necessary, you can use a damp towel to sweep any crumbs away, but make sure the pizza stone is dry afterward. We do not recommend putting your pizza stone in the oven to dry it because any trapped water in the stone could cause it to crack.
Wash Your Pizza Stone With Soap
It’s important to note that you should never use soap or detergent on your pizza stone. Soap and cleaning chemicals can damage the seasoning of a pizza stone, as well as leave behind residues that could give your food an off-taste. Instead, stick with warm water and a stiff brush to clean your stone.
Before you douse your friend or spouse with dish detergent as revenge for destroying your pizza stone, take a deep breath. It might be okay. In fact, if your pizza stone was already heavily seasoned, you might not even notice a soapy taste. But to be on the safe side, here’s a trick you might try:
- Spread pop-can crescent rolls or old pieces of bread on the pizza stone covering the surface.
- Bake the rolls as instructed or until the bread is toasted.
- The dough you used should absorb the soapy flavor.
- Toss the crescent rolls and bread in the garbage or feed them to the person who used soap on your pizza stone. Just kidding — it was nice of them to wash your dishes, after all.
If you still notice a soap flavor, don’t toss your pizza stone just yet. Try cleaning it with one of the above non-soap methods to help get rid of the soapy taste. The seasoning will build up again over time and cover unwanted flavors.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to use soap on my pizza stone?
A: No, you should never use soap or detergents on a pizza stone. It can damage the seasoning and leave residues that could affect the taste of your food. Instead, just use warm water and a stiff brush to clean it. If needed, you can also make a baking soda and vinegar paste to remove tough stains or mold. But remember, never put your pizza stone in the oven to dry it, as this could cause it to crack due to trapped water. And if your pizza stone has been soaped accidentally, you may be able to save it by baking pop-can crescent rolls or old pieces of bread on it and then discarding them. This should help absorb any soapy residue. Otherwise, it might be time to invest in a new pizza stone.
Q: How do I remove mold from my pizza stone?
A: It’s important to never use bleach, detergent, hydrogen peroxide or tea tree oil on a pizza stone. These substances can kill mold but also leave behind residues that could affect the taste of your food. Instead, try using a stiff brush and warm water to remove any surface mold. If the mold is stubborn, you can make a paste of baking soda and vinegar and use that to gently scrub away the stain. And be sure to always allow your pizza stone to dry completely before using it again. This will help prevent new mold from developing on the surface. Finally, if the mold has become a persistent problem, it might be time to invest in a new pizza stone.
Q: Should I Oil My Pizza Stone?
A: No, you should never oil your pizza stone. Oiling or greasing of any kind can cause the pizza dough to stick and ruin the baking process. Instead, let oils generated from cooking build up on the surface naturally over time. This will help create a non-stick barrier and make cleaning your pizza stone easier in the future.
Q: Can You Wash a Pizza Stone in the Dishwasher?
A: You should not put your pizza stone in the dishwasher. Pizza stones are not dishwasher safe and may become damaged if washed in this way.
Q: Can You Self-Clean a Pizza Stone in the Oven?
A: Never leave your pizza stone in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle because the stone may break or crack.
Q: Can You Use Steel Wool on a Pizza Stone?
A: Avoid using steel wool on a pizza stone because anything metallic or sharp could scratch the stone. Instead, use a bench scraper, stone brush or sandpaper to scrape stuck-on debris from your pizza stone.
Q: How Do You Get Stuck Food off of a Pizza Stone?
A: If your pizza stone has some stubborn food residue stuck to it, place the stone in the oven at about 500 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. Once the stone is hot, it will be easier to scrape off any remaining debris because it won’t be as crusted onto the stone.
Q: How Can You Get Grease Stains Out of Your Pizza Stone?
A: To get stains out of a pizza stone, mix water and baking soda into a paste in a small bowl. Cover the stain with a bit of the paste, then use a brush to gently scrub the paste in a circular motion. Rinse the paste off, and the stain should be removed.
Q: How Often Should You Clean Your Pizza Stone?
A: Try to wipe down your pizza stone after each use when any stuck-on cheese or other debris will be the easiest to scrape off. This way, you don’t have to deep clean the stone with baking soda and a scraper or brush as frequently — only when food residue really starts to pile up.
Q: Can You Get All of the Stains Out of a Pizza Stone?
A: No matter how much you clean your pizza stone, you won’t be able to get every stain out. But don’t worry — these stains won’t affect the taste of your pizza creations. In fact, some people claim these stains can enhance the taste!
Q: Can You Soak a Pizza Stone in Water?
A: Never submerge your pizza stone in water because any moisture trapped in the stone’s pores could affect the texture of your next pizza crust.
Q: Should You Air Dry a Pizza Stone?
A: You should allow your pizza stone to air dry instead of baking it dry because forcing any absorbed water out in the oven could make the stone crack.
Q: How Long Does a Pizza Stone Take to Dry?
A: A pizza stone takes about an hour or so to air dry completely and be ready to use again.
Q: How Long Should a Pizza Stone Last?
A: A pizza stone is remarkably durable and able to withstand years of wear and tear. Some true pizza fanatics can even use the same stone for more than a decade!
Conclusion
Cleaning a pizza stone is a simple process that can help you ensure your pizza crusts are perfectly crisp and flavorful every time. A good scrub with soap-infused water and a stiff brush can have your stone looking like new. To further protect the stone, it’s important to never use detergent, steel wool pads, or cleansers meant specifically for ovens on the surface of the stone; they’re too harsh and will damage it. Regular cleaning sessions also mean that seasoning won’t build up and go rancid over time. And lastly, remember not to rush the process: give your tool plenty of time to dry out before using it again. Keep an eye on your pizza stone cleaning efforts– when done correctly, how to clean a pizza stone isn’t a difficult job but one that will pay off in a scrumptious reward each time you make homemade pizzas! From preheating low-and-slow to avoiding any harsher materials than necessary to clean, now you know how to take care of this kitchen staple with ease. What’s more delicious than knowing that your cooking tools as well care as the meals you prepare?
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John Battaini
Hi, my name is John Battaini and I am the founder of Wonder Pizza USA. We are the world’s foremost authority on pizza vending machines, with many years of experience and knowledge in the industry. In addition, we are also a collection of pizza enthusiasts with a lot of knowledge about PIZZA.