In the event that you enjoy handmade pizza, you have most likely already purchased a pizza stone. In addition to heating uniformly to produce the precise baking temperature for pizza dough, this specialty cooking equipment include a porous surface that absorbs moisture from the dough while baking, allowing you to achieve a crispier crust than you would obtain with a regular baking sheet.
You should never clean the stone with anything that you would not be comfortable eating because the stone is porous and will absorb any soap or cleaning that you use. It’s also a good idea to wait until the stone is completely cool before cleaning it, as abrupt temperature swings might cause it to crack. When it is submerged in water, it will keep its moisture for a considerable amount of time
It is necessary to have the following materials:
- Cleaning a pizza stone with a nylon dish brush (such as this one)
- Scraper made of silicone
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Dishcloths
Using a Pizza Stone: Cleaning Instructions
Make certain that the stone is absolutely cool before you begin. Wet the stone with only a tiny amount of hot water. A pizza stone brush is then used to scrub the surface. This low-cost cleaning tool is well worth the investment, but if you don’t already have one, a nylon dish brush can suffice in the interim.
Most pizza stone brushes come with a scraper built in, or you may use a silicone pan scraper to scrape away stuck-on food particles.To clean the stone, use a moist cloth to wipe away any crumbs or grease, then wipe the stone down completely with a clean dishcloth.
With a damp cloth, wipe away all of the baking soda from the stone, and then dry it with a dish towel. Always allow the stone to cure completely before attempting to make another handmade pizza on top of it.
How to Clean Your Stone by Hand
- Allow for thorough cooling of your stone.
Allowing it to cool in the oven for an hour before handling it is recommended; otherwise, there is a risk of it cracking, especially if it is exposed to cold air or water after being baked.
- Sticky food can be removed with a blunt object, brush, or scrape.
Clear away any remaining parts of uncooked beans that have become stuck to the surface of your granite with a stone toothbrush or a plastic spatula. Slightly scrape the baked-on food away from the stone’s surface with a soft spatula.It is possible to scratch your stone if you use a metal spatula to clean it.
- Never use soap on your pizza stone since it can damage it.
If you clean your stone with soap, it is important to note that this will cause permanent damage to the stone. Pizza stones are porous, and soap will seep into their pores and impart a soapy flavour to the meal they cook on top.
- If required, wipe the surface of your pizza stone with a wet cloth
Clean the pizza stone with a damp towel soaked in warm water. Remove any loose food particles that you were able to loosen when scraping with a damp cloth.
- To avoid using your pizza stone again, we recommend soaking it in water
A bath may be required to loosen burnt or baked-on muck before it can be scraped off. Place the pizza stone in a bowl of plain water and soak it overnight before attempting to scrape it once more. Keep in mind that your pizza stone will collect a significant amount of water throughout the soaking process; therefore, let it to dry entirely for a week or so before using it again.
- Please allow for complete drying of your stone before repurposing it
It is also possible for a pizza stone to break in the oven if it hasn’t been allowed to completely dry before being re-inserted into the oven. During the heating process, water becomes trapped in the stone’s pores, weakening the stone’s structural integrity. To use your pizza stone again, allow it to dry for 1-2 hours before using it.
- Any type of oil should not be applied directly to the stone
When you cook anything on your stone, olive oil or any other fat may cause it to smoke. In contrast to popular belief, which holds that this seasoning process seasons the stone like a cast-iron pan, it actually absorbs oil rather than forming a non-stick surface.
Cornmeal can be sprinkled on top of your stone to produce a non-stick surface.It is natural for oils from food to leech into the pizza stone, and doing so will cause no harm. After you’ve cooked pizza or other items on your stone, it’ll organically season itself.
- Accept the discolored pizza stone as a part of your cooking experience
There are usually many black, discolored patches on a well-used pizza stone. Right out of the package, it doesn’t appear to be a brand-new slab. A pizza stone, on the other hand, improves with use.
Instructions for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Pizza Stone
A pizza stone allows you to replicate the effects of a brick oven in your home kitchen. To achieve a brilliantly crisp crust, the porous stone absorbs and holds heat evenly throughout the pizza dough while eliminating unnecessary moisture from it. To keep your stone in top condition, follow these guidelines:
Keep your pizza stone free of soap at all times. It will be absorbed by the pores, and you will be able to taste it when you prepare your next pizza. Keep your stone out of the water at all times. Remove any baked-on food from the stone with a stiff, dry brush or a plastic scraper once it has cooled entirely, and then wipe it down with a damp cloth when it has cooled completely.
