How to Cure an Oven Stone

Stone tiles can be used for more than just baking pizzas.

Overcome some of the problems of baking in an oven with natural hot spots by using an oven stone. Oven stones, also called pizza stones or baking stones, help to regulate the temperature of the oven, reducing hot spots and promoting more even cooking. Oven stones are the secret to baking breads and pizzas with a crunchy exterior and soft interior. Before using an oven stone, cure it to keep it from becoming damaged during use.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon scrubber

Instructions

1. Scrub the surface of the oven stone with a nylon scrubber under warm running water.

2. Place the stone in the bottom rack or on the floor of a cold oven.

3. Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake the oven stone for 30 minutes to cure it.

4. Leave the stone in the oven until you bake next.

Tips & Warnings

• Unglazed terracotta tiles can be used as oven stones.

• Preheat the oven with the oven stone inside for 30 to 45 minutes before baking.

• Bake foods directly on the oven stone or on the rack above it. The oven stone retains heat from the oven and slowly releases it into the cooking chamber, making up for hot spots in the oven found when not baking with an oven stone.

• Do not use soap on the oven stone's porous surface if you will cook directly on top of it. The soap gets into the pores and imparts a soapy flavor on any food baked on the stone. Scrubbing food off the surface with warm water and a scrub brush will remove food particles.

References

• "Damon Lee Fowler's New Southern Baking: Classic Flavors for Today's Cook"; Damon Lee Fowler; 2005
• "Baking With the St. Paul Bread Club: Recipes, Tips, & Stories"; Kim Ode; 2006
• "From a Baker's Kitchen: Techniques and Recipes for Professional Quality Baking in the Home Kitchen"; Gail Sher, et al.; 2004