How to Clean Pizza Stones

Never use soap when cleaning your pizza stone.

The secret of pizza bakers for years, and one that home cooks are beginning to learn, is to cook the pizza on a stone in the bottom of the oven. Pizzas baked on pizza stones are crispy and crunchy on the outside while staying fluffy inside the crust. Cooking on a pizza stone is simple, but cleaning the stone can cause some puzzlement. Clean your pizza stone the correct way to prevent cracking or unpleasant flavors from being transferred to the food next time you cook.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic scraper or spatula
• Plastic scrub pads

Instructions

1. Turn off your oven and allow your pizza stone to cool completely. Washing a hot pizza stone is likely to make it crack or break.

2. Remove the pizza stone from your oven and place it on a flat surface. Use a plastic spatula or scraper to remove any burnt-on bits of food that may be stuck to the surface of the stone.

3. Place your stone into a pan of cool, clear water. Use a plastic scrub pad to remove any remaining food particles that may be stuck to the surface of your stone. Keep the temperature of the water constant; don't add any hot water in an effort to get the stone cleaner.

4. Set the stone back on the oven rack and allow it to dry completely before using it again. If you need to use the oven before the stone is dry, remove the stone to a cool place to continue drying while you cook.

Tips & Warnings

• The surface of your pizza stone will become spotted and discolored through use. This is normal and doesn't affect the cooking at all. Many cooks enjoy this look as a sign of a well-used tool.

References

• The Pampered Chef: Use & Care
• Old Fashioned Living: Stoneware Savvy