There’s nothing to hate about a pizza stone, as it rewards you with a palatable pizza with a crispy crust! But when it comes to cleaning, then things can be a bit grueling.
The bursting cheese and sauces spread over the pizza make the pizza stone dirty, and thus you have to clean it with special care.
Unlike a dish, you cannot throw the pizza stone into the sink as it’s delicate and can get damaged. Also, experts recommend that you should use the least soap to clean the pizza stone or avoid using it?
So how to clean the grime or grease when using a soap detergent isn’t an option? Well, cleaning a pizza stone requires a special regime, and we’ve discussed it in this article.
Here is a definitive guide on how to clean a pizza stone.
What is a Pizza Stone?
So you don’t know what a pizza stone is? Or you have never used one while making pizza at your home? You are missing something big!
A pizza stone is like a portable oven brick that maintains the temperature inside the oven and heats the pizza quickly while making the crust crispy. Moreover, the best pizza stone is a must-have item to cook pizza evenly, so you should get it at the earliest.
Below mentioned, is a complete process of cleaning a pizza stone. We have classified the cleaning process into multiple categories depending on the type of cleaning it needs.
How to Clean a Pizza Stone
Materials Needed:
Generally, pizza stones are manufactured using porous materials, including stone, and ceramic.
The high porosity of these materials makes the pizza stone absorb the liquids spread over its surface; let’s say soap, and that’s why it is recommended to keep the stone far away from fish soap.
Cleaning the stone with soap will lead to its absorption, and you will surely get the taste of the dish soap next time you use the pizza stone. Here is the list of items required for cleaning the stone effectively.
Most of these items are available around your house, so you don’t have to rush to the market to get them.
- Toothbrush
- Bench scraper
- Metal spatula
- Plastic spatula
- Stone brush
- Sandpaper
- Scouring pads
- Blunt table knife
Step 1: Wet the Surface
Wet the surface of the pizza stone using a small stream of lukewarm water. Make sure that you are not pouring excess of water as it can seep into the pizza stone due to its high porosity.
Moreover, a wet pizza stone takes much time to dry, and you cannot use it until it is entirely dry.
Step 2: Use the Stone Brush
Now use the stone brush to scrub the pizza stone thoroughly. Also, scrub the ends, and the complete area to get rid of the grime and the grease.
Step 3: Wipe off With a Rag
Take a small damp rag and wipe off the pizza stone. Don’t hold the cloth against the stone for a prolonged time as it can wet the stone again. Rub the rag gently to clean the surface.
Step 4: Let it Dry
Let the stone sit in the air to dry, or you can also use a clean towel to dry it quickly. Handle the pizza stone with care when you use the towel during it as it can slip easily due to its smooth surface.
If you think that the stone requires no water for the cleaning, then avoid using it! You can scrape off the grime and grease using the brush, and then wipe the stone with a damp rag.
Also, store the stone into the oven always so that it remains safe and it gets seasoned every time you switch on the oven. However, the oven will take much time to preheat with the stone kept inside.
So there are stains on the pizza stone? Well, normal cleaning will not help in removing the stains, and you have to follow a different cleaning approach to eliminate the stains. Continue reading the article to find out how to get rid of stains from the pizza stone.
How to Clean Stains from the Pizza Stone
Are you planning to throw away the pizza stone due to stains? Those stains on your pizza stone clearly depict that you have used it for preparing some mouth-watering pizza recipes.
Stains on a pizza stone are common, and you can remove easily by following this step-by-step cleaning process.
Step 1: Remove Grime and Grease
Start with removing the grime and grease using a stone brush or a spatula. You can even heat the pizza stone a bit as it will caramelize the crud sticking on the surface.
Step 2: Make a Cleaning Paste
Now make a cleaning paste using equal parts of baking soda and water to form a thick paste. Spread it over the pizza stone where you see the stains, and start scrubbing. You can even use a brush to scrub better with the paste.
Move the brush in a circular motion as it will clean the grains of the pizza stone. Keep on scrubbing until you see the stain coming off. Also, you can sprinkle some baking soda directly on the tough telltale stains for better cleaning.
Step 3: Wipe the Stone
Take a damp rag and wipe the paste. You will surely see a new shine on the pizza stone as baking soda is a natural cleaner that works great on smooth surfaces.
Step 4: Let it Dry
Let the stone dry completely before you use it for preparing pizza. You can use a dry towel to remove the moisture from the stone.
If your pizza stone has got dark with the usage, then it’s pretty common! A seasoned pizza stone is better to use as it retains the heat and gives a grip to the pizza while cooking.
Do you see mold formation on the stone? It is due to the excess of moisture, and mold needs to be removed quickly as it can ruin the pizza stone, and you cannot use it for preparing pizzas and other stuff anymore.
How to Clean Mold from the Pizza Stone
Cleaning a moldy pizza stone is not similar to cleaning a stained one. You need different cleaning ingredients to remove the mold, and here’s how to do it.
Materials Needed:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Stone brush
- Damp cloth
Step 1: Prepare a Cleaning Paste
Mix a little amount of baking soda and white vinegar to form a paste of Nutella like consistency. Make sure to mix the paste thoroughly so that it works well on the pizza stone.
Step 2: Spread the Paste and Scrub
Spread the paste on the moldy area and scrub using a stone brush. Don’t scrub too hard to protect the stone from any damages. Also, clean using the brush in a circular motion for better cleaning.
Step 3: Clean with a Damp Cloth
Wipe the paste using a damp cloth when you are done with removing the mold. Vinegar and baking soda together work effectively in removing the mold. Always protect your stone from moisture to ensure that there is no mildew formation in the future.
You might be thinking that bleach and hydrogen peroxide works better in removing mildew, and that’s true! But you cannot use them to clean pizza stone, as these chemicals are harmful.
The surface of the stone is poured, and it will absorb any chemicals exposed to its surface, so you are making the pizza stone toxic by using any chemicals on it.
Tips to Protect Your Pizza Stone
Now that you have cleaned your pizza stone, it’s time to protect it from all elements that can either damage it or make it unfit for use. Here are some tips you should keep in mind while using a pizza stone.
Keep It Away from Oil
Never use excess oil on the pizza stone; it will make the surface slippery, and the pizza crust will not cook properly. The oil oozing out from the food is enough to lubricate the surface, and it will make the stone’s surface non-sticky.
Don’t Wash It with Soapy Water.
As discussed above, you should protect your pizza stone from moisture as it will make it unfit for use. In case you have washed the pizza stone accidentally with soap, then here’s what you can do about it. Throwing the stone is not a good option before you follow the remedies listed below.
- Spread some pieces of old bread on the stone to cover the entire area.
- Put it into the oven and start baking the bread.
- The bread will absorb the soapy water from the stone, making it fit for use.
- If you still smell some soap in the stone after baking the bread, then bake another batch of bread to remove the soap completely.
- Toss the baked bread into the bin as it’s not safe for consumption.
Handle it With Care
Handle the pizza stone with care as it can break due to temperature shock. Never take the stone out of the oven when it is too hot, as the cold counter will result in cracks on the pizza stone. Let the stone sit inside the oven for some time, and then take it out for cleaning.
Never Clean a Hot Stone
Do not make this mistake if you want your favorite pizza stone to last longer. First of all, handling a hot pizza stone is hard, and secondly, pouring water on the hot surface will result in its breakage.
Don’t Overheat It
Overheating the pizza stone is also something you should avoid doing. Never put a cold stone into a hot oven as the sudden change in temperature can damage the stone. Preheat the stone with the oven before transferring the pizza over it.
Here’s how to preheat the pizza stone
Put the pizza stone into the oven and set the temperature around 500 degrees F for about an hour or at least 30-minutes. In the meantime, you can prepare the pizza topping when the stone is getting ready to reward you with a crispy-crust pizza.
Check out this article to find out the importance of preheating a pizza stone correctly.
Conclusion
Having a pizza stone is indispensable to prepare restaurant-like pizza and other dishes at home. And with this cleaning guide, you can take the best care of the stone during its spick and span all the time.
For your ease, we have categorized the cleaning process, and you can follow the one depending on the type of cleaning your pizza stone needs.
Also, keep these tips in mind to ensure a decent lifespan from the pizza stone. Do let us know if you find any issues while cleaning; we’ll make sure to revert to you at the earliest with another panacea to clean the pizza stone.
