How to Clean a Pizza Stone
Since they’re not a household staple, there’s a lot of mystery on how to clean a pizza stone.
Pizza stones are unglazed clay. Their material enables them to hold higher temperatures and distribute heat evenly, simulating a brick oven. The high heat allows the crust to cook faster, yielding a better pizza.
As helpful as these tools are for pizza lovers, they aren’t dishwasher-safe. Instead, you can hand clean your pizza stone using the following directions.
How to Clean a Pizza Stone After Use
Cleaning a pizza stone after each use is simple. Here’s what to do:
- Wipe the stone with a dampened rag
- Scrape off the stuck-on crust using a plastic spatula or a stone brush
- Dry with a towel
- Allow the stone to fully dry before storing
Don’t use soap, oil, or cleaning spray on your pizza stone. Water is all you need for regular cleanings.
Pizza stones are unglazed and, therefore, porous. Porous surfaces absorb liquid, so using anything other than water can alter the stone and the taste of your pizza.
How to Clean a Burnt or Stained Pizza Stone
If you’ve burned pizza onto your stone, allow it to cool, and then scrape off the food with a stone brush or a plastic spatula. Wipe with a cloth dampened in water only.
Get rid of grease stains and stuck-on food:
Make a paste using equal parts baking soda and water. For example, if you use ¼ cup of baking soda, add a quarter cup of water. Dip a microfiber rag into the solution and scrub the stained areas. Rinse with cool water and towel dry.
If there are still noticeable grease stains on the stone, apply your baking soda paste and allow it to set for ten minutes before wiping it off. The baking soda will absorb some of the grease.
Get rid of burnt spots that won’t come off with baking soda:
If, after cleaning, there are still burnt spots on the stone, try cooking them off. To do this, heat your oven to 500 degrees F and cook the stone for one hour. You may notice smoke as the food and grease burns off.
After cooking it, allow it to cool before wiping it with a damp cloth.