Learning how to clean a pizza stone is important because the pores on the pizza stone absorb anything you put on it. If you clean it with chemical detergent or soap, then all those chemicals will be released on your pizza next time you use it. Also, you can damage the pizza stone if you use the wrong cleaning techniques.
You should take good care of your pizza stone. There is no way to make a restaurant quality pizza at home without it. Home ovens work at much lower temperatures compared to the ones at your local pizzeria. Pizza stone solves this issue. You can even cook additional pizzas with a heated pizza stone after you turn off your oven; they are so powerful.
What Is A Pizza Stone?
A pizza stone is a portable piece of stone which absorbs moisture as the pizza cooks on it. It is a key element for making crispy crust pizza and also great for baking artisan style bread. It basically fits into your oven and you cook your pizza on it. You get the pizzeria style crispy crust pizza when you have one of these. If you haven’t bought one yet, here is a selection of the best pizza stones, reviewed by us.
Make sure you cool off your pizza stone before you clean it. Principally, it should not be cleaned regularly since it gets seasoned from the food you cook on it. Clean only when something gets stuck on it.
How to Take Care of Your Pizza Stone?
When you first receive your pizza stone, clean it well with a damp cloth. After each use scrape off any corn meal or flour dust remained from pizza cooking. Wiping off any stuck cheese and flour after each use significantly improves the lifespan of your pizza stone. Your pizza stone will darken in color over the years; do not try to bleach it or attempt to clean with any kind of detergent or similar.
Can You Wash A Pizza Stone?
Never wash your pizza stone or you will ruin it. They are not made for soaking in water either. The porous material will get harmful additives from the soap and you won’t be able to use your pizza stone ever again.
How Do You Clean A Dirty Pizza Stone?
First, let the pizza stone cool down. Then scrape off any stuck food particles on it preferably by using a plastic scrapper. Get a clean damp cloth towel and wipe its surface really well. This should make it as good as new.
How Do You Deep Clean A Pizza Stone?
If regular scrapping method is not working for you then there is a technique you can use to deep clean your pizza stone. Get a clean bowl and add equal parts of baking soda and warm water. Mix well till it turns into a thick paste form. This method is very effective and it is also used for deep cleaning old pans. Before using the soda mixture make sure that you scrapped all the hard particles from the stone with a plastic scrapper. Get a brush and start scrubbing the soda mixture on the stone. All the dirt should come out easily. Once you are done, take a damp cloth and wipe it well. Do not use it before it gets fully dried.
Can Stoneware Go in Dishwasher?
No, stoneware should never be put in a dishwasher. The stone can easily absorb the dish soap and it is really harmful to your health. Buy a new one if you can’t clean it with the deep cleaning method above; you are better off without the hospital bills.
Can You Wash A Pizza Stone with Soap?
You must not wash a pizza stone with soap because it’s made out of porous material, and the soap foam will fill the gaps. Unless you like your pizza with soap flavor then do not wash your pizza stone with soap. Use a wet towel and a plastic scrapper instead.
In Conclusion
Pizza stones are fragile when it comes to cleaning. You can’t just add detergent on it and clean up or soak it in deep water to get rid of those stuck food particles. The good news is that they don’t need to be cleaned often. Pizza stones get seasoned as you cook food on them since they absorb moisture. Think of it as an additional flavor that builds up over the years. But I am not saying that you should never clean it. Get a nice soft plastic scrapper to scrape off the surface really well and then wipe with a damp cloth. That’s all it takes!
