Pizza stones are portable cooking surfaces that are used generally for baking. They are usually made of clay, marble, or ceramic but more recently, salt has been used. Due to these materials’ poor heat conducting properties, it is not likely that food will burn when they are used for baking and this is what makes them suitable.
A pizza stone is used by placing the food to be baked on it and thereafter they are both placed in an oven to cook. As the oven heats up to higher temperatures and the food cooks, the stone with its thermal mass remains intact preventing the food from burning. Baking stones are more like cookie sheets only made with different materials and most times not as large.
It is not uncommon to see that baking stones are used in cooking pizza therefore it is usually referred to as pizza stones especially when they are specifically designed to do so. These types are designed to be porous so that it absorbs any moisture from the dough thereby making it crispier and crusty.
Pizza stones can easily fit most conventional ovens and it can also be placed on barbecue-styled enclosed grills whether that be gas or charcoal heated. Asides from the normal materials used, it can also be made with metal and they come in varying degrees of thickness but the best thickness for quick heating is around ½ inch. But for better all-round heating, you need something thicker.
They can also come in different shapes with a circle been the most popular shape. Other shapes include square or rectangle.
Pizza remains one of the favorite foods for Americans. It’s crunchy, can be homemade, versatile, sharable, customizable, and filling. Making pizza at home can be challenging without the right set of utensils but a good pizza stone always make things better.
Selecting Pizza Stones
Baking and pizza stones oftentimes come unglazed which helps them to absorb moisture during use. Conversely, a few come glazed and this might have fissures and fine cracks to enable moisture penetration. At the end of the day, whether you are selecting a glazed or an unglazed stone is dependent on personal preference.
While glazed cost more and is marketed as easy to clean, an unglazed one can be coated with non-stick oil or spray before it is used so that it can be easily cleaned.
Before buying a pizza stones for grill and oven, here are some things you need to consider.
The Size of Your Oven
This is unarguably the most important factor to consider. You need to ensure that whichever one you buy fits into your oven. To be sure of this, there is a need to measure the width and depth of the oven cavity. For gas ovens, you will need to add an inch to whatever measurement you get on each side. This is to allow for the circulation of air.
In addition to this, you should go for a ¾ inch one for an evenly crispy and crusty pizza. The thicker it is the better as it can absorb heat and as well evenly distribute it.
Shape
You will find square, rectangular as well as circular baking stones but for cooking foods such as bread where you need more space, rectangular ones are ideal to use. They provide more surface area to work with. For making pizza though, a square or circular one will suffice depending on the shape of pizza you make often.
Material
The best stones are porous so you want a material that offers you that. This is because they easily absorb moisture from your food making it crispy rather than soggy. Usually materials derived from clay like ceramic et al are the most efficient when it comes to this. This is not to say that other materials are not good but they just have a slight advantage. If you do not mind or are not particular about this, you can as well go for any type of material you so wish.
How to Use Your Baking Stone
To extend the lifespan of your utensil, you need to know how to properly make use of it. Below are a few things tips for usage:-
Preheating
Before you start baking, ensure that you preheat the stone in the oven. You can do this for 30 minutes to up to an hour. Note that even when the oven is done heating, it does not necessarily mean that the stone is done heating. The thickness of the stone would determine how long it would take to reheat.
It is Always Best to Start With a Cold Oven
When preheating, ensure that you begin with a cold oven. If the oven is hot, the stone can experience a thermal shock which can cause it to crack. Placing it in a cold oven before turning it on will enable it to heat up alongside the oven and prevent possible breakage.
Regularly Season with Oil
Seasoning the surface with oil regularly helps to prevent food especially dough-based ones from sticking on the surface. It also allows for easy cleaning. Using a circular motion, regularly rub olive oil or some other cooking oil on the surface until the oil soaks into the upper layer. If any oil is left on the surface, it will cause it to smoke. Other materials that can be used to prevent sticking instead of oil include bread crumbs, cornmeal, or rice flour.
You can learn more on the best way to use it in this article.
Caring for Your Pizza Stones
There is no need to remove your pizza stone from your oven but if you need to, ensure it is completely cool before doing so. Also, do not place heavy pots directly on its surface as it might crack.
When cleaning it, do not wash with soap because it is porous and the soap will leach into the surface causing your next set of baking to have a soap flavor and taste.
Only clean it when it is completely cooled. Using cold water on a hot stone will weaken it and will cause it to fracture or break.
Always first scrape off any food particle that is stuck. You can use hot or tepid water with a sponge to scrub the surface occasionally but not often. Also do not soak it in water and ensure it is thoroughly dry before putting it back for storage.
Over time, your stone will change color but not to worry, it is part of the whole cooking process. You may also clean it with scouring powder and a dry brush and then rinse with hot water.
Conclusion
As can be seen from this brief article, the best pizza stones are porous, easy to use, and easy to maintain. Making pizza isn’t hard after all once you have the right recipe and utensils. Ensure though that you buy the best products and avoid imitations such as those advertised as “oven to table”, “dishwasher safe”, or “highly glazed” models.
