One surefire way to produce a crispy, charred pizza is by cooking it with a pizza stone. Instead of building a brick oven, the pizza stone can be used in a home or studio apartment to deliver a pizzeria-esque pizza.
Like any cooking utensils, you should look to take good care of them, and knowing how to clean your pizza stone should not take too much effort. That does mean specialist cleaning as you should be looking to keep your pizza stone away from water as much as you can.
Typical cleaning chemicals should also be avoided as these can leave a residue that would be detrimental to the taste of any further pizzas.
In this guide we will look at the equipment you will need to clean your pizza stone and how you should do it.
The Equipment You Will Need
The list of equipment you will need does not have to mean heading to the shops for anything new.
A lot of the items involved should already be found in your household, specifically in the kitchen, the garage, or even the bathroom.
- To help brush off any burnt tomato sauce and cheese, you can simply use an old toothbrush or some sandpaper.
- A stone brush, or a stiff-bristled plastic brush, could also come in handy to take specialist care of your pizza stone though the rest of the items may be easier to find.
- Baking soda and dishcloths should be typically found in your kitchen and can perform admirably on your pizza stone. A plastic spatula could also be gently used to remove some of the leftover debris from your delicious pizza.
- Finally, you will need some water but not a lot as you do not want to soak your pizza stone as that could ruin it beyond repair.
How To Clean A Pizza Stone: A Step-By-Step Guide
Thankfully, due to the extreme temperatures that pizza stones operate at you should be content that it will kill off bacteria and germs.
Bacteria typically multiply at temperatures of between 40 and 140°F and if you want a truly crisp pizza then the temperature should be far higher than that.
While germs and bacteria should not be a concern, clean your pizza stone after each time you use it to ensure it remains fit for use.
Allow It To Cool Down
Even half an hour after you have eaten your crispy pizza, the pizza stone may still be hot to the touch. Give it enough time to cool down so you can handle it properly as the heat can be trapped inside.
Use A Tiny Amount Of Water
While you do not want to soak your pizza stone for any amount of time, you may need a tiny amount to remove the food which is stuck.
Use a bit of hot water, maybe as part of a homemade paste for stubborn stains, so the pizza stone can air dry before you finally store it away.
Apply The Brush
Grab either your stone brush or the stiff-bristled plastic brush then gently scrub away those crispy particles. There may be some substantial debris to get rid of and once it has loosened you can use a dishcloth to wipe it all away.
Take The Time To Air Dry
Use a clean towel or some kitchen towel to dry up the pizza stone so it dries quickly.
You should leave it for an hour or so and then check it with your fingers to check it’s completely dry. Only then should you consider storing it away.
Store It Properly
You may want to keep your pizza stone in the oven as it can comfortably withstand typical cooking temperatures.
In the oven, there is less chance you can lose it too. If there is limited room in your oven then find a clean, dry spot in a kitchen cupboard to leave it.
How To Remove Stains From A Pizza Stone
All those delicious toppings, tomato sauce, and cheese can escape off your pizza onto the hot stone underneath.
After a short sizzle, the debris can create a stain that will crisp up itself. Once the pizza stone is darkened, that can mean more seasoning though you may want to remove the stains.
Begin by using a spatula or one of those brushes to scrape away the food debris. You can now use a tablespoon of baking soda combined with a tablespoon of water to create a makeshift cleaning paste.
Scrub it onto the stains then use a brush to work it in then wipe it away with a damp dishcloth when the stains have been removed.
Leave the pizza stone to air dry completely. As baking soda is a more natural substance than cleaning chemicals, it should not affect the flavor of your next pizzas as soap would.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, like the plates and pans you use in everyday cooking, you should get used to cleaning your pizza stone every time you use it.
Though the darkening does mean some seasoning that can enhance the flavor, the pizza stone should be hand washed.
That means some elbow grease and not simply putting it into the dishwasher. Avoid cleaning chemicals and dish soap as these substances can seep into the stone.
The darkened patches on your pizza stone will offer some seasoning. While you may have to apply some oil to cast iron cookware, you do not have to apply this to a typical pizza stone.
The oil would seep into the pores contained in your stone and add to the moisture.
Conclusion
Cleaning your pizza stone should not be a huge effort. You should not use a huge amount of water, and not the dishwasher, but you may need some household items.
Creating a paste out of baking soda and gently scrubbing the surface should be all it takes.
However, you need to make sure that the pizza stone cools down first and then air dries after cleaning before you put it away.
