You just finished a delicious homemade pizza. Now you are staring at a grease-stained stone with cheese stuck to the edges. Your instinct might be to toss it in the sink with hot soapy water.
Stop right there. That is actually the worst thing you can do.
Pizza stones are porous. They soak up whatever liquid touches them. If you use soap, your next pepperoni pie will taste like dish detergent.
We are here to show you the right way to clean a pizza stone. We will cover routine cleaning, how to handle tough stains, and what to do if you accidentally used soap.
Key Takeaways
- Never use soap: The porous surface absorbs chemicals, which ruins the taste of future pizzas.
- Water and scraping only: For regular cleaning, scrape off food debris and wipe with a damp cloth once cooled.
- Deep clean with baking soda: Use a paste of baking soda and water to lift stubborn grease stains without harsh chemicals.
- Dry completely: trapped moisture can cause the stone to crack in the oven or grow mold during storage.
Can You Wash a Pizza Stone With Soap and Water?
It seems logical to wash a dirty cooking tool with suds. However, soap is the enemy of a pizza stone.
Pizza stones are made of porous materials like ceramic, cordierite, or cast iron. They act like a sponge. If you scrub them with dish soap, that soap gets trapped inside the pores.
When you heat the stone later, that soap releases into your food. Nobody wants a margarita pizza with a hint of Lemon Fresh Joy.
Bottom Line
Keep the dish soap far away from your pizza stone. Water and a good scraper are all you need.
How to Clean a Pizza Stone
- Time: 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need
1. Let the Stone Cool Completely
This is the most critical step. Never put a hot stone into water. The drastic temperature change (thermal shock) will cause the stone to crack or shatter. Leave it in the oven or on the counter until it is room temperature.
2. Scrape Off Debris
Take your rubber or plastic spatula and scrape off any stuck-on cheese, burnt crust, or cornmeal. Do not use a metal spatula, as it can scratch and damage the surface.
3. Wipe With a Damp Cloth
Wet a microfiber cloth with warm water. Wring it out well so it is damp, not soaking wet. Wipe down the surface to remove any remaining grease or loose crumbs.
4. Air Dry
Pat the stone with a clean dish towel. Set it in a dish rack or lean it upright against a wall to air dry. It needs to breathe. Let it dry for at least 1 to 2 hours before storing it or using it again.
How to Deep Clean a Pizza Stone
Remember that a seasoned pizza stone will look dark and stained. This is normal. You are not trying to make it look brand new. You just want a clean surface for cooking.
- Time: 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Water
- Nylon-bristled brush or stone brush
- Small bowl
- Microfiber cloth
1. Create a Paste
Baking soda is abrasive enough to scrub but gentle enough not to damage the stone. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to form a thick toothpaste-like consistency.
2. Scrub Problem Areas
Apply the paste directly to the stuck-on food or grease stains. Use your nylon brush to scrub in small circular motions. If the stain is really tough, let the paste sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
3. Wipe Clean
Use a damp cloth to wipe away the baking soda residue and loosened grime. Repeat if necessary, then let the stone dry completely in a vertical position.
How to Clean a “Burnt” Pizza Stone
If your stone is turning black, congratulations! You are doing it right. A dark, discolored stone is “seasoned” and usually cooks better than a brand new one.
However, if you have actual mounds of burnt food or thick carbon buildup that affects the texture of your pizza, you can use heat to clean it.
- Time: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
What You’ll Need
1. Bake It Off
Put the stone in a cold oven. Set the temperature to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it heat up with the oven and bake for about an hour. This intense heat burns off excess carbon and food residue.
2. Cool and Brush
Turn the oven off and let the stone cool down inside completely. This might take a few hours. Once cool, take it out and use your stone brush to sweep away the ash. Wipe it with a damp cloth.
Pizza Stone Maintenance Tips
You want your pizza stone to last for years. These simple habits will prevent cracking and ensure crispy crusts every time.
- Avoid chemicals: No soap, no bleach, no degreasers. Water and baking soda are your only friends here.
- Don’t soak it: Never submerge the stone in a sink full of water. It takes too long to dry out, and trapped moisture can crack the stone when it heats up next time.
- Skip the oil: Unlike cast iron skillets, most pizza stones do not need to be oiled. Oil can smoke at high temperatures and make the stone sticky.
- No dishwasher: The harsh detergents and water pressure in a dishwasher will ruin the stone.
- Watch the temperature: Avoid thermal shock. Don’t put a frozen pizza directly on a hot stone (it can crack). Don’t put a cold stone in a hot oven. Always let them heat up and cool down together.
- Dry vertically: Gravity helps. Leaning the stone upright helps moisture escape from the pores faster than laying it flat.
- Use a peel: Transfer your pizza to the stone using a steel pizza peel. This keeps the stone in the oven where it belongs and reduces the chance of you dropping it.
- Store safely: You can store the stone right in the oven. It actually helps regulate oven temperature. Just remember to take it out if you run your oven’s self-cleaning cycle!
- Use parchment paper: If you are worried about mess, build your pizza on parchment paper. You can slide the whole thing onto the stone. The paper will brown, but it keeps the cheese off the ceramic.
I Washed My Pizza Stone With Soap: Now What?
It happens. You didn’t know, or a helpful guest did the dishes for you. Is the stone ruined? Not necessarily.
You can try to draw the soap out using bread.
- Cover with bread: Lay slices of cheap white bread across the surface of the stone.
- Bake: Put the stone in the oven at 350 degrees. Bake until the bread is toasted and dry. The theory is that the bread absorbs the soapy flavor and moisture as it evaporates from the stone.
- Discard and test: Throw the bread away. Wipe the stone. Next time you cook, use parchment paper as a barrier just to be safe. If the smell persists, you might need to repeat the process or simply replace the stone.
FAQs
Can You Put a Pizza Stone in the Dishwasher?
No. The dishwasher is the fastest way to destroy a pizza stone. The heavy streams of water force moisture deep into the pores, and the detergent will permanently ruin the flavor of any food you cook on it.
How Do You Clean Mold Off a Pizza Stone?
If your stone was stored while damp, it might grow mold. Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar (instead of water). Scrub the moldy areas thoroughly. Bake the stone at 450 degrees for an hour to kill any remaining spores. If the mold is deep or extensive, it is safer to buy a new pizza stone.
Can You Cook Other Foods Besides Pizza On a Stone?
Absolutely. A stone is great for anything that needs a crispy bottom or even heat distribution.
- Sourdough bread
- Roasted vegetables
- Cookies
- English muffins
- Quesadillas
- Frozen french fries
- Pies and galettes
Our favorite versatile option is the Pampered Chef stone because of the convenient handles.
How Long Do You Preheat a Pizza Stone?
You should preheat your stone for at least 45 to 60 minutes at high heat (500 degrees). The stone needs to be thoroughly saturated with heat to crisp up the dough immediately upon contact.
Warning
Never put a cold stone into a hot oven. Place the stone in a cold oven and let them heat up together to prevent cracking.
Should I Oil My Pizza Stone?
Generally, no. Oiling a pizza stone can cause smoke and unpleasant odors. The stone will naturally season over time from the oils in the cheese and dough.
How Long Does a Pizza Stone Take to Dry?
It usually takes 1 to 2 hours to air dry completely. If you live in a humid climate, leave it out overnight just to be sure. Never store a damp stone.
Why is My Pizza Sticking to the Stone?
Sticking usually happens because the raw dough is too wet or the stone wasn’t hot enough. Use cornmeal or semolina flour on your pizza peel to help the dough slide off easily onto the hot stone.
Can I Cut My Pizza Directly on the Stone?
You should avoid cutting on the stone. A pizza cutter can damage the ceramic surface, and the hard stone will dull your blade very quickly. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board first.
Love Every Bite
A well-maintained pizza stone is the secret to pizzeria-quality crusts at home. It might look a little stained and ugly over time, but that just means it is well-loved.
Now that you know how to clean a pizza stone properly, you can cook with confidence. Keep the soap at the sink, rely on your scraper, and let the heat do the rest.
