The Ultimate Guide to Pizza Stones
What Are Pizza Stones?
As baking pizza requires specific temperature conditions that effectively bring out the optimum taste of the delicacy, it also needs a suitable bottom surface, so the crust comes out crisp. Typically, people use woodfire ovens to achieve the required conditions, but the process is costly. That’s where pizza stones come in as a cheap substitute to get the same results.
Pizza stone for oven has a slab-like structure made out of ceramic or stone. Bakers use it as a baking tray for pizzas as it holds heat more effectively than a metal tray. Naturally, the thicker the stone material, the more reliable it will be for your cooking adventures. But remember, even the densest stones can crack with improper usage.
The Benefits Of Using Pizza Stones:
We’ve established that the key to making the perfect pizza is a pizza stone. But what exactly does it do, and how can a pizza stone benefit you? Take a look:
1: Crispier crust:
Starting with the obvious, pizza stone ensures that your pizza has a crispy crust. Since the stone retains heat, it offers an optimal base for the dough to cook evenly. Additionally, the crevices and pores on the stone allow the moisture to escape, hence removing the sogginess from the crust. You cannot achieve the same results with a metal tray as it does not allow the water to escape entirely.
2: No stickiness:
Since the surface of the pizza stone is naturally non-stick, it offers an easy baking experience with minimal cleaning up process. You won’t have to worry about removing leftover crumbs from the tray, as a simple brush would do the job. Remember never to put the pizza stone in the dishwasher or wash it directly, as it’ll affect the reliability of the tool.
3: Easy to use and maintain:
Using a pizza stone is incredibly simple, with only a few steps that even beginners can make a note of on their fridge. Place the slab in the oven and preheat it. Then place ready-to-cook pizza on top and wait for your delicious meal. Once the pizza is ready, leave the stone inside the range to cool off. You can clean it using a brush and place it back in the oven for easy storage. If you aren’t comfortable using only a wiping brush, you can wipe the stone using a slightly damp cloth.
4: Cheaper alternative to firewood pizza ovens:
It’s a dream of every chef to own a firewood pizza oven that offers the classic texture of this Italian cuisine that is enjoyable and admirable. But it’s mind-numbingly expensive to buy and operate those appliances. Luckily, pizza stones replicate the result of cooking directly on a wood fire and cost exponentially less.
5: No prepping needed:
Although there is a common misconception to lather the tray with oils, butter, etc., before placing the pizza on top, you don’t need to do any of it while using pizza stones. If you use seasoning or oil, there is a chance that the stone might soak up these ingredients and become less porous.
Our Top Picks for the Best Pizza Stones
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Recommended Products
- A complete, reliable set
- Flexible application across many kitchen tools
- Money-back guarantee
- Gift packaging
- Multipurpose design
- Durable construction
- A complete, reliable set
- Flexible application across many kitchen tools
- Money-back guarantee
The Best Options Of Pizza Stones On Amazon:
With countless options available in the market, it is challenging to pick a pizza stone that best suits your needs. And sorting through the choices would take considerable time and energy, which is an unnecessary drag. To help you out, we researched and picked out the best pizza stone options available on Amazon. Take a look:
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- A complete, reliable set
- Flexible application across many kitchen tools
- Money-back guarantee
The first option on our list is a reliable pizza stone set by Hans Grill. It comes in a packaging of the pizza stone and a wooden paddle. Being rectangular-shaped, it provides an optimum surface to bake your pizza, and the paddle works as a peel so you can place/remove the food items safely.
The dimensions of the pizza stone are 38cm x 30cm, and it is made using cordierite, a stone known for its durability. The manufacturers claim that rigorous research led them to set the thickness of this stone to 1.5cm (ideal for perfect results). Additionally, it is compatible with ovens, barbeque grills, hob and more. Work it with gas or coal (whichever is suitable), and enjoy a crispy crust. If you’re not happy with the product, return it to the seller for a full refund.
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Moving on to our second item, we have another pizza stone set by BKC. It features a similar wooden paddle with a long handle to save you from heat or burns. And since the handle remains cool at all times, it is easy to peel or place the pizza. The stone has a Cordierite construction that stays solid even at higher temperatures without cracking.
Although Christmas is leaving us, this pizza stone set can be the perfect option if you still need a gift for a loved one. The round design has a diameter of 32cm and thickness is 1.5cm for ideal results. You can also bake cookies, artisan bread, sourdough rolls, quesadillas or other treats on top of it. If you’re looking for a reliable option at affordable pricing, this pizza stone set is an ideal purchase.
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The last option on our list is a community famous pizza stone by LEVIVO. Due to its natural Cordierite construction, this pizza stone offers immaculate heat distribution, so your pizza’s crust always comes out crispy. As it’s available in two different sizes, i.e. 1.5cm and 3cm thick, you can pick and choose the one that best suits your needs. Remember, though; the thicker one may take longer to heat up in the oven.
You can use this pizza cooking stone in the oven or on the barbeque grill at your convenience. Direct fire or pieces of burnt coal do not harm the product due to its heat-resistant construction. Simply wipe it with a damp cloth and store it in a cool, dry place when you’re done using it. Please do not put it in the dishwasher or submerge it underwater as its porous surface can absorb the moisture and reduce its efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stone do you use in a pizza oven?
Typically manufacturers use clay to make reliable and inexpensive pizza stones. The fine-grain soil with water proves to be a great surface that keeps its shape at higher temperatures and has enough pores to be effective. There are many other ceramic options, but clay is most affordable and common. Learn how to use a pizza stone right here.
Are oven pizza stones any good?
Oven pizza stones from trusted manufacturers work as intended and advertised. They make sure that your pizza’s crust isn’t soggy, and instead, you get the crispy texture that elevates the taste. Since pizza stones spread heat evenly, they ensure that the bottom of the pizza gets the proper treatment. Consider this purchase as an upgrade from your previous methods to make homemade pizza.
Can you use a pizza stone in a regular oven?
Yes. It is safe to use a pizza stone in a standard oven. Most pizza stones have materials that can resist deformity at even the most scorching temperatures. And since they retain heat, once they’re warm enough, you’re good to go. It is always ideal that you preheat the stone at the baking temperature before putting the goods on top of it.
Can marble be used as a pizza stone?
Yes. You can use marble as a pizza stone if you haven’t any other options available. Marble works magnificently as long as it doesn’t come in direct contact with a flame, so make sure to place the slab further from the oven fire outlets. They may not be the ideal choice for regular or professional use, but some prefer using them over others.
Should I oil my pizza stone?
It is a common sight to see your mom slather the baking tray with oil before placing the pizza on it. But a pizza stone doesn’t need this practice. Oiling the pizza stone can be counterproductive as the pores may absorb the fatty oils and clog the pores. Eventually, it will stop working correctly, and your pizza crust will suffer.
Do you have to use cornmeal on a pizza stone?
No. You don’t necessarily need to use cornmeal on a pizza stone. And it is best to avoid it since the pizza stone’s surface has a non-stick nature. So when you have to remove the pizza from the stone, you can do it quickly without creating a mess. Additionally, adding cornmeal will only degrade the performance of your kitchen tool, forcing you to buy a new one.
Buyers Guide
Before you head over to the market to purchase a pizza stone for oven UK, you need to know the winning characteristics of a reliable product. What makes a pizza stone better than others? You can find out here.
1: Best Fit:
While purchasing a pizza stone, the first thing you need to keep in mind is your oven size. A slab, no matter how incredible, will be of no use if it’s too big or small for your oven. To measure the dimensions of your range, use an inch tape and measure the width and height. Once you have the measurements, find a pizza stone suitable (ideally one that leaves one-inch space on each side). The tiny areas are necessary for efficient airflow within the oven cabin.
If you’re wondering about giant pizza stone options in the market, you can find products ranging from 14 to 16 inches in size that fit in a regular oven.
2: Thickness:
If you’re expecting crispy crust and ideal results from your pizza stone, it’s better to look for one that is thicker than the others. A thick slab offers better heat retention and uniformly distributes the temperature across the porous surface for the best outcome.
Typically, pizza stones come in all kinds of dimensions, but products ranging from ¾ to an inch perform better than the others. So before purchasing, ask the vendor how thick the pizza stone is and make your decision accordingly.
3: Shape:
Open up an online cookware store, and you’ll find pizza stones of all shapes advertised to achieve better practicality. The options may include round, oval, square, rectangle, or even random shaped pizza stones. However, square-shaped pizza stones are arguably the perfect choice as they provide the maximum surface area and work well with items that require more space. It also makes it easy to manage irregularly shaped food if you plan to bake vegetables, etc.
Conclusion
Pizza stones have a natural material construction, and they aren’t supposed to be very flashy or pretty. Instead, they have porous surfaces that look a little rough but do their job well at providing crisp results. So beware of products with aluminium coatings or glossy material construction wrongly advertised as stone.
Some pizza stones come with attached legs that help keep them sturdy if you place or remove them from the oven. All in all, the success of your purchase will primarily depend on finding the best fit for your custom needs. We hope this article helped you understand the many essential details of pizza stones, and now you can make an informed choice. Cheers!