How to clean a pizza stone or baking steel

Baking with a pizza stone (also called baking stone or baking stone) or baking steel (also called baking steel) in your oven can promote browning of baked goods, freshest crusts and top oven resource for pizza, artisan breads and pitas and even upgrade your own the pies. But with all that gooey cheese, runny pizza sauce, and fruit juice bubbling into the mix, your baking surface is going to get messy with baked-on leftovers. So what's the best way to clean a steel or baking stone?

First, know that some patina and stains are normal. Pizza stones AND baking steels they will darken and take on varied tones as they go through with each baking. As long as the discolored patches are not sticky or rough, you can leave them on. But for stuck guns, which may smoke or cause a burning smell the next time you bake, some attention is required.

Baker's tip: Try baking parchment for easy cleanup, especially if you're making a higher-fat recipe that may run on the stone. Just note, the maximum temperature rating for most parchment papers is below 500°F, and at temperatures between 450°F and 500°F, the exposed edges of the parchment begin to melt. To be safe, handle anything that cooks above 450°F (especially anything on the top rack) with care.

Pie baked in a pizza pan — Bake parchment to catch any liquids and spills, especially if you are baking a pie.

How to clean a pizza stone

To clean a pizza stone, first make sure it is completely fresh. (Leaving it in the oven off for a few hours or overnight will do the trick!) Once cool, gently scrape away any stuck-on food or debris using a wooden or plastic scraper. Avoid using water to clean pizza stones and never submerge them, as the porous material can absorb water and cause the stone to crack in the oven if not completely dry. Instead, use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe away loose debris.

For really stubborn stains, you can make a paste of baking soda and a small amount of water, apply it to the stain and let it sit for a few hours to air dry completely before brushing or toweling off. dry. Avoid using soap on unglazed pottery, as it can create a soapy pizza or bread the next time you use it.

Neapolitan pizza in a baking steel — You shouldn't need to clean your baking steel or pizza stone often – these tools are maintenance free.

How to clean a baking steel

For annealing steels, after you have cooled and scraped them, you can wash them with mild soap and water, rinse and dry them completely. Then, you will need to re-season the steel. Place a dab of vegetable oil on the baking steel and use a paper towel to spread a thin film on both sides. Bake in a 375°F to 400°F oven for 1 hour. Then, turn off the oven and let the steel cool inside. If for some reason rust spots develop, rub them with fine sandpaper or steel wool to remove them. After the rust is gone, rework the steel.

The good news is that you probably won't need to deep clean your pizza stone or baking steel very often. Barring a major spill, cleaning up any crumbs or loose debris after you bake should be enough!