Master Pizza Stone Thread

[Katy]

About a month back, I picked up an inexpensive pizza stone from Trader Joe's ($10!!) Since then, I've kept it in the oven. So it's been heated up a time or two (or ten - we don't use the oven much now that's it's warm). So I officially used it for the first time today to make crescent rolls. They stuck to it. FlyGirl mentioned that it wasn't seasoned and said something about oil.

Any ideas how I can properly season it?

[sublime311]

Found this on the Pampered Chef website re: their pizza stone:

To season your Stoneware, grease and/or flour your Stoneware according to package or recipe directions for the first several bakings. After these bakings, your Stoneware will begin to season and greasing may not be required.

Another website said that no seasoning is required, but they recommended corn meal or parchment paper under the pizza to avoid sticking.

[lawyerlee]

You basically just need to either put oil on it and bake it a few times or bake a high fat food on it a few times. Here is a good explanation I found:

How do I season my stoneware?

Quality stoneware should not only promote even heating and cooking, but it also should be seasoned. You can season a stone by spraying vegetable oil on it or baking high-fat foods (crescent rools, cookies, a chicken, etc.) on it or in it the first few times. After this, your stoneware will begin to season and you will notice that it has developed a non-stick surface and doesn't require non-stick sprays anymore. A good motto to remember is "The worse it looks, the better is cooks!" Seasoned stoneware will become darkened and look "ugly" (although that is in the eye of the beholder! I think a seasoned stone is beautiful!)

[kagbsc7]

You need to rub it in oil and cook the oil into it. Do not wash the pizza stone. DO NOT PUT SOAP ON IT. I will rinse mine in water even though you are not suppose to. Your pizza stone will absorb everything you put on it (ie no dish soap). Mine is basically black now from using it so much. The best place to store it is the oven so when you pre-heat the oven it will heat with the oven. Always put food on the stone after it is hot....

[Vishenka69]

Kagbsc7, thanks, I had no idea that the stone will absorb soap. Also, since you say that the food should be placed on it when the stone is already hot, how would I transfer a pizza crust on to it (especially after the sauce and toppings have been added). Should I use the parchment paper trick?

[Aug2002Bride]

I dont always put food on it when the stone is hot and Ive never had a problem with it.

[Medako]

Kagbsc7, thanks, I had no idea that the stone will absorb soap. Also, since you say that the food should be placed on it when the stone is already hot, how would I transfer a pizza crust on to it (especially after the sauce and toppings have been added). Should I use the parchment paper trick?


I don't know how everyone else does it, but I heat my stone with the oven and then roll the crust onto the stone and top the pizza. It seems like the crust gets much crisper when the stone is already hot.

[Rose]

I wash all my stoneware in soap or the dishwasher even though you aren't supposed. It doesn't make the food taste like soap, but it doesn't get blackened either. It grosses me out to cook meat, casseroles and desserts on the same peice without washing it.

I did cook a lot of high fat foods on my peices when I first got them.

[Aug2002Bride]

Ive been told if your worried about cooking meat etc on it without using soap, you can always use a baking soda and water mixture.

Although my husband has washed my stoneware with soap by accident and I dont taste soap when I use it the next time.,

[steviem]

katy ,

I bought the exact same pizza stone from Trader Joes. In typical steviem fashion, I did not read the instructions :rolleyes: I've been using the stone for about 6 months now and I did not season it first. I just spray Pam on it so the dough does not stick and it works really well. I also use soap when I wash it and so far, everything seems fine.

Good luck to ya! :)

[Katy]

It's so hot out here, I still haven't gotten around to giving it a good seasoning. So until things cool down, I'll probably just stick to using the spray oils (like Pam) as I cook things. Otherwise, it just sits in the oven and gets heated up any time I use the oven.

Steviem, I made sure to put the directions on the front of the fridge (you know, in case I might need it some day) :rolleyes: but I've yet to read it.

[eponymous]

I've found that pizza still requires a coat of oil/flour before baking, even after two years, to make sure that it removes easily. I also never heat my stone - I put it in a cold oven with the pizza on top, bake for 18 minutes, and it's absolutely perfect.

Good luck - we really enjoy using ours!

[KarenS]

I've found that pizza still requires a coat of oil/flour before baking, even after two years, to make sure that it removes easily. I also never heat my stone - I put it in a cold oven with the pizza on top
That's probably why things stick to your pizza stone. First of all allowing it to season by putting oil on it when it's hot and allowing the oil to bake in is crucial to the seasoning process. But also putting the food on it when it's hot is part of what makes it non-stick - the part of the food that comes in contact with the pre-heated stone sears and cooks and doesn't have *time* to stick.

If you continue to use it cold, you won't get any of the benefit of having a stone - which is to remove the moisture from the oven and create a dryer baking environment.

Karen

[eponymous]

If you continue to use it cold, you won't get any of the benefit of having a stone - which is to remove the moisture from the oven and create a dryer baking environment.

Well, the instructions that came with it say that it will crack if heated in an oven without food on top, and I tend to trust instructions that actually come with an item. In addition, as I mentioned in my post, the pizza comes out - to us - perfect, so I don't think I'll be messing with perfection.

[KarenS]

Well, the instructions that came with it say that it will crack if heated in an oven without food on top,Whre did you get the stone again? Seriously, I've been using oven stones for nearly 10 years and I've NEVER heard that. The whole point of a stone is to preheat in the oven and provide a hot surface for the food.King Arthur Flour, which is my authority for all things bread and baking recommends that you heat your stone for a full hour before cooking on it if at all possible. In fact most stones suggest that you can leave them in the oven 24/7 to help even out the temperature throughout the oven and to remove the moisture from the heat.

I mean, yeah, if you're happy with it, then that's fine! :) I'm not saying you have to do differently. But you're not getting the full advantage of the stone and they're really wonderful things! :)

Karen

[Jen309]

I've heard about leaving the stone in the oven all the time too (for even heating purposes). Whenever I do this, my stone smokes!! :eek: As a result, we don't leave it in there any more. That being said, I've never had a problem with anything sticking to it, even when new, and we never pre-seasoned it. Lucky me, it seems. When we do cook on it now, we don't pre-heat it, just throw the food on and put it in a preheated oven. Like I said, never had a problem with sticking. :D

[Jane&Andy]

nothing sticks to my stone but I did learn the hard way not to stick the stone in an already heated oven - mine shattered. I think I just seasoned my new one by cooking cookies on it - can't remember if I used any oil the first few times.

[maxandmolly]

The first person who says bake a pizza gets cracked over the head with it.
*ahem*
My co-worker gave everyone else up and down our hallway a porcelein agnel figurine, but knowing how practical I am, and having been horrified at the idea that I didn't have a pizza stone when it came up a few months ago at lunch, I cam in to one very large, heavy shiny silver wrapped box on my desk this morning.
She says, and you can do all sorts of other stuff with it, too, I couldn't live without mine.....but neglects to mention just what, exactly, I'm supposed to do with it.
It also came with a serving rack and pizza cutter.
Suggestions?

[amy_awesome]

You can use it as you would use any other baking sheet - at least, I do with mine. Cookies, pizza (don't hit me! :)), baked chicken breasts, pretty much anything I'd cook on a flat surface. I find that mine, after a while, got a pretty nice non-stick thing going on, so I don't even have to grease it for recipes that might call for such a thing (like some cookies, yeast breads, etc).

[Fenway]

Pizza.

LOL!! J/K Don't hit me with it!!!!

Actually, I've never made pizza on mine. I get the family size chocolate chip cookie dough log from the grocery store, and make a giant cookie. It's a great alternative to a birthday cake. You can even write a message on it with frosting. It's everyone's favorite now.

[KarenS]

Yep. What everyone said above. Additionally, I keep the stone in my oven all the time .. it helps draw moisture from the air in the oven which helps bake things more evenly.

I love my baking stone .. wouldn't be w/out one ever again.

Karen

[Sherb]

It also helps the oven to heat more evenly - we store our stone there (just the stone, not the rack - which we eventually threw away). We just use it for pizzas, biscuits (frozen or from a can) and other bread stuff.

[cowgirl]

I use it for cookies, rolls, pizza of course. It is awsome for doing cookies.

[maxandmolly]

Cookies? Like, instead of a regular cookie sheet?

[mrstim]

Yup, Laura - you can bake pretty much anything on them. Biscuits, cookies, Braids (pampered chef style) and of course, Pizza **ducking**

For ideas or recipes, you could visit www.pamperedchef.com - they're big on the baking stones, and you might be able to find a recipe or two there! :)

[maxandmolly]

**ducking**
You know I wouldn't hit a marshmellow cooker, honey.
The rest of you, however, are not as safe!

[mrstim]

BTW, I looked up Pampered Chef recipes using their round stone, and there's Just type in Round Stone in the "specify tools" area. Have fun!

eta: I can't get the link to work - just go to recipe search and type in "round stone" in the specify tools area.

[PookiePrincess]

you can bake pretty much anything on them

Cool! This thread means I might have to bake some cookies on my pizza stone tomorrow!

[roberta]

Wow! Guess I should have asked for a pizza stone for Christmas!

[Fenway]

They really should call it the cookie stone. :D Most of the people I know have never used it for pizza.

[Aug2002Bride]

I also use mine for Pizza, Cookies, Chicken, Biscuits, French Frys, Frozen Bread, Chicken Nuggets, Fish Sticks, Pampered Chef Recipes (their Braids/Rings/Wreath recipes).

[jessied1025]

I absolutely love my pizza stone! I use it for just about everything I bake, especially for making cookies!

[designer]

I have a pizza stone that I haven't used yet - I'm going to have to try these ideas!

How does everyone clean their pizza/cookie stone?

[PookiePrincess]

I think your only supposed to use water, no soap. But I've only used mine once.

[Annette]

Do you heat the stone first before baking cookies on it?

Another alternative is to use the stone on your BBQ grill. The pizza crust comes out crunchy this way.

[Jill1228]

We have 2 from pampered chef and we bake cookies and bread on them

[tgray99]

Do you heat the stone first before baking cookies on it?

Another alternative is to use the stone on your BBQ grill. The pizza crust comes out crunchy this way.
I always heard that you should allow it to heat up with the oven (that's why they recommend that you store it in your oven all the time) so the rapid temperature change won't crack it.

I mostly only use it for pizza and it makes the crust so yummy!

[DogMama]

I always heard that you should allow it to heat up with the oven (that's why they recommend that you store it in your oven all the time) so the rapid temperature change won't crack it.



I've never pre-heated mine and it hasn't cracked. I've had it for about a year and don't know how I ever lived without it.
You are only supposed to rinse/scrub them using water. Mine has darkened from where the oils have been, but that is also why nothing really sticks to it.