How To Clean a Pizza Stone — How To

If you love artisanal pizza, you've probably invested in a pizza stone by now. These specialized cooking tools heat evenly in order to deliver the just-right baking temperature for pizza dough, and they have a porous surface that draws out moisture from the dough as it bakes, so you can get a crispier crust than you would with a traditional baking sheet.

A pizza stone is a great tool — you just have to be a little careful with how you clean it. Because the stone is porous, it will absorb any soap or cleanser you put on it, so never clean it with anything you wouldn't be comfortable eating. You should also always make sure it's cool before you go to clean it, as sudden temperature changes could shock the stone and crack it. And if you soak it in water, it will retain that moisture for a long time.

Here's how to clean a pizza stone without damaging it — or your future pizza creations.

READ MORE »