Should I Oil My Pizza Stone?
Are you a pizza enthusiast that recently invested in a baking stone? Congratulations!
These tools offer the ability to evenly cook gourmet pizzas in a timely manner, all while creating a perfectly crisp crust every time. However, recognising the value in such a baking tool is half the battle… the other half is learning how to use it properly.
If you plan to make delicious pies, you need to know how to properly care for your pizza stone. One of the most common mistakes I witness users make is oil their stone. You should NEVER apply oil to your beloved tool, and I’ll explain why.
Seasoning Your Pizza Stone
Pizza stones are made from porous ceramic. This material will absorb anything placed onto it, leading to unpleasant odours every time you bake. They don’t have the smooth surface that cast irons do. Therefore, they won’t season like them.
The best way to season your stone is by using it often. It will naturally season itself the more you use it. The nice thing about baking stones is they get better with time!
Now, if you feel like you must oil your stone to prevent pizzas from sticking to it, try these tips:
- – Bake cookies on it. I always recommend seasoning your stone by baking cookies. You only have to do this one time to “break” your pizza stone in. The grease will permeate onto the ceramic, and it will all smooth sailing from there on out.
- – Sprinkle flour. If you go down this route, make sure you’re only sprinkling a little bit of flour or cornmeal onto the surface of your stone. Too much will result in smoking and burning. The last thing you need is a kitchen filled with black smoke!
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While you should never put oil on your pizza stone, there are some other ways to season it naturally. Follow the tips above and you’ll be well on the road to perfectly cooked gourmet pizzas!
