Pizza cubes are pieces of stone that can be used to make crispy pizza and other foods at home. In general, pizza stones do not need to be cleaned regularly because the more often they are used, the tastier the pizza will be. Make sure you know how to properly clean pizza stones when they need to be cleaned. Some methods, such as cleaning with soap and water, can cause permanent damage to the stone. Here are some ways you can use to clean pizza stones without causing any damage.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning the Stones by Hand
Step 1. Cool the stone completely
Before cleaning, cool the stone in the oven for more than an hour to avoid cracking, especially when in contact with cold air or water. Make sure the stone is at room temperature before cleaning.
- Use heat-resistant gloves if you have to clean the stone in hot conditions. Do not place the stone on a non-heat-resistant surface.
- Cold pizza stones can crack if placed in a hot oven.
Step 2. Use a blunt tool to scrape or scrape any food debris stuck to the stone
You can use a stone brush or a plastic spoon to clean any burnt food stuck to the stone. Clean the dirty stone surface carefully.
The use of an iron socket can cause scratches on the stone
Step 3. Never Use soap to clean pizza stones. While generally cleaning the stone with soap sounds reasonable, doing so can cause permanent damage to the pizza stone. Pizza stones have pores that soap can enter so that the resulting pizza will have a soapy taste. Returning a pizza stone that has been soaked in soap is a very difficult task.
Step 4. If needed, use a damp cloth to wipe the stone
Wet a cloth with warm water and clean the pizza stone. Clean the remaining food debris that was previously removed using a spatula.
Step 5. If you have no other choice, immerse the stone in water
Burnt or grilled food residue can be easier to clean after wetting it. Keep in mind that the pizza stones will absorb water during the soaking process and will need to dry completely for about a week. Even though the surface looks dry, the soaked pizza stone has a lot of water in it.
Step 6. Wait for the stone to dry completely
Pizza cubes that are not completely dry can crack if placed in the oven. Store pizza cubes at room temperature before heating. Water trapped in the rock cavity will reduce the rock's plasticity when reheated.
Allow the pizza stone to dry for 1-2 hours before returning to use
Step 7. Avoid using any type of oil on the stone
Olive oil or other types of fat can cause stones to smoke when used for cooking. While some argue that the use of oil can improve the taste of the resulting food, as when using a cast-iron skillet, the oil gets trapped in the pores of the stone and cannot function as a non-stick surface.
- Use cornstarch to create a nonstick surface on the stone.
- Oils from food will naturally seep in and improve the quality of the stone. Even so, avoid using spices like when using a cast iron skillet.
- Naturally the stone will give more flavor after being used to cook pizza or other foods.
Step 8. Learn to like pizza stones that have faded
A well-used pizza stone usually has many parts that are dark and faded, unlike when they were first purchased. Even so, pizza stones work better after frequent use. Don't wipe your pizza stone to make it look new or even think it looks "old" and needs replacing.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the Stones Using Baking Soda
Step 1. Mix baking soda and water in a 1:1 ratio in a bowl
Stir until the solution becomes thick like toothpaste. You can use this solution to remove stubborn stains that can't be removed with a rag.
- Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a great substance for removing dirt and grease.
- Baking soda is the safest choice for cleaning pizza stones because it has very little abrasive properties and won't change the taste of the food.
Step 2. Remove large pieces of food using a plastic spoon
Make sure any large food debris is removed before you scrub the stone with the freshly prepared solution.
Clean the pizza stone carefully. Touching the pizza stone too much can increase the chances of cracking in the long run
Step 3. Use a brush to rub the stone with the solution made
Scrub the dirtiest surfaces first with a toothbrush or rock brush in small circular motions. Start by cleaning areas that are faded or dark in color before cleaning other areas.
Scrub the stone if you still find areas of burnt dirt after the wiping process
Step 4. Wipe the stone with a damp cloth
Stones that have been rubbed on the surface will be covered by a layer of baking soda. Wipe the coating with a damp cloth if you're sure the stone can't be cleaned with a brush.
Continue to clean areas that you think are still dirty. Repeat the scrubbing and wiping process until the stain lightens or disappears
Step 5. Wait for the stone to dry completely
Since this cleaning method can cause the pizza stone to become damp, dry the stone with a cloth and let it dry for a day before returning to use. The remaining moisture can damage the stone.
You can store the stones in the oven for a room temperature storage area. Make sure you remove the stones when cooking other foods
Method 3 of 3: Using the Self-Cleaning Function
Step 1. Do not use this method more than once
There is a chance that the stone will crack even if you follow these steps. Follow the steps below carefully so you don't have to use this technique a second time.
- Be careful because stones that contain too much fat or oil can burn.
- Some types of ovens have a self-cleaning feature that will lock the oven door automatically. You cannot open the oven door if something is burning.
Step 2. Clean the oven until there is no oil or food residue adhering to the inside
Adhesive oil or grease can produce a lot of smoke when you use the self-cleaning function. Remove any grease residue using a rag and oven cleaner.
Make sure your oven is dry before using the self-cleaning function
Step 3. Clean the pizza stone with a rag
Clean the oil and dirt stuck to the stone. Although the stone will be cleaned in an oven, any remaining dirt can cause smoke.
Make sure you've cleaned up any large pieces of food that have stuck to it
Step 4. Put the stones in the oven and set the temperature to 260 degrees celsius
Gradually increase the oven temperature as sudden changes in temperature can crack the pizza stone. Use the preheat function to gradually heat the stone. Let the stone sit in the oven at 260 degrees for at least an hour.
You can use this method to cook pizza evenly
Step 5. Turn on the self-cleaning function
This function will clean the oven using a very high temperature to burn off any remaining oil or dirt.
Let the oven operate by itself. Do nothing unless there is a fire
Step 6. Look at the pizza stone through the oven window
Make sure you pay attention to the condition of the pizza stone and oven. The oil in the stone can be seen bubbling on the surface of the stone. Avoid opening the oven door while the process is still in progress so that your kitchen doesn't fill with smoke.
- If you see a fire, stop the cleaning process and call the fire department.
- Oxygen can make the fire bigger when it encounters outside air and can cause an explosion when the oven door is opened. Keep the oven door closed even if there is a fire.
Step 7. Cool the pizza cubes
Allow the pizza stones to cool completely overnight. Any remaining dirt or stains have been burned off during the cleaning process.
Warning
- Do not use the oven's self-cleaning function to clean the pizza cubes if you have other options.
- The self-cleaning function may cause a fire.
- Using your hands is the best way to clean pizza stones.
- Always wear heat-resistant gloves when handling hot pizza stones.
