A pizza stone is essential to get the beautiful crust that just adds to the flavor and finish of a well-made pizza. Taking care of this accessory is crucial.
Good things take time and effort and hence pizza stones are specifically required to be manually cleaned.
Most pizza stones are made of ceramic or cordierite. In a few exceptional cases, they are made from steel but they do not exactly represent a pizza stone although it gets the job done.
Now, ideally, dishwashers and pizza stones do not go hand in hand but if the manufacturer company categorically approves that the pizza stone is dishwasher safe, you might give it a try.
Here is a thorough guide to help you clean your pizza stone without ruining its durability or its functionality.
Can a pizza stone go in the dishwasher?
The build of all pizza stones does not tolerate the use of water or any soapy detergent.
Therefore, a pizza stone can not go in a dishwasher for a regular wash.
It can also not be casually washed with water and soap like you would wash your regular pots and pans.
Why can not a pizza stone go in a dishwasher?
Before you get to know why you can not put pizza stones in a dishwasher, you need to know a little about the materials needed to build ceramic pizza stones and cordierite pizza stones.
Ceramic pizza stones are made from a mixture of clay and water. This mixture is formed into earthenware and then heated with an extremely high temperature in a kiln which is a high-temperature furnace.
It is poured into a suitable mold to form a ceramic pizza stone. This process provides the stone with the capability to evenly conduct heat on the surface. This actively helps in having an amazing pizza base.
Cordierite pizza stones are made from cordierite itself. Cordierite is a mineral that is found in nature and has exceptional qualities to form a robust and durable pizza stone.
They are found in crystal and grain forms. Once they are cooled down, they crystallize and solidify to form cordierite. This is then shaped, cut, crafted, and polished to form a cordierite pizza stone.
Now the interesting thing is both the materials are moisture absorbent. When exposed to soapy water or water and any liquid detergent for cleaning purposes, they absorb the water along with the constituents and chemicals in the soap or detergent. This leaves the pizza stone compromised.
Pizza stones washed this way transfer the absorbed chemical onto the base of the pizza while it gets baked.
This ruins the pizza’s taste and makes it ineligible for eating.
How to clean a pizza stone?
Since you can not use a dishwasher or clean it traditionally, there has to be a definite way to keep the pizza stone clean.
Repeated use will pile on baked chunks, crust residuals, cheese, pepperoni, meats, and vegetables on the stone.
Hence, it will be necessary to get your pizza stone cleaned after using it a few times. Even though it is recommended to clean the pizza stone after every use.
Ceramic or cordierite, the first thing to do is to allow your pizza stone to cool down.
Next, you need to get another accessory to tag along with your pizza stone. It is a pizza stone cleaning brush.
You take the cleaning brush and brush off any residuals or bits and crusts of the pizza, even some topping or cheese that might fall on the stone.
Once they are scraped off, take a damp cloth to wipe the entire stone carefully and thoroughly. It is best if you use lukewarm water and a soft piece of cloth to wipe the pizza stone.
Now, if the baked chunks are too rigid, you can spray some plain water on them before you start scraping and wiping the pizza stone.
Lastly, you let the pizza stone air dry itself or use a dry soft towel to dry clean the pizza stone and keep it ready for use.
Which pizza stone should you buy?
If you are a home user, you need a pizza stone once or twice a week, a ceramic pizza stone will help you shine in the pizza game.
Ceramic pizza stones are the best ones to go for if you have a budget to follow for buying a pizza stone.
However, they are very sensitive to thermal shock and might break from scratches in exposed to a rough environment.
Ceramic pizza stones are needed to be handled with care for long-term usage.
Cordierite pizza stones are best if you want to make pizzas regularly. It will be your constant support in making pizzas with beautiful crusts and bases.
Cordierite pizza stones are built strong and can be used for a very long time. It is less sensitive to rough handling and can be used rigorously daily.
It is a little expensive compared to ceramic pizza stones but it is not sensitive to cold or heat. Thus, this is quite flexible to use and handle.
Are there any pizza stones that are dishwasher friendly?
A few pizza stone manufacturers are now producing glazed ceramic pizza stones. The said glaze is a protective layer.
This helps in resisting the absorption of moisture. This makes such pizza stones dishwashers safe. They can also be washed in a regular manner using water and soap.
FAQ on Can a pizza stone go in the dishwasher
Are There Alternatives To Using A Pizza Stone Cleaning Brush?
Yes, you can use a regular brush with strong but smooth bristles.
For stubborn baked goods stuck on the stone, you can also use a silicone spatula or even a cloth to get rid of the residuals.
Why Is A Pizza Stone Cleaning Brush Necessary?
The best cleaning brushes have palm fiber-made bristles. These give them the toughness to clean the most difficult residuals.
Yet these also ensure that they do not leave any scratch on the stone surface.
Moreover, they have a comfortable long rubber grip to make the cleaning process easier.
Are The Wiping And Scraping Enough To Keep The Pizza Stone Clean?
Yes, it is. Even if there is a slight chance of any bacteria being present, once the pizza stone gets heated, that risk is conveniently eliminated.
Can Slightly Cracked Or Tampered Ceramic Pizza Stones Be Repaired?
No. They need to be replaced.
Are Pizza Steels Better Than Pizza Stones?
Pizza steels are more convenient for commercial use. With regards to cleaning, pizza steel is also not dishwasher friendly.
How Often Should One Clean Their Pizza Stone?
Preferably after every use. You can also scrape off deposits on the stone in between baking sessions using the lower part of your cleaning brush.
Final Thought
Pizza stones are the best accessory for making a proper pizza. With a good cleaning brush and a soft damp cloth, you can easily use your stone for the long haul.
Having a dishwasher-friendly pizza stone may have saved some time. However, this simple way to clean and maintain a pizza stone would bring you only good pizza memories and ensure you have the most hygienic stone to make your pizza on.
