What are the impacts of a worn pizza stone?
While cleaning out my oven I noticed that there were some chips in my pizza stone (the one below is about 1.5" long). I would like to know what the impact is, if any, of worn pizza stone.
- What degree of wear and tear is to be expected, and what is dangerous or otherwise the point at which you just need to get a new one? (I.E. Do I need to replace mine for what appears to be such a minor, superficial problem?)
- Is there anything that can be done to repair cracks, or is it even necessary or advisable?
- What would be the impact of those varying degree of wear and tear, be it uneven heat transference or the likelihood of it cracking in half?
Best Answer
Pizza stones are typically either:
- Refractory ceramic with a high thermal conductivity, moulded into a useful shapes. Fired, but unglazed
- Diamond saw cut slabs of suitable natural stone
Either type will respond well to heating and cooling in a normal oven. And take reasonable amounts of general wear and tear
Both types will chip on the edges if whacked, and will develop cracks over time that will cause it to split, normally only into two pieces
If they crack during normal use, and are fully supported by a metal oven rack, they will still perform fine, and may even continue to be used in the future
Warning: Natural stone that has been submerged in water for a long time may explode when next heated in the oven. But normal washing and care should not cause this situation
Note: According to many recent studies and famous books like "Modernist Cuisine", a pizza stone is not enough, you really need a large slab. e.g. a 10 kg steel sheet
Pictures about "What are the impacts of a worn pizza stone?"
Do pizza stones wear out?
If there's one thing that's constantly subjected to extreme conditions, it's your trusty pizza stone. Despite the wear and your stone goes through, it's a surprisingly resilient tool that in most cases will last for years.Is it OK to use a cracked pizza stone?
If it cracked into a few large pieces, don't throw it away. Just push the pieces together on your oven rack and keep using it. Provided that the pieces are reasonably close-fitting, nothing bad will happen. The function of a baking stone is to absorb and radiate intense heat; it doesn't have to be intact to do that.What to do if a pizza stone gets moldy?
How to Clean a Moldy Pizza StoneDo pizza stones get better with age?
Like all our stones, you can use it to make your favorite baked goods, frozen foods, or reheated leftovers that are just as good or better than day one. And it only gets better with age. A nonstick seasoning will develop as you use it\u2014the darker it looks, the better it cooks!Why Pizza Steels Beat Pizza Stones (Yes, They Do)
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