It can be difficult to clean your pizza stone. There appear to be numerous steps, and it’s difficult to know which one to take first. That is why we wrote this blog! We’ll walk you through the How to clean ooni pizza stone
Cleaning the Ooni Pizza Stone will result in better-tasting food and more even heat distribution across the oven floor for cooking. Cleaning will also extend the life of your Ooni Pizza Stone by reducing wear on its cover caused by cooking oils.
What is an Ooni pizza stone, and why do I need one?
The Ooni pizza stone is an optional accessory for the Ooni Pro 16 Pizza Oven and Ooni 3. It can, however, be used on gas stoves as well. The design draws heat from a natural fire source and directs it to a round cooking surface where you cook your food.
They have a protective metal plate under the stone to prevent ground scorching beneath the oven.
What are the benefits of cleaning a pizza stone?
Cleaning your Ooni pizza stone will increase its lifespan by reducing the accumulation of oils, fats, and other residues on the surface. This will make it easier to maintain a nonstick cooking surface, which is ideal for items such as naan bread or rustic-style freeform pizzas.
They’re also quick and simple to clean. There is no need to soak them in water overnight if you do it immediately after use. All that is required is hot water and a small amount of mild detergent.
If they are left dirty, they will not only become more difficult to clean, but food will stick to them more easily when cooking on them, especially incredibly sticky foods like tandoori chicken.
How to clean an Ooni pizza stone?
Step By Step Instructions:
1. Before cleaning your Ooni Pizza Stone, make sure it has completely cooled.
2. Spray the surface with water and then add a splash of mild detergent (Dawn dish soap works well). Mix this together until it resembles thin porridge; it should be soupy but not runny. If the mixture is too thick, add more water to thin it out.
3. Dip an old sponge (or one designed for nonstick surfaces) or an old rag into the soapy solution and rub over the stone’s surface in small circular motions until all visible food residue is removed. You may need to use a metal spatula to help remove food residue from particularly stubborn stuck-on spots.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and pat dry. If you have a dishwasher, simply place the Ooni Pizza Stone in it for a quick and easy clean!
5. Allow the stone to completely dry before replacing it in the oven.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Before cleaning any part of your stove, make sure it is completely turned off and cooled. It is also best to use only mild detergent on the stone because harsher chemicals may damage the protective metal plate located beneath the rock.
It’s also not a good idea to use steel wool or a wire-bristle brush on the surface of your Ooni Pizza Stone, especially if it has mesh inserts.
Why is it important to clean a pizza stone regularly?
Cleaning your Ooni Pizza Stone on a regular basis will keep it in the best possible condition. Food residue left on the stone for an extended period of time can become difficult to remove and may even cause staining, resulting in a less appealing appearance.
Because onions and garlic can be difficult to remove from a pizza stone, regular cleaning is recommended.
How often should I clean my Ooni Pizza Stone?
We recommend cleaning after every use if you have been cooking foods with a high oil content at high temperatures, as these foods can leave stubborn residue behind (e.g., cheese-based items).
For those who do not cook with oil or use high heat settings in their ovens, we recommend light-duty trends (e.g.400-500F).
How to clean the pizza stone grill rack?
If you have a dishwasher, cleaning your Ooni Pizza Stone Grill Rack is as simple as running it through it! If not, hot soapy water and an old rag or sponge will suffice. After cooking, you can easily remove any excess oils by wiping them down with a towel while it is still warm.
Do I need to season my pizza stone?
You can season your Ooni Pizza Stone before using it, but this is entirely optional. Seasoning helps new cooking surfaces break in faster, allowing them to become more nonstick over time by adding a protective layer that prevents food from sticking.
The most common method of seasoning is to rub a thin layer of oil into the surface before baking it at 200°C for about an hour.
How do you clean a burnt pizza stone?
How to clean ooni pizza stone
Cleaning your Ooni Pizza Stone after it has been burnt can be a difficult task; however, there are some important home remedies you can try. Before beginning any cleaning attempts, always ensure that the stone has completely cooled.
Baking Soda Paste: Applying a simple paste of baking soda and water to the surface with an old sponge or rag, then rubbing over in small circular motions until all food residue is removed, should do the trick!
Scrubbing may be necessary, which may be difficult for smaller surfaces such as mesh inserts but should be fine for flat surfaces such as stones. Allow the baking soda mixture to sit on the surface for up to 20 minutes before rinsing with clean water.
Allow soaking for a longer period of time, even an hour or more, for stubborn burnt areas.
Baking Soda & Salt Paste: Using salt when making your paste when cleaning pizza stones after burning will help wear down any burnt food residues that the baking soda may not remove on its own.
Apply with an old rag or sponge-like baking soda mixed with water in equal parts. If necessary, combine both methods to ensure that all residue is removed, but make sure the stone has completely cooled before attempting this method.
Toothpaste: We hadn’t heard of this until recently, but apparently, toothpaste (gel type is excellent for removing stains from the surface of pizza stones) applied to the rock with an old rag or sponge, removes stains from the surface of pizza stones.
Then, rubbing in small circular motions can aid in the breakdown of particularly stubborn burnt residues left on your Ooni Pizza Stone. When finished, rinse with clean water.
Vinegar and Water: If you’re looking for something a little different, vinegar and water is another method that has been shown to work well! Before giving it a good stir, combine equal parts of each liquid in a bowl or bucket large enough to submerge the entire stone.
Pour this solution directly onto the surface of your stone and allow it to soak for 20-30 minutes before scrubbing with an old brush or scourer in small circular motions.
Rinse with clean water and dry immediately to prevent rusting; rust marks may appear on your Ooni Pizza Stone if not dried immediately!
Caustic Soda and Hot Water: This is probably one of the riskier methods for cleaning burnt-on food residue after cooking, but it has worked well in the past for some people. Before pouring directly onto the surface of your still-hot pizza stone, combine three teaspoons of caustic soda with two liters (about 70 ounces) of hot water.
Allow this to soak for 5-20 minutes, or until all burned residues have been removed, before gently scrubbing with a metal scourer or brush to ensure all stuck food particles remain dissolved in the solution. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly to prevent rusting of the stone!
Lime & Salt: Finally, if you’re looking for a natural way to remove burnt food residue from your pizza stone, placing a halved lime on each side of the surface and sprinkling salt overtop will help after letting it rest overnight.
The next day, carefully remove both limes and any remaining salt before scrubbing away at the surface to remove all waste and rust marks, restoring your Ooni Pizza Stone to new condition!
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How do I clean my OONI Koda 16 pizza stone?
Cleaning your OONI Koda 16 pizza stone is similar to cleaning any other type of stone or steel surface used for food preparation. To prevent rust spots from forming, we recommend wiping the entire surface clean with a damp cloth after each use.
If you find any marks, use a metal scourer and some salt to scrub them away in small circular motions until all stains are gone.
For stubborn residue, mix equal parts baking soda and water before applying this mixture to the entire surface with an old sponge, rag, or brush before resting for up to 20 minutes and then scrubbing well in small circles.
Depending on how bad things are, you may need to soak it overnight!
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Other ways to maintain the life of your pizza stone
Include:
- Avoid using metallic utensils on the stone, and avoid sharp edges, which can leave irreversible marks over time.
- Allow your pizza stone to cool completely before washing it, make sure to thoroughly dry it after washing, and avoid using soap unless absolutely necessary.
- Never flush or store food that is still hot in your oven! Allowing the oven to cool before removing any leftover food waste for later disposal is the best method.
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FAQ about How to clean ooni pizza stone
How much food can fit on the Ooni Koda 16 Stone?
Three large pizzas or six smaller pizzas should fit comfortably.
Can I use my oven liner with this pizza stone?
While it is not recommended, it is possible if you are desperate, but please keep in mind that your warranty will be voided as a result. We always advise against using an oven liner inside your appliance because it can rupture or damage, posing a risk to you and anyone else nearby.
Wait for the surface of your Ooni Pizza Stone to cool before attempting to remove any excess debris left behind after cooking, and clean up any food residues immediately after each use.
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Can I put it in the dishwasher?
No, do not put your pizza stone through the dishwasher or immerse it in salt-based solutions, as both can cause rusting. Instead, wipe it down with a damp cloth and allow it to dry completely before storing it somewhere safe when not in use. Never wash in hot water!
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How do I clean burnt-on food from my oven?
This will most likely require some elbow grease on your part, but combining baking soda and water into a paste and applying it all over the affected area before resting for up to 20 minutes before scrubbing away will usually remove most stains left behind from residue previously cooked within the appliance.
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Should you wash the pizza stone?
No, it is critical to never wash or store food in your oven while it is still hot, as this can cause a fire. Allow the surface of your pizza stone to cool before attempting to clean any excess debris left behind after cooking, and then carefully remove any burnt-on residue with a damp cloth and metal scourer once thoroughly cooled, just as you would with a stovetop pan or pot that has been used for cooking.
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Can I re-season my pizza stone?
In a nutshell, no. Assume you have correctly seasoned your Ooni Pizza Stone from the start. In that case, there is no need to apply an additional layer because its purpose was simply as a temporary protective coating that will quickly fade away with use, potentially causing your pizza stone to crack or split due to the outer layer being forced further inwards, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to irreparable damage.
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How often should I season my pizza stone?
Ooni recommends seasoning your pizza stone at least once every three uses, but please keep in mind that if you’ve been using it on a regular basis, you may have noticed the outer layer of seasoning has already worn away, which means it’s time to replace with another thin coating of oil, so don’t worry about throwing out an unusable product!
If you are still unsure whether your Ooni Pizza Stone is ready for replacement, please contact customer service via e-mail before proceeding.
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Conclusion how to clean ooni pizza stone
As you can see, it is not difficult to keep your Ooni Koda Stone clean; follow all of the above guidelines, and you will be able to use it for years with little effort.
As long as you don’t cook anything too sticky or messy without cleaning up after yourself, this should keep your cooking surface looking brand new every time!
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