Best Pizza Stone

Traditionally, pizza is cooked over a wood fire or over charcoal in a stone oven. This is what gives it its legendary texture, soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. To obtain the same result at home with an oven or a barbecue, the use of a pizza stone also called a baking stone is necessary. Thanks to this accessory, cooking Italian-style pizzas like a real pastry chef becomes easy for everyone. 

However, when it comes to choosing a pizza stone, it is not at all obvious, as there are a variety of models on the market. This buying guide comes at the right time to allow you to discover a selection of the best pizza stones, which will make your life easier.

 

Rösle Pizza Stone with handles

High quality

Whether in the oven or on the barbecue, this pizza stone from the manufacturer Rösler does its job well. Thanks to the refractory material with which it is designed, it perfectly stores heat and then releases it evenly over its entire surface, to allow the pizza to cook well. You can also use it for baking tarts flambées, bread, and many more.

It should be noted that this baking stone is only 1.5 cm thick. We are therefore dealing with a fine stone which consequently offers a relatively short cooking time. Despite the cooking speed, the preparation does not darken and the taste remains impeccable. The most greedy will certainly appreciate not having to wait too long before the moment of tasting.

This circular stone measures 41 cm in diameter. It is therefore large enough to make large pizzas for the whole family. The accessory is additionally equipped with a chromed steel handle on each side. It is therefore easy to transport and can be loaded and unloaded without difficulty.

Weber Pizza Stone

For small appetites

If you have a Weber charcoal barbecue, this pizza stone from the same brand is likely to suit you. It offers you the possibility of making delicious home-made pizzas that will compete in flavor with those of your favorite pizzeria.

The 36.5 cm diameter accessory stands out for the quality of its manufacturing material, cordierite . It is a component very popular with pizzerias, because it withstands high temperatures, perfectly absorbs humidity and distributes heat evenly. You can therefore have pizzas with a thin and perfectly light crust for your greatest happiness and that of your loved ones. You can even take the fun one step further by using it to make other equally delicious recipes like pies, bread or quiches.

Note also that this beige refractory stone is accompanied by a metal transport plate. Thanks to the latter, it is easier to place and remove the preparation on the barbecue without having to remove the stone. This is an interesting asset especially if you have several preparations to do. The metal plate also limits any burns that may occur and prevent the preparation from blackening after cooking.

Hans Grill Pizza Stone

One of the best sellers

The Hans Grill pizza stone will probably spark your interest if you are looking for an accessory that is compatible with different cooking equipment. It can indeed be used with charcoal barbecues as well as gas barbecues. Users who have an electric grill or an oven can also use it to make different dough recipes. And precisely, this baking stone lends itself readily to the realization of pies, breads, cookies, turnovers and many delicious recipes.

Designed with cordierite, this cooking surface is very absorbent and offers excellent thermal conduction. Enough to give you the opportunity to succeed in your pizza recipes like a real pizzaiolo to please you and your loved ones. However, its use with the oven requires a long time to preheat compared to some models of the same range.

In addition, this rectangular pizza stone measures 38 x 30 x 1.5 cm and therefore makes it possible to obtain a medium-sized pizza capable of satisfying approximately 3 to 4 people. And to optimize user comfort, the manufacturer accompanies the accessory with a shovel fitted with an ergonomic wooden handle.

Regarding its maintenance, the Hans Grill pizza stone can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Pizza Stone Set

Perfect for pizzas, calzones, flatbreads

Baking a pizza in a household electric or gas oven does not always result in a successful recipe like in the best pizzerias. But, it is possible to remedy this with a good pizza stone, as is the case with this model proposed by Nordic Ware.

Just place this 1.2 cm thick stone on your cooking device (oven, grill, barbecue), to obtain a professional system that promotes the realization of superb pasta-based recipes.

This 30 cm diameter baking stone made from a refractory and porous component perfectly retains and concentrates heat for flawless cooking. It is equipped with two metal handles which make it easy to handle and transport, whatever the recipe to be made.

It will now be easier for you to cook or reheat pizza, bread and other dishes at home.

Buying Guide: How To Choose a Pizza Stone

As a reminder, the pizza stone is a cooking surface designed from natural material which stores the heat in the oven and then releases it to cook the pizza dough evenly and quickly. Opting for this kitchen accessory therefore allows you to obtain delicious and authentic homemade pizzas.

But before choosing a pizza stone, there are a number of criteria to consider. Only by doing this will you be able to find the one that really meets your needs and preferences.

The different selection criteria

Here are some important parameters to analyze carefully before choosing a pizza stone.

The coating

Manufacturers use various materials for the design of this type of accessory. You will therefore find on the market pizza stones in cordierite, terracotta, lava stone, ceramic, marble, clay or granite …

Note that each component has both advantages and disadvantages. In general, certain materials such as cordierite or lava rock are known to withstand high temperatures, but they are the most expensive. On the other hand, other materials such as ceramic or fired clay may not tolerate too high a heat, but they nevertheless offer excellent firing results. With this type of material, you must also pay attention to thermal shocks, because they are more sensitive to it.

You will also find steel stones which are generally quite heavy. Steel is a component known for its ability to absorb and conduct intense heat. In addition, it eliminates the risk of thermal shock, cracks and breaks.

Since the pizza stone is an accessory that is constantly subjected to heat, care must therefore be taken in the choice of the material it is made from. It is generally recommended to opt for a very porous material which really allows to absorb the humidity of the dough during cooking in order to obtain a very crispy pizza.

The dimension

When choosing a baking stone, we realize that there are different sizes. How then to make a wise choice in this case? It depends on the capacity of its oven.

Note that if the pizza stone is larger than the oven, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to position it. This is why it is generally advisable to opt for a stone slightly smaller than the inside of the oven. So you can handle and insert it without difficulty. This also applies to barbecues or grills.

The best thing to do is to take into account the dimensions of the inside of your oven so as not to risk taking a stone that is much too large or too small.

Thickness

The cooking time of your pizza depends in part on the thickness of the stone you use. This criterion is therefore very important when choosing the accessory.

In general, the thickness of pizza stones varies from one model to another. We can thus distinguish between fine stones (between 1 and 2 cm) and thick stones (3 cm and more). The advantage with the former is that the cooking time is relatively shorter, because they heat up faster. Only, without supervision, the possibility that the pizza dough burns is not excluded. In addition, fine stones can easily break or crack if they are not handled with care and care.

As for thick stones, they are more heat resistant, so they heat up less quickly compared to thinner models. However, they are the best option for good durability.

Versatility

There are pizza stones on the market that can also be used for other recipes such as bread, cookies, pastries, pies and many others. These versatile models are therefore preferred for those who are used to varying dough-based recipes without having to invest in several items of the same kind. You can also prefer stones which adapt to any type of oven and which are compatible with barbecues for grilling. Some can even be used as a hob for saucepans. You must therefore opt for a stone that will make your daily life easier according to your needs and your habits.

Design and form

A priori, the design of a stone has no impact on its ability to cook pizzas. However, this parameter should not be minimized, because a beautiful stone will inevitably bring a plus in the decor of your kitchen.

As for the shape, you will have the choice between square, round or rectangular pizza stones. Choosing one or the other depends above all on your preferences, but also on the size of the different preparations you want to make. Note that the size of the pizza also depends in a way on the baking stone used. Usually a standard pizza is obtained with the round stones which are the most popular. But for more originality, you can opt for square or rectangular stones which offer a little more space.

The handle and accessories

A pizza stone with one handle or two handles is much easier to transport, put in and take out. However, not all models have it. To compensate for this, some brands add additional accessories like a pizza peel or spatula. These are generally of great use and optimize the use of your cooking equipment. 

For example, if you opt for a stone without a handle, the shovel can make it easier to put in and remove the dough. This limits the risk of burns, because it insulates the heat. As for the spatula, it is very practical for cleaning. Thanks to it, you can easily remove the leftover pizzas stuck after cooking.

The price

The price is the criterion to be considered as a last resort, as it can be misleading. Know that you will find products at relatively low prices. This does not mean that they are necessary of poor quality. However, good quality products have relatively high prices. But here too, an excessive price is not always a guarantee of quality. So, your best bet is to find a pizza stone model that offers good value for money and fits your budget.