Using a pizza baking stone can make a difference to the flavor and texture of your pizza.

Baking stones are heavy, flat unglazed stones that can be used to cook a number of food items.

Pizza baking stones usually are round or rectangle in shape.

What are the advantages of cooking with a pizza baking stone?

A pizza stone helps to distribute heat evenly, thereby ensuring that your crust cooks the way it should. Baking stones are porous, which means that they also absorb moisture. If you enjoy crispy pizza crusts, a baking stone may be the perfect tool.

How do you cook pizza with a baking stone?

• Place your pizza stone in a cold oven and set oven temperature.

• Prepare your pizza and lift or slide it onto the stone. You may choose to prepare pizza on a large board or pan or on a traditional pizza peel that has been dusted with cornmeal (to prevent sticking) and then slide it onto your baking stone.
• Some people build their pizza right on the cold pizza stone before placing it in a pre-heated oven. Check with the manufacturer to make sure that your particular stone can withstand this temperature shift.

Should you season your pizza baking stone?

Some people choose to season their baking stones while others allow them to season over time through the baking process. Oils from food will gradually seep into the stone creating a non-stick surface.

Proper care of your baking stone

Scrape any food from stone after baking and rinse stone in warm water, allowing it to air dry. Do not use soap because the porous nature of the stone allows flavors to creep into the stone--and that includes soap taste!

Never place a hot baking stone on a cold surface. Unlike metal pans, stones may crack if exposed to sudden temperature changes.

• Pizza stones are versatile and can be used for baking bread on, or for baking cookies.

• Best of all, baking stones eliminate burned bottoms!

• A heated stone can be used to keep food warm.

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