I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cooked a delicious pizza, only to look at the detritus of my cooking left on the pizza stone and pondered just how any amount of cleaning, without soap and water, would ever get it back to working order. It’s just too easy for cheese to bubble, curdle and spill, for tomato sauce to slip off unnoticed. Thankfully, the Ooni pizza stone makes it easy.
So how to clean a Ooni pizza stone? To clean a Ooni pizza stone, first let it cool down from use. Then scrub off food particles with the pizza brush and wipe the stone with a damp rag. Once you’ve cleaned the stone with a damp rag, let the pizza stone dry for several hours before storing it.
This post will go over in detail how to properly clean an Ooni, as well as discuss some of the extra benefits this particular brand has to offer. Personally, I’ve never used any other stone in my home, and I don’t plan on changing anytime soon, so cleaning the Ooni pizza stone is part of my regular routine.
How to Properly Clean an Ooni Pizza Stone
Before I get into the gritty details o how to clean pizza stone Ooni, you’re going to need some equipment. Make sure you have:
- Blunt table knife
- Metal and plastic spatula
- Dough scraper
- Stone brush
- Sandpaper
- Scouring pads
- Toothbrush
You may not need all of these for every cleaning session, but they are good to have nearby. The blunt knife, for instance, is only for when you have some burnt food stuck on that can’t be removed any other way. I’ve only had to resort to sandpaper once, but it helps to be prepared.
Pizza Stone Cleaning Process
It’s absolutely crucial, when cleaning your Ooni pizza stone, that you avoid letting moisture in at all costs. You’ll be working with baking soda and water, and I’ll get into that shortly, but you want to stay away from oils, soap, and other cleaning chemicals.
Pizza stones are made to withstand extreme heat. This also will kill off any germs or bacteria. Even germaphobes as extreme as Howie Mandel can rejoice, as bacteria can’t multiply in temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. But even though germs don’t stand much of a chance of surviving, it’s still important to clean a pizza stone after every use. First:
- Let the pizza stone cool down from use. This can take a few hours, and the heat can often be trapped deep inside, so be careful when you do pick it up.
- If you need to, add a very small stream of water over the surface of the stone. You’re going to want to use as little water as possible throughout cleaning, but just a little hot water over the top may be necessary, particularly if the food residue is very hard to come off.
- Using the stone brush, scrub away any food particles in a circular motion. Be sure you’re thorough. Finish off by wiping with a damp rag.
- Let the stone dry. Again, this can take several hours, but you want the stone 100 percent dry before storing it. You can speed the process slightly using paper towels.
- Store the stone. To prevent it from cracking, it’s best stored in the oven itself.
If you can do this without using water, your stone will be grateful.
How To Remove Pizza Stains from an Ooni Pizza Stone
Think of the many stains on your pizza stone as battle scars – evidence of the many excellent pizzas you’ve made. A darker pizza stone suggests a hard-battled chef, and it provides a nicer seasoning for future pizzas.
While some won’t go away, others can be removed. If you feel it necessary, here’s how to approach the Ooni pizza stone cleaning:
- Using a plastic spatula, scrape away any remaining food particles. Don’t use a metal spatula, as it can scratch the stone.
- Make a paste out of 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
- Apply the paste to a wet cloth.
- Scrub the paste on the stains in a circular motion. You’ll have to do this for a while, as some stains are more stubborn than others.
- Wipe away the paste with a damp cloth.
- Let the stone dry.
Grease stains take a little extra effort, so here’s how to clean Ooni stone covered in it. For a thorough grease removal, rub the paste on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes before rubbing it out.
Again, it’s important to let the stone dry completely before storing it. If moisture collects inside, it will result in your stone cracking.
If you’d like to further season a stained stone, start by baking some buttery cookies on it. This will only add to the flavor of future pizza. Ultimately, you will have to determine if you can live with the sight of stains. But the seasoning benefits of keeping them in seem reason enough to keep them in.
Is Ooni Pizza Stone Worth the Scrubbing?
Keeping your Ooni clean takes a moderate amount of effort. But now that you know how to clean an Ooni pizza stone, is owning one really worth the fuss? As I have one and use it regularly, let me tell you that the results are unmatched. If you want crispy and tasty results in just a few minutes of baking, while also having fun (especially if you have an outdoor Ooni oven) you won’t make a mistake with this stone.
This combo – the stone and the oven, also gives you the freedom to experiment. You can try out different cooking times, and various dough types (from airy and crispy to gluten-free). You can also mix toppings and discover new combos. So, in the end – yes, it’s definitely worth it.
If you opt-in to buy an oven, too, you should know in advance that it doesn’t come with accessories. You will need to invest in some essential additions, such as a pizza peel, a cover, and some fuel, too. Worry no, because you can purchase these things in bundles and save a bit, but you can also buy them from different manufacturers.