Taking your pizza-making game to another level requires proper equipment, and there is no better way to achieve the perfect shape and structure of your favorite dish than by using the best California Pizza Stone.
California Pizza Stones are made of high-grade non-toxic Mullite, rugged and rough, containing a high amount of grog. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but in my opinion, the round ones are the best.
California Pizza Stone is actually a small, family-owned business, and that’s what makes them different from other companies on the market. They offer numerous pizza stones, so let me help you pick the best one.
California Round Pizza Baking Stone Is My Absolute Favorite
The round stone is one of the most commonly used ones and also my personal favorite. Before using it for the first time, I wasn’t even aware of the difference it could make, especially as I always believed that my pizza was pure perfection.
If you’re into classics like I am, then you simply have to make a round pizza. Yes, I know they can be rectangular and even heart-shaped, but for me, pizza is not a pizza if it is not round, and I just love the symmetry and cutting it into 6 or 8 equally big slices.
So, it is no surprise that I choose this shape of the stone as my favorite. I already knew how to make homemade pizza dough but was truly amazed by the difference that this stone made once the final result came out of the oven. The crust was perfect, and the pizza peel that I also got was helpful for getting the dough inside and out of the oven without burning my hands.
This Stone Comes in Many Sizes
The stone seems pretty much indestructible, and it really upgraded the whole experience, so I highly recommend it to anyone. Its price depends mostly on the size, but even the largest one isn’t more expensive than $100, which makes it perfect even for a gift. In the chart below, you can see all the options and current prices.
| Size | Price |
| 8 x 5/8 | $19.00 |
| 10 x 5/8 | $28.00 |
| 12 x 5/8 | $35.00 |
| 13 x 5/8 | $42.00 |
| 15 x 5/8 | $46.00 |
| 16 x 5/8 | $53.00 |
| 19 x 5/8 | $83.00 |
| 21 x 3/4 | $95.00 |
California Pizza Baking Stones Won’t Let You Down
These stones won’t just look pretty and then crack after a thermal shock or a small accident. The company offers replacement if something like that happens, which is a guarantee that they know what they’re doing and that the chances for such a worst-case scenario are little to none.
All California pizza stones are made of 100% quality materials that are rugged, rough, and made with grog, which is a type of clay that has to be baked at 2500-2600 degrees, and once it is baked, it gets crushed and put back into the clay mixture. This is actually the material combination that makes them almost indestructible and, most importantly, highly resistant to thermal shock.
These stones come in various shapes and sizes, so I recommend you check some of the most popular models and decide which one is perfect for you and your oven. Because of different characteristics, these stones are suitable for different pizzas.
How to Choose the Best Stone?
One of the things you should definitely consider when getting a new stone is the size and shape of your home oven. If it’s small in size, and you don’t want to use your barbeque for baking, it is for thebest that you buy a smaller stone.
A smaller one will also be more suitable for your budget. If your family is big and you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed, with a smaller stone, you can quickly do a few rounds without wasting any time because it will already be preheated, so your next pizza will be done before you notice.
How to Properly Use a Pizza Baking Stone
Pizza baking stone is a basic but highly efficient tool that can make the whole process much more simple if you find the right model. You actually don’t need to have a professional oven or have the skills of an Italian master chef – all you need for a perfect pizza is a high-quality baking stone that can be used in a regular gas oven. And here is how it all goes:
- You need to heat up the stone in your oven (for 30 minutes or more, depending on its thickness),
- Once it heated up, take it out of the oven and put the dough on it,
- Put it back in the oven and continue baking.
The Square Industrial Pizza Stone Is Another Noteworthy Tool From the Same Brand
The Square Industrial Pizza Stone is also made of high-quality materials and non-toxic Mullite, making it perfect for surviving numerous rounds of baking under extremely high temperatures. Mullite is also known as a porous material, so it will help with moisture withdrawal.
It is also suitable for fast heating in a wood-fired oven but you can use it in regular ovens. The company also guarantees 100% resistance to thermal shock – this is one of the most durable options on the market. In case of any cracks, you’ll get a completely new product. Its price is about $89.95 if we talk about the model in the size that I used, and it’s 16x16x1 inches and 16 pounds.
With this size, it might be hard to fit it inside of the small conventional oven. No matter the case, this is the model that totally beats its competitors, and it gives the best results if you put it in the proper pizza oven. There you can preheat it quickly, over and over, without any worries about potential cracks and damages.
As I already mentioned, the main advantage of this and other California models is their amazing durability. If you previously struggled with poor quality stones that crack after a few baking sessions and got disappointed, this is the right model for you.
With a thermal shock guarantee, you can comfortably experiment, knowing that you’ll get a proper replacement. The only problem about this model can be its size, so ensure you measure your oven before buying it or get the one in a smaller size.
California Rectangle Industrial Pizza Stone Is Also High On My List
This is another type of incredibly designed stone manufactured in the United States of America. These types of pizza stones are non-glaze and certified as non-toxic. You also get a guarantee that they won’t crack under heat during the baking process.
You can use them on a barbeque grill, but they are also suitable for baking in a wood-fired or in a regular oven. They come in different sizes, and the product’s price depends on it. Since most oven dishes are rectangular, the chances are high that among these models, you’ll easily find the right one for your oven.
14 x 16 x 1 Rectangle Industrial Pizza Stone Might Be the Best Fit for a Regular Oven
This might be a perfect size and shape for an ideal homemade pizza. Like all the previously mentioned models, this pizza stone is made of high-quality materials, the stone is also rough and rugged, and its structure with a high percentage of grog makes it indestructible when it comes to high temperatures.
This is why you always get the 100% guarantee that the product won’t crack, or you get the replacement. This stone is also porous, which will allow the humidity to be absorbed during baking, leaving you with a perfectly crispy crust without any moisture.
These ones are also suitable for BBQ usage, but they show the best results in a wood-fired pizza oven. Even in the case of preheating and rapid reusing, these models are designed not to crack under the most intense cooking sessions.
You Can Easily Find a Perfect Model, Depending on Your Needs and Preferences
There is nothing like the joy of baking your own pizza with tasty fresh ingredients. If you are mastering the dough structure and experimenting with interesting flavors and shapes, you should definitely consider getting yourself one of the marvelous California Pizza Stones. One of the biggest advantages is that they can withstand extreme temperatures, so you can comfortably experiment, even with baking a pizza on the barbeque.