If you own an Ooni pizza stone, then aside from knowing how to get the best results, you also want to know how to correctly clean an Ooni pizza stone.
So, that’s what we will discuss here. Correctly caring for it will mean you continue to get the same amazing results for longer.
Also, it just comes across as so much more hygienic when you know everything has indeed been cleaned in the correct way.
But here’s the good news.
If you thought that this would involve a long and drawn-out process, then that is not the case. Instead, what we have are a few simple steps that you can follow that will ultimately lead to your Ooni pizza stone being ready for use once again.
So, let’s get on with the steps.
Your Equipment
The first thing you need to think about though is the equipment you intend to use to get that pizza stone perfectly clean. You only need a few items, and most people will have them in their homes.
What we recommend is the following.
- A blunt knife, or a table knife will suffice
- A plastic spatula or a metal one will also work
- A brush for stone
- A scouring pad
- A toothbrush
- Sandpaper
As you can see, it’s not an extensive list and yet the difference each item can make to the finished result is astonishing.
But also the scouring pad, sandpaper and toothbrush simply work as additional options when it comes to those tougher stains. You won’t always have to use each thing with every single clean.
So now you know what you need. It’s time to get on with describing how to effectively clean that stone. Honestly, it will prove easier than you imagine.
Step 1: Let it Cool
The first step is an obvious one in that you need to allow the stone time to cool down. It’s just going to retain so much heat at the outset that you will quickly burn yourself as a direct result of picking it up and trying to clean it straight away.
Understand that this may very well take a couple of hours for it to cool down enough. That is how effective this stone is when it comes to retaining heat.
The problem is often that the stone may feel cool on the outside, but it still retains heat in the core. That is why we do urge you to err on the side of caution when it comes to this. Take your time, or you may end up potentially damaging your stone in the future.
But here is an additional tip. Do not feel tempted into throwing some cold water over the stone to help the cooling down process. It’s actually important you use as little water as possible with this cleaning process, so avoid it and just let things happen naturally.
Step 2: Removing the First Crumbs
The next step is to remove the first crumbs. This is where the stone brush comes into play as it makes quick work of dusting off the loose crumbs sitting on the top of the stone.
What we recommend is to use the stone brush more in a circular motion. That makes it easier to dislodge some of the crumbs that have managed to stick to the stone a bit more. However, not every crumb will come off using this method.
Do make sure you cover every single part of the stone and take your time over this. It may require more than one pass over the stone with the brush to get the majority of the crumbs off. However, you may still come across parts of the crust that have really stuck and burnt onto the stone.
But we will take you through how to deal with that later. Don’t worry, you do have methods available to you that will make life easier than you think.
Once done, wipe over the stone with a slightly damp rag. Do not soak the rag as you still need to eliminate as much water as possible.
Step 3: Removing Harder Stains
Let’s say some cheese has managed to really burn itself onto the stone. A quick brush will struggle to remove those stains, so you must adopt a different approach.
For this, you need that plastic spatula. Your aim is to really use the spatula to scratch off the food burnt onto the stone. The good thing is this plastic spatula is then unlikely to damage the surface of the stone, and that is why it’s the better option.
Make sure you use a bit of force to do this. Often, it’s the only way in which you can really get those tougher parts off.
These stains will not simply comply with your request for them to come off. It requires some real effort from you. Also, if you failed to clean the stone after each use, then you will have only made life harder.
That is why we do recommend going through this entire process whenever you use your Ooni pizza stone. It will save you so much time and effort in the future trying to undo all of that mess on the stone surface.
Step 4: Baking Soda Becomes Your Friend
Know that using a baking soda mix is only something you use when those stains have become really stuck on the stone. If you do regular cleaning, then you may end up never having to use this approach.
However, let’s say your Ooni stone doesn’t look so good. At that point, this is what you need to do.
Take your baking soda, and mix one tablespoon of baking soda with just one tablespoon of water. That’s enough to turn the powder into a paste, and it’s the paste that will do the hard work for you.
After that, take a cloth and make sure it’s wet. Put some of the paste on the cloth, and then rub it over the stone using a circular motion.
This might involve you having to spend some time working on the stone depending on how stubborn the stains may be. However, persevere as it will work out in the end for the majority of stones.
When done, get another wet cloth and wipe the excess paste from the stone. After this, you need to let the stone air dry, and this could also take a couple of hours. However, that is why we do recommend using as little water as possible.
Those are the key steps for getting your Ooni pizza stone nice and clean. But what if you come across other issues? Well, we have a couple of tips.
Dealing with Grease
If you have grease on your stone, all you need to do is to rub your baking soda over the grease and leave it for a few minutes. The circular motion will help break the grease down, and then leaving it to get to work for a bit also helps.
After a few minutes have passed, wipe it off with a damp cloth. You should see the majority of grease is no longer on the stone. If any stubborn parts remain, repeat the process.
Using a Toothbrush
At times, using a toothbrush to break down things such as grease, or removing those crumbs is the best course of action. Once again, you need to do a circular motion as it has been shown as the best approach.
It’s also best if your toothbrush is slightly firm. The bristles will help break down the stains and grease without putting in too much effort.
Avoid Moisture
It’s very important to avoid applying too much moisture to the stone. That is why we always recommend only using a damp cloth, and never allowing water to run over the stone in any great quantities.
The problem with moisture in the stone is it can lead to cracking. You need to ensure the stone is completely dry before exposing it to heat. Failure to do so will lead to the stone potentially splitting.
But the problem is that moisture can work its way deep into the stone. Waiting hours is the only way to combat this, as well as not soaking the stone in the first place.
Overall Conclusion
And that is how to correctly clean an Ooni pizza stone. As you see, it does not take a lot of effort on your part to get it clean, and it is something we recommend you do on a regular basis.
By caring for the stone, you will keep it hygienic and safe to use for a long time. That means you can continue to enjoy wonderful pizza cooked on your pizza stone without worrying about the implications.
Take your time following the steps, and prepare to put in some effort to get the correct end result. It does make a difference when you clean things in an effective manner, so do it after every use to make life easier.
