So you have decided to go ahead and get a Pampered Chef pizza stone, and we think it’s a great idea. However, you must understand how to use it correctly to get the best out of it.
And that’s what we plan on talking about today. We will take you through how to go ahead and accurately use this pizza stone to ensure you get a tasty pizza at the end.
The good news is that this is not something that should prove too difficult. It’s very straightforward, so you have no excuse to not get a great pizza at the end of the day.
You see, a problem people have is they think each pizza stone works similarly. While that would certainly make sense, it’s not a reality.
Instead, as we go through a series of steps and tips, you will find that the Pampered Chef pizza stone does go about things slightly differently.
However, this different way plays a major role in the potential effectiveness of the stone, so it’s best to pay attention.
Step 1: Preparing the Oven
The first step is actually to prepare the oven. You want to heat the oven to 425F. Never add a pizza to a cold oven and hope it will cook while the oven heats.
If you do that, the crust will not develop the right kind of crunch. Your pizza will turn out horrible, and you will then wonder if the pizza stone is not working when it’s the oven causing the problem.
But do note we only tell you to prepare the oven by keeping it up to temperature. You don’t go ahead and place the pizza stone into the oven at this point. That moment will come later on when everything else is ready.
Step 2: Preparing the Pizza Stone
The next step is to prepare the pizza stone, which is also very simple. It takes only a couple of minutes of your time.
The key is to spread either flour or cornmeal onto the base of the stone. The idea is that spreading flour onto the surface will act as a barrier between the stone and the dough for the crust.
If you don’t do this step, you can expect the dough to stick to the stone, which will quickly ruin your entire pizza. Also, you don’t require much flour on the surface either. A light dusting of it should suffice.
But when adding the flour or cornmeal, ensure you cover the entire surface where the pizza will sit. It’s all too easy to suddenly discover one small part of the crust has stuck to the stone while the rest is free and easy.
Step 3: Placing the Dough
If you thought you could simply slap the dough onto your pizza stone and leave it like that, think again. Instead, if you want the best results, then placing the dough in the correct location will prove a key step.
What you need to do is to place the dough in the absolute middle of the stone. You will then flatten it down by pushing the dough to the edge of the stone.
Of course, this only applies if you are indeed making a pizza from absolute scratch. If you use a ready-made base, place it in the middle of the stone.
Step 4: Stretching the Dough
If you plan on using your own dough, it can prove difficult to stretch it out into the correct size or shape.
We see the key as taking your time and ensuring you create a rim to the crust. You should have no real problem stretching something out when you have used the correct ingredients to make the dough in the first place.
However, we stress that you must always start from the heart of the stone and work your way out. You can use the full size of the Pampered Chef pizza stone to your advantage.
Step 5: Make Your Pizza
You then need to think about putting your pizza together, and that’s where the fun begins. Add the sauce to the base, followed by lots of cheese, and finally, whatever toppings you wish to include.
That’s one of the great things about making a pizza in general. You have no limitations on what you can put on there and can add anything that appeals. Of course, your pizza stone has no bearing aside from the size of the stone limiting the size of the pizza.
Step 6: The Cooking Process
The final step when using your Pampered Chef pizza stone is the actual cooking process. Typically, you should find that your pizza turns a fantastic golden brown color after anywhere from 12 to 18 minutes.
However, the actual time it takes does depend on how thick your crust is when you place it in the oven. A thick crust will require more time to ensure everything is correctly cooked.
Ideally, you should place your pizza stone in the middle of the oven to ensure an even heat for the entire pizza. After that, keep an eye on it turning that color to know that everything has turned out perfect.
Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Pizza Stone
The steps above show how easy it is for you to use a Pampered Chef pizza stone. However, we can always do with some additional easy tips designed just to help things along a bit.
Tip 1: Don’t Preheat the Stone
If you have previous experience with other pizza stones, you may have expected to preheat the stone before using it. Well, please don’t do that.
You see, this pizza stone is made from clay, and it doesn’t require you to heat it before placing your pizza dough there.
Tip 2: Be Careful with the Heat
Another tip is to ensure you are careful with the heat. Don’t exceed the temperature mentioned earlier, as these pizza stones do not work well in extreme temperatures.
Now we know that sounds crazy as it goes in the oven and it’s designed for pizza, but don’t ignore this tip.
The problem is that this pizza stone is quite fragile, and exposing it to too much heat for a prolonged period increases the chances of it cracking.
Tip 3: Check the Stone Regularly
As a Pampered Chef pizza stone does come with the risk of cracking, we suggest checking it over regularly. Look for cracks or any signs of weakness in the stone, as this is a real possibility.
However, if you follow our simple guide on using the Pampered Chef pizza stone, you should find you can avoid running into those problems in the first place.
Is This Stone Worth it?
This pizza stone is a fantastic item, and you don’t have to put it in the oven for over 30 minutes before you even use it is another huge bonus.
For that fact alone, the Pampered Chef pizza stone is worth buying. It’s simple to keep clean, very easy to use and produces some fantastic pizzas in under 20 minutes.
When you look at it from that angle, you can see how this could prove itself as the best pizza stone you will encounter.
Just check the size of the one you wish to buy to ensure it will fit in your oven. You have several size options, so it’s easy to find yourself caught out.
Overall Conclusion
A Pampered Chef pizza stone is a fantastic item to own, and there’s no doubting its ability to go ahead and help you produce a tasty pizza. However, it only involves a few simple steps, which is another real bonus.
As you can see, nothing should prove too difficult to get the perfect end result. Perhaps the key is simply ensuring your oven is hot enough before adding your pizza. It does make a significant difference.
We can suggest that you make the most of your Pampered Chef pizza stone and use it as often as possible. It’s a fantastic product, and the results you can achieve will blow your mind.
We see this as one of the best pizza stones for a pizza lover. If you haven’t invested in one, perhaps now is the time to change that?
