Pizza is a go-to favorite food for many, and that’s all thanks to its versatility. With homemade pizza, you can get even more creative with different toppings, customizing the perfect pie to feed a craving. But what makes for the best pizza at home? A well-cooked crust can make all the difference, and a pizza stone is the perfect tool to help achieve that.
The best pizza stones conduct heat well and are durable enough to last through making many pizzas. Warming up the stone before cooking your pizza will result in a wonderful crust with a slight crispiness. (No soggy crusts here!) From cordierite to options made from steel, ceramic, and cast iron, these are the best pizza stones for making the most delicious restaurant-quality pizza at home.
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Why It’s Great: Large surface area; thicker stone for heat retention; high heat rating for versatility
Grain of Salt: Not dishwasher safe
A porous material such as cordierite is the best material for a pizza stone. It’s all due to its construction, as the material locks in heat efficiently for excellent retention. This pizza stone checks all the boxes with a thick cordierite construction and plenty of room for pizza across 15 inches of square space. That thicker construction is also helpful if you plan to cook several pizzas, as it will maintain its temperature longer—an excellent choice for family pizza night!
This pizza stone has an impressive heat rating of up to 1450°F, which means it can be used for virtually any application. Use it in your home oven in the kitchen, or try it on the grill or a smoker. Its shape and size also make it more versatile for other recipes than just pizzas, including everything from cookies to homemade bagels or English muffins.
The porous material is designed to absorb moisture, which is helpful for preventing a soggy pizza crust when cooking. However, that means it’s important to avoid submerging the stone in water when it’s time for cleanup. Instead, simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth without any soap.
The Details: Cordierite; 15 inches; 6.6 pounds; oven safe up to 1450°F
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Why It’s Great: Approachable price point; includes pizza cutter; lightweight for easier moving
Grain of Salt: Not dishwasher safe
Investing in a pizza stone may not seem like a necessary expense, but it can make all the difference in texture and flavor. This option from Nordic Ware comes in at an approachable price point to give it a try.
The stone offers 13 inches of round space for making 12-inch pizzas in your home oven. Made from ceramic stoneware, it will heat up in 15 to 20 minutes and retain heat throughout the baking process. Preheat the oven to 450°F, allow the stone to preheat, and transfer the pizza onto the hot stone. You’ll have a piping hot, perfectly cooked homemade pizza in no time. Once it comes time to retrieve the pizza, use oven mitts to grab the helpful handles and transfer it out of the oven. This pizza stone can also be used on a grill.
For cleanup, let the stone cool completely before wiping it down with a damp cloth or sponge.
The Details: Ceramic stoneware; 12.7 inches; 4.4 pounds; oven safe up to 450°F
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Why It’s Great: Excellent heat retention; helpful handles; variety of uses; durable construction
Grain of Salt: Heavy
If you don’t have a pizza oven, use your grill to cook a pizza. Yes, the same grill you use to cook everything from burgers and brats to grilled chicken and veggies. The same incredible flavor you get from cooking those items on the grill will be applied to your pizza pie, and a cast iron pizza stone is the best tool to achieve that.
Cast iron heats up quickly, retains heat exceptionally well, and is known for its durability. Lodge has been making cast iron since the late 1800s, so it’s certainly a recognized household name in cookware. This pizza pan option offers 15 inches of space to cook pizzas, along with other meals. For grilling, place the pan on the grill and allow it to preheat. You’ll end up with a nice crispy crust and a wonderful slightly charred flavor. Plus, the seasoning of cast iron makes it naturally nonstick, so retrieving your pizza will be simpler. Use this pan on the grill or in your home oven for baking. It can also be used on all stovetops or over the campfire for other recipes.
The Details: Cast Iron; 15 inches; 10 pounds; oven safe up to 550°F
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Why It’s Great: Conducts and retains heat efficiently; cooks pizzas quickly; durable and easy to wipe clean
Grain of Salt: Pricey; takes a long time to cool
I like to cook pizzas in my outdoor pizza oven for the flavor and texture the cooking method produces. Ooni’s pizza steel offers a similar experience cooking indoors. The first time I used this pizza steel in my home oven, I couldn’t believe how well it performed, and I continue to use it on repeat in my home during the winter months.
A pizza steel is similar to a pizza stone—it’s just made out of a different material. Constructed from sandblasted stainless steel, this pizza steel conducts heat efficiently and retains it well to produce a surprisingly great texture on pizza crust in your home oven set to 500°F. With 30 minutes of preheating time, a pizza can be cooked in under 10 minutes. Plus, because it’s non-porous, you can use it with homemade, store-bought, or frozen pizzas.
Once you’ve retrieved your pizza, you’ll need to leave the steel in the oven to cool for quite a while. After it has cooled, easily wipe the steel clean with a damp cloth so it’s ready for your next pizza-making night.
The Details: Sandblasted stainless steel; 13.46-inches; 11.51 pounds; oven safe up to 527°F
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Why It’s Great: Large surface area; glazed finish for protection; dishwasher safe
Grain of Salt: Glazed side may not produce as crispy of a crust
Le Creuset is a household name thanks to its stoneware Dutch ovens, but they also make pizza stones. Even better, it’s the perfect choice if you’re hoping to match your stone to the rest of your kitchen’s color palette and cookware. This round stone provides plenty of room for pizzas up to 15 inches, though you’ll most likely want to use it for 12-inch or 14-inch pizzas for the best results. At the base, it’s made from durable stoneware with a glazed finish. That exterior coating, which comes in six different colors, protects the stone from cracks and scratches and makes it easier to retrieve a cooked pizza. The glazed coating won’t produce as crispy of a pizza crust, but you can turn the stone over to make use of the unglazed side if desired.
Because of its construction, this pizza stone is incredibly versatile and can be used in the oven, under the broiler, in the microwave, or even as a serving platter. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
The Details: Glazed stoneware; 15-inch; 4 pounds 3 ounces; oven safe up to 500°F
Our Takeaway
We chose the Unicook Cordierite Pizza Stone as our top pick because of its large surface area, thick material, and high heat resistance. If you’re looking for a more budget-conscious pick, we also love the Nordic Ware Pizza Stone for its lightweight construction and convenient handles.
How to Pick the Right Pizza Stone
Material
Although they’re called “pizza stones,” these tools can be made from a variety of materials. Cordierite is a type of stone that absorbs plenty of heat and is durable and thermal shock-resistant. A stone may also be coated in ceramic for a non-stick option. Cast iron pizza stones or pizza steels absorb and retain a lot of heat but are heavier and take longer to cool down after cooking.
Size and Shape
The best pizza stone design depends on the size of the pizzas you like to make. Choose a larger pizza stone for big pies to feed the family, or opt for a more compact stone. Keep storage space in mind as well when considering the ideal size and shape for you.
Cleaning and Maintenance
It’s inevitable that you’ll end up with cheese or other toppings stuck on your pizza stone at some point. When it’s time to clean your pizza stone, porous pizza stones like those made out of cordierite should not be immersed in water or scrubbed with soap and water because of moisture issues. Leave them in the oven at high heat to help cook off some of the residue and wipe them clean with a damp towel. A cast iron pizza stone should be maintained like other cast iron pieces with proper seasoning.
Common Questions
Is a pizza stone worth buying?
If you’re someone who makes a lot of homemade pizza and has specific favorite crusts, a pizza stone is a worthy investment. One simple tool can make all the difference in quality. It will help to prevent soggy crusts and enhance the flavor and texture significantly.
What is the difference between a pizza stone and a pizza steel?
The main difference between a pizza stone and steel is the materials they’re made out of. Pizza stones are cordierite, enameled stone, or ceramic, whereas a pizza steel is made from stainless steel. Although pizza steels are typically more expensive, the metal conducts heat better than other pizza stone materials and will result in an even crispier crust.
Can you use a pizza stone on a grill?
Yes, a pizza stone works as an excellent tool on the grill. Preheat the pizza stone on the grill as you would preheat it for use in your indoor oven.
Should you preheat your pizza stone?
Yes, preheating your pizza stone is key to achieving the perfect crust. Place your pizza stone in the oven and preheat for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour. Investing in a pizza peel will help to make the transfer of the pizza to the stone that much simpler.
Can you make frozen pizza on a pizza stone?
Want to use store-bought frozen pizza? Go for it! The key is to allow the frozen pizza to defrost before cooking it on a pizza stone. If it’s still frozen, the introduction of cold to heat can cause cracking on the stone. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines to be extra safe.
Why Take Our Word For It?
Molly Allen is a former bakery owner turned freelance writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer with a passion for exploring the outdoors and baking at home. Her work can also be found in Taste of Home, Good Housekeeping, Insider, Brides, Southern Living, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, and Simply Recipes.
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