Would you like to make homemade restaurant quality pizza? Invest in a pizza stone. You will soon be baking authentic wood-fired style pizzas in the comfort of your own kitchen.
The 10 Best Pizza Stones
- Cuisinart Alfrescamore Ceramic Glazed Cordierite Pizza Stone
- Solido 14 X 16-Inch Pizza Stone
- Falls Culinary. Inc Dough-Joe® 15 x 18-inch Pizza Stone (5-piece set)
- Love This Kitchen The Ultimate 16-inch Round Pizza Stone
- Honey-Can-Do Old Stone 16-inch Oven Round Pizza Stone
- Unicook 15-Inch Ceramic Pizza Grilling Stone
- Vremi 15-inch Ceramic Pizza Stone
- Emile Henry Made in France Pizza Stone
- Heritage Products 15-inch Black Ceramic Pizza Stone
- NerdChef Steel Stone Pizza Stone
Our Top Pick for the Best Pizza Stone
Our top pick for the best pizza stone is the NerdChef Steel Pizza Stone.
For a truly authentic wood-fired gourmet pizza experience, the NerdChef Steel Pizza Stone is an essential baking stone for all pizza lovers. Whether it is Friday night pizza for one or two or you need to feed a brood of hungry kids at a pool party, the NerdChef will create mouthwatering pizzas and turn your home into a real Italian pizzeria.
What is a Pizza Stone?
Forget your old baking tray for cooking pizza. A pizza stone is the best way to create professional style pizzas. Whether you love to eat New York thin crust pizzas or cook up a meaty, cheesy thick style pizza for the Superbowl game, the pizza stone will bake the best-tasting pizza.
A pizza stone is a thick, flat baking stone. It comes in different shapes: round, square or rectangular in shape, and ranges in size from 13, 14, 15 to 16-inches.
How Does a Pizza Stone Work?
Position the stone on the middle rack or bottom of the oven and preheat the oven.
Once the pizza is placed onto the stone, the stone’s porous material absorbs and holds the heat of the oven which is then transferred to the pizza. The result is a perfectly baked pizza with a bubbling golden brown top, no soggy middle and a crispy, crunchy crust that is ready for you to sink your teeth into. Here is a video to help you get started with your new pizza stone.
Versatile Cooking Tool
A highly versatile cooking tool, you can use a pizza stone for baking fresh or frozen pizza, bread, cookies, muffins and lots of other baked treats. Some pizza stones can be used to serve iced desserts like the NerdChef Steel Stone. You can use the stone under a grill, on the BBQ and even in the broiler.
How to Choose the Best Pizza Stone
Construction
A pizza stone is designed to tolerate high temperatures, so it needs to be made from extra heat resilient materials that will not crack, like lead-free clay, cordierite, stoneware (ceramic) and even the new cast iron, steel stone.
Lead-free clay
Lead-free clay is well known for its ability to absorb moisture as the pizza bakes, which results in a moist but not soggy pizza and a crispier crust.
Clay pizza stones must be preheated in the oven for at least 30 minutes or even longer for thicker stones. They can be difficult to clean and can crack or break if you drop them.
Cordierite
Cordierite can handle extremely high temperatures up to 1,500 or 2,000° Fahrenheit, like the Solido pizza stone. This material is highly resistant to thermal shock, which means it can handle sudden changes in temperature. The only real downside of this type of stone is that it will change color over time.
Stoneware (Ceramic)
Stoneware or ceramic cookware is very popular for a pizza stone. While ceramic does an excellent job of conducting heat for an optimal cooking performance, it has a tendency to crack if you do not preheat it properly.
Steel Stones
A steel pizza stone, like the NerdChef stone, is hailed as the new cast iron. These stones can tolerate high temperatures of 400° plus Fahrenheit. They conduct heat faster than traditional pizza stones and cook food evenly even at lower temperatures. The steel is extremely strong and will not break or crack like ceramic or clay but it is heavy like cast iron and very hot to hold.
Glazed or Unglazed
Pizza stones come with a glazed or unglazed finish. Most stones are unglazed because they are designed to soak up moisture during the cooking process. Some stones have a micro-glazed finish, like the Emile Henry Pizza Stone, which allows moisture to seep through the cracks in the glaze. Glazed stones allow you to cut the pizza on the stone without damaging or scratching the surface.
Unglazed pizza stones can be hard to clean as the pizza can stick to the surface but if you apply some cooking spray this can help the stone to be non-stick.
Best Pizza Stone Reviews
1. Cuisinart Alfrescamore Ceramic Glazed Cordierite Pizza Stone
With the Cuisinart Alfrescamore pizza stone, you will enjoy perfectly baked pizza with a golden brown crispy crust every time.
The 13-inch, 3/8-inch thick black cordierite pizza stone has a ceramic glaze, which makes it more durable and resistant to high temperatures and it has an excellent thermal shock resistance. It can be placed in 400-450-degree ovens, under a grill, an outdoor oven and can be used for baking other foods like calzones, bread, and desserts. You can even cut the pizza directly on the stone.
Cuisinart designed the stone to evenly distribute the heat so that the dough cooks from the bottom up. For best results, the stone needs to be preheated fifteen minutes before placing a fresh pizza on it.
The special glaze keeps the stone from discoloring and it can go straight into the dishwasher for quick and easy cleaning.
The Cuisinart is covered by a 90-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- High-quality
- Affordable price
- Ideal for two people
- Cordierite stone distributes the heat evenly
- Thermal shock resistant
- Creates a golden brown crispy crust
- Attractive black color
- Can be used on any grill and an outdoor oven
- Can be used for other baked goods
- Able to cut directly on the stone
- Easy to clean
- Only need to be preheated for 15-minutes
- Dishwasher safe
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- 1-year limited warranty
Cons
- Can crack easily
2. Solido 14 X 16-Inch Pizza Stone
Create your own delicious restaurant quality pizza with the Solido pizza stone.
There is plenty of room to add all your favorite toppings on the 14 x 16-inch large rectangular surface and the stone will fit in most standard sized ovens. The durable cordierite stone has a high heat tolerance up to 2,000-degrees Fahrenheit and has extra thermal shock resistance. You can use the stone with all types of stoves, the grill, or the BBQ.
For an optimal cooking performance, Solido’s exclusive Heat Spiral base allows the stone to heat up faster and retain more heat in the center of the stone so that the topping cooks to perfection and has the same deep flavor as the crust. You can even use the stone for fresh and frozen pizza, cookies and bread.
The combination of the unique spiral base and beautifully crafted feet raise the stone slightly from the oven rack and gives you a superior grip and maneuverability as you lift it out of the oven.
You can also use the pizza stone under the grill or on the BBQ and its bigger surface area gives you plenty of room for a scrumptious pizza with all your favorite toppings and will fit most standard ovens.
Solido offers mouthwatering recipes, cooking tips and tricks and great customer support.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Strong and durable cordierite
- Very good value for money
- Large rectangular surface
- Exclusive heat spiral design
- Heats up faster and evenly distribute the heat for optimal cooking results
- Beautifully crafted feet provides balance, a superior grip, and easy maneuverability
- Fits most standard ovens
- Recipe ideas and cooking tips and customer support on the Solido website
Cons
- Expensive
- Can discolor over time
- Not dishwasher safe
- Cannot be washed with soap or detergent
3. Falls Culinary. Inc Dough-Joe® 15 x 18-inch Pizza Stone (5-piece set)
This new, improved Dough-Joe pizza stone from Falls Culinary. Inc is an excellent choice for pizza enthusiasts.
Proudly made in the USA, the set consists of five dense 6 x 9 x 3/4-inch cordierite stones. The dense, thick cordierite stones are extra high heat and thermal shock resistant, so they can be used in ovens that have temperatures of 425°F and higher and pizza can go straight from the fridge into the oven. You can also use the stones in a wood-burning brick oven and a grill.
For fast heating, the cordierite heats up extraordinarily quickly and will retain the heat for a long time. The stones are less prone to breakage when they are attached together to form one solid piece.
As well as making fabulous gourmet style pizza, you can use the pizza stone to bake bread and cookies. You have even more cooking flexibility as you can bake large pizzas by using all the five tiles together or separate the stones and use them for mini pizzas.
The pizza stone weighs just under 15 pounds so when the stones are joined together it can be quite heavy. There are no handles, so you will need to use a slider to remove the pizza. The stones may be ground along the edges for extra smoothness.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Thick cordierite stones
- Heat and shock resistant
- 5-piece set
- Ideal for higher heat ovens 425°F and higher
- 5 tiles can be used separately
- Can be used to bake bread or cookies
- Allows for extra cooking versatility
- Can be used on the grill
- Multiple stones are less prone to oven stress breakage than one large stone
Cons
- Cannot be seasoned or it will make the stones give off foul odors.
- Stones need to be preheated or the pizza will stick
- Heavy
- Edges can be a little rough
4. Love This Kitchen The Ultimate 16-inch Round Pizza Stone
If you are a pizza lover, there is no better way to make authentic gourmet pizza at home than with the Love This Kitchen ultimate pizza stone.
The 16-inch round shaped pizza stone is made from ThermaShock™ Cordierite and can withstand up to 1,500 degrees, so it can be used in all types of ovens and grills.
Love This Kitchen used superior engineering in designing their Ultimate Pizza Stone and its 0.83-inch thick construction allows for greater heat retention and is less prone to breakage.
For the best home-made pizza that is hot and delicious with a crispy, crunchy crust, the highly absorbent pores extract moisture out of the dough to simulate pizzeria quality. The exclusive Core Convection Technology™ concentrates heat in the stone’s core and projects its outwards so the pizza is cooked evenly.
You can also use the pizza stone for freshly baked bread, flatbread, and cookies and it fits all standard ovens that measure at least 17-inches deep.
The special “no-spill” feature on one side of the stone prevents the pizza from sliding off the back when you remove it from the oven, which means mess-free cooking. The 8.8lb stone is more lightweight than other stones and it is slightly elevated which allows you to lift and carry your pizza easily.
Love This Kitchen pizza offers a 60-day money-back guarantee and a limited lifetime guarantee. There are videos and dough-, sauce- and pizza recipes included at the Love This Kitchen website.
Pros
- Superior quality
- Excellent price
- Great value for money
- Highly absorbed pores simulate restaurant brick ovens
- For baking pizza, bread & other foods
- Large 16-inch round stone
- Produces a superbly crispy crust
- Exclusive Core Convection Technology
- ThermaShock technology
- Designed to project heat inwards to ensure an evenly cooked, crispy crust
- Superior engineering for greater heat retention
- No more soggy centers
- Thicker stone provides better heat retention and durability
- Less prone to breakage
- 8,8lb stone is very easy to handle
- No spill feature prevents the pizza from sliding off the stone
- Fits most standard ovens and grills
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Video tutorial & recipes available online
Cons
- Not flat on the bottom so it does not slide out from the oven
- Might be too big for some convection ovens
5. Honey-Can-Do Old Stone 16-inch Oven Round Pizza Stone
The Old Stone 16-Inch round pizza stone from Honey-Can-Do is a fantastic choice for baking family-sized restaurant quality pizzas.
Made in the USA, the durable lead-free clay pizza stone is made from the same firebrick material that is found inside kilns and blast furnaces, so it can withstand exceedingly high temperature up to 2,000°F. The pizza stone is also designed to reduce thermal shock and as it is ½-inch thick, it is very durable and highly crack resistant.
Honey-Can-Do has used a specially engineered Heat Core that allows for excellent heat retention and distribution, which eliminates soggy centers and ensures a perfectly crunchy, chewy crust.
The stone’s extra large size is great for family sized pizzas and its flat surface makes it very easy to cut and remove slices right from the baking stone and serve at your dining table.
As well as baking pizza, you can use the stone to make freshly baked bread and biscuits.
The pizza stone has an additional ½ inch built-in pedestal that gives it good stability on the oven shelf or grill rack.
The pizza stone is very easy to clean, simply wash in hot water, without soap.
Pros
- High-quality
- Very good price
- Large size is ideal for family-sized pizzas
- Makes restaurant-quality pizza with a crunchy-chewy crust
- Can be used for pies, biscuits, and bread
- Absorbs oven’s heat and transfers it evenly
- Withstands heat up to 2000℉ in the oven or on the grill
- Durable, non-cracking
- Crafted from a blend of lead-free clay
- Specially engineered Heat Core eliminates soggy centers
- Same firebrick material that is found in kilns and blast furnaces
- Thermal-resistant
- No preseasoning
- Flat surface makes it easy to cut and remove the pizza
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Porous stone absorbs moisture which can cause it to smell or attract mold
- Might be too large for some ovens
6. Unicook 15-Inch Ceramic Pizza Grilling Stone
The Unicook Ceramic pizza stone is a great choice for baking homemade gourmet style pizza.
The 6-inch thick cordite stone has an excellent thermal shock resistance and can withstand high temperatures up to 1,450°F without cracking. It is quite lightweight at 6.6lbs and its rectangular shape makes it easy to maneuver and grasp as you take your final tasty creation out of the oven. You can even use it to prepare pizzas on the grill and the BBQ and other baked goods.
The pizza stone holds and distributes heat evenly and absorbs the moisture for a crispier crust. As the stone does not give off an odor the fabulous cooking smells of the bubbling pizza will flood your kitchen instead of noxious fumes.
This rectangular pizza stone is not dishwasher safe and should be rinsed by hand.
Pros
- High-quality
- Very affordable price
- Great value for money
- Durable thick cordierite stone
- Odorless
- Heat-safe up to 1,450°F
- Can be used in the oven, grill, and BBQ
- Excellent thermal shock resistance
- Great for cooking fresh or frozen pizza, bread, and cookies
- Good thickness and weight
- Easy to hold and maneuver rectangular shape
- Distribute heat evenly for optimal cooking
- Creates a crispier crust
Cons
- No handles
- Cannot cut the pizza on the stone
- Unglazed
- Hard to clean
7. Vremi 15-inch Ceramic Pizza Stone
The premium quality Vremi pizza stone will have you serve professional quality pizzas. The large 15-inch round durable ceramic stone has a smooth surface with a black non-stick, non-toxic coating, which makes it easy to remove your pizza. For easy carrying from the oven to your table, the pizza stone is very lightweight at 4.63 lbs and it has 2 integrated handles.
The stone can withstand high temperatures of 450° so you can use the pizza stone in a standard or gas oven and charcoal grills. You will enjoy delectable pizza with a nice, crispy crust as the stone has a very good even heat retention and distribution.
Highly versatile, the pizza stone can be used for a wide range of baking. You can cook bread, chicken tenders, shrimps or any other delicious baked delights you think of.
The stone is very easy to keep clean, just wipe clean with a cloth soaked in warm water and it is ready for your next culinary creation.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Excellent price
- Non-toxic, non-stick black coating
- Durable ceramic does not break easily
- Ideal for indoors and outdoor baking
- Makes a nice crispy crust
- Very good heat distribution
- Can withstand high temperatures of 450°F
- Ideal for standard and gas ovens, and charcoal grills
- Can be used for a wide range of baking like bread, chicken tenders and shrimps
- 2 integrated handles
- Easy to clean
- Attractive black surface
Cons
- Needs to be preheated or it can crack
- The surface can scratch easily
8. Emile Henry Made in France Pizza Stone
Create mouthwatering pizzas with perfectly cooked crispy crusts with the Emile Henry pizza stone.
The pizza stone is made in France and crafted from 100% natural clay which is strong and beautiful. Emile Henry’s proprietary Flame® technology allows the pizza stone to withstand high oven temperatures up to 900°F. The special glaze is micro-crazed which means the stone retains just enough moisture to create a crispy well-baked crust.
The stone is designed to be used in conventional, convection and gas ovens, a broiler, and will turn any charcoal or natural BBQ grill into an outdoor pizza oven.
You can cut directly on the glazed pizza stone without scratching its surface and the two integrated handles provide easy carrying.
The pizza stone is dishwasher safe but it is recommended that you hand wash it with soap and water to maintain its overall quality.
The Emile Henry pizza stone comes in 4 fabulous colors: black, granite, olive, and red. You are guaranteed to find the color to suit your kitchen décor, and the stone is covered by a 10-year guarantee.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Made in France
- 100% natural clay
- Emile Henry’s proprietary Flame technology
- Heat resistant up to 900°F
- Can be used in all types of ovens and the broiler
- Safe to use on gas, charcoal, and natural wood grills
- Turns any BBQ grill into an outdoor pizza oven
- Durable and scratch-resistant
- Can cut directly on the glazed pizza stone
- Two integrated handles
- Micro-crazed glaze contributes to crispy well-baked crusts
- 2 integrated handles
- Easy to clean
- 4 fabulous colors
- 10-year guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Can break easily
9. Heritage Products 15-inch Black Ceramic Pizza Stone
For fabulous authentic restaurant quality pizza, the Heritage pizza stone is a very good choice for any pizza lover.
The black ceramic round 15-inch pizza stone has an excellent anti-crack and thermal-resistance and can withstand high oven temperatures up to 500°F.
The stone pre-heats up to 2 times faster than other pizza stones and evenly distributes the heat to create crispy, crunchy crusts and gold brown toppings.
You can use the stone in gas and all types of ovens, the grill and the BBQ.
The stone’s special ceramic non-stick glaze coating means the pizza will not stick to its surface so it is very easy to slide the pizza off the stone and makes it easier to clean. The stone is odorless and does not smoke so your kitchen will be full of fabulous pizza smells.
Sleek and stylish with a black surface, you will definitely want to show this pizza stone off by serving your superb pizza at the dining table.
The Heritage pizza stone comes with a bonus pizza cutter and is covered by a lifetime guarantee.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Great price
- Makes superb pizza
- Pre-heats up to 2 times faster than other pizza stones
- Easy to clean
- Non-stick glazed surface
- Odorless
- Durable and will not crack
- High heat resistant to 500°F
- Distributes heat evenly
- Creates a nice crispy crust
- Long-lasting and features excellent thermal capacity
- Attractive black ceramic
- Can be used in all conventional and gas ovens, grills and the BBQ
- Lifetime warranty
- Free pizza cutter
Cons
- Black color can hide some burn stains
- Can start to crack if you put it into a cold oven
10. NerdChef Steel Stone Pizza Stone
The NerdChef pizza stone is specially made in the USA from precision cut unbreakable thick steel and is guaranteed to last a lifetime.
NerdChef’s unique steel pizza stone has a super-high heat retention and transferability that allows it to heat up 20 times faster than ceramic stones and can replicate the 700-1000°F wood-fired oven atmosphere right in your own oven. The pizza stone delivers an unparalleled cooking performance and your pizza will have a gorgeous crispy crust, better blister, and a gourmet taste.
The stone’s low-friction, textured surface has been seasoned with organic flaxseed oil for a natural, easy-release finish that allows the pizza to slide off when it is ready to be served.
For easy maneuverability and transport, there are two finger holes plus you can hang it on a wall.
Incredibly versatile, you can use the steel-stone in all types of ovens, on the stove, induction cooktops, the grill or over the campfire. You can even use it to serve ice cold desserts. Just pop some ice underneath and you are all ready to go.
The square-shaped pizza stone measures 16 x 14.25 x .25-inches so there is plenty of room for a family sized pizza with loads of your favorite toppings. But be warned this stone is extremely heavy at 16lbs.
Just like cast iron, the NerdChef stone will develop a darker patina over time. You will also need to keep it completely dry as it will rust.
Pros
- Superior quality
- Made in the USA
- Excellent value for money
- Unparalleled cooking performance
- Premium, precision cut solid steel
- Unbreakable
- High durability and guaranteed for life
- 20x higher conductivity than ceramic baking stones
- Creates gorgeous crusts, better blistering, and faster cook times
- Super-high heat transferability can transfer heat energy 20 times faster than ceramic
- Low-friction, textured surface has been sanded smooth
- Seasoned for a natural, easy-release finish
- Two finger holes
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Not to be washed with soap or detergent
- Extremely heavy
- Can develop rust if it is not kept completely dry
- Long preheat time
Our Top Pick for the Best Pizza Stone
Our top pick for the best pizza stone is the NerdChef Steel Pizza Stone.
For a truly authentic wood-fired gourmet pizza experience, the NerdChef Steel Pizza Stone is an essential baking stone for all pizza lovers. Whether it is Friday night pizza for one or two or you need to feed a brood of hungry kids at a pool party, the NerdChef will create mouthwatering pizzas and turn your home into a real Italian pizzeria.
