The differences between pizza stone and pizza steel

1. Composition

Pizza stones are made of different types of stones like ceramic or even clay. They are also known as baking stones. Pizza steel, as the name suggests, is made of steel and thus they are called the baking steels.

Due to the difference in their composition and material with which they are made, both the kitchen equipment has varied levels of heat conduction. Also, there is a significant difference in their prices. Usually, the pizza stones are a cheaper choice than a pizza steel.

2. Heat Conduction

Pizza stone and pizza steel both have a similar look and high thermal conductivity. But in the case of pizza stone, the rate of heat conduction is a bit lower than that of the pizza steel. It means pizza starts to cook faster on a pizza steel than on a pizza stone. However, the heat retention capacity of the steel is also higher, which can be a hassle.

When it comes to the overall cooking time, there is a negligible difference between the two. Hence none of the equipment has an absolute advantage here.

3. Maintenance

You would need to take special care of both the equipment so as to maintain them properly. Never use soap for a pizza stone. Instead, use a brush with strong bristle and water to scrape off the pizza remains. Do not soak the pizza stone unless there is a lot of food stuck on it.

On the other hand, you can never use water on a pizza steel. Being made of metal, it will get rusted if it comes in contact with water. Removing the rust is yet another task which involves a lot of hassles. You will have to rigorously scrub it with steel wool.

Hence, when it comes to maintenance and cleaning, the winner is pizza stone. It is much easier to clean, and does not involve a lot of hassles.

4. Seasoning

You will have to season your pizza steel with oil before putting the pizza bread on it. There are two reasons behind this:

• It will prevent the dough from sticking.
• It will help in enhancing the flavor of your pizza.

However, you cannot use any such seasoning on your pizza stone. They are naturally made in a way that the pizza dough will not stick to it. Also, some of them are porous in nature. It enables them to absorb the moisture from pizza. The stone is capable of developing a natural seasoning that enhances the way your pizza tastes. It means, your pizza would get tastier as the stone gets older.

Hence, the clear winner, when it comes to seasoning, is the pizza stone.

5. Final Outcome

Well, everyone wants a pizza that looks good and tastes delicious. Both the equipment can give you that. But with pizza steel, chances of the base getting overcooked is higher. It is because the thermal conductivity of steel is higher. Also, it retains heat for a longer period. You might sometimes end up getting a crispier or burnt crust (which some pizza-lovers prefer). So ensure to keep a close eye on the pizza while it’s cooking.

Pizza stone on the other hand, is designed to cook the pizza perfectly. The more pizzas you have cooked on a stone, the tastier your pizzas will get. However, if you are just starting with both the equipment, then there will not be any significant difference in taste between the two.

So, pizza stone will give you tastier pizza in the long run. But when it comes to the looks of the pizza, both the equipment are at a tie.

Conclusion

Analyzing the characteristics of both the equipment, it can be concluded that pizza stone is a winner here. It costs less, is easier to maintain, and gives more seasoning to the pizza. So, if you want to make perfect pizzas at home, buy the best pizza stone from among the choices.