If you want to win a girl’s heart all you need is a stone (no, I’m not talking about jewelry), it’s the best pizza stone! After all, who can resist a delicious pizza with a crisp base?
We’ve reviewed 26 products, identifying 8 that offered the most benefits to the consumer. Out of the pizza stones we’ve tried out, the Kamado Joe BJ-PS24 earned our Editor’s Choice. First, we considered the material as it should be durable enough to withstand high temperatures. Next, we looked at the thickness because the thicker the pizza stone, the better it is going to hold onto the heat, therefore allowing your pizza to cook to perfection. Our last consideration was whether it can be used in an oven or on a grill.
More features: needs heat deflector for grilling, high impact materials
The Kamado Joe BJ-PS24 has a diameter of 20 inches and is 0.75 inches thick. Its thicker form, along with the fact that it’s made from high-impact ceramic, make it strong and durable. You may use this pizza stone with a Kamado-type cooker or with the standard oven; it works great with either and is the best pizza stone for oven at its price point. For an enjoyable user experience and best results, your grill should be 2-3″ bigger than the stone. The stone is designed to lie flat, and you won’t need to fit it into any grooves. It’s a simple concept that is meant to help you make pizza with as little fuss as possible. You must first put heat deflectors on the grill, however, before placing the stone to keep your pizza from burning. Add spacers to create some distance between the deflectors and pizza stone to further ensure the bottom of your pizza doesn’t get scorched or stick to the stone. For best results, place the pizza stone as high above the heat deflectors as possible.
The stone comes ready to use and does not need to be seasoned in any way. Simply get your oven ready, place the heat deflectors, put appropriate spacers (like metal sockets, for instance. You can get appropriate spacers from your local hardware store) place the stone, preheat, and when ready, place your pizza and let it cook till ready.
More features: hand-washed only, can withstand 750°F
The Crafted Glazed Baking pizza stone is sturdily built from cordierite and should serve you well over the years. The square stone measures ″ 3″ x 20.1″ x 19.9″. This makes it large enough to make a large pizza and sturdy enough to consistently withstand high temperatures, even when you use the stone regularly. The stone is not only strong, but also thermal shock resistant, and will retain its shape and form when you lift it from the oven.
This stone fits well the GENESIS 2022, GENESIS 2016+ and SPIRIT 2016+ gas grills, and SMOKEFIRE wood pellet grills with WEBER CRAFTED cooking grates and frame kit.
Be careful with this stone and washing, don’t put it in a dishwasher, otherwise, it will lose its natural shine. This stone can only be hand-washed. Do not use any harsh chemicals or cleaners on your stone. Only use a mild soap and water solution. Rinse the stone thoroughly after cleaning to remove any soap residue.
It can withstand 750°F so it can be used on the BBQ. Just don’t put it under the direct flame. You can also use it with a regular oven. Just ensure that your oven is big enough for the stone to fit inside, which shouldn’t be a problem if you have a standard oven.
The one thing you’ll have to contend with is the weight. This is by no means a light product. It weighs a hefty 11.38 lbs., and certainly requires muscle to lift on and off the oven.
More features: withstands 1200° F, moisture absorbing
The Char-Griller 6211 Smokin’ Stone Jr pizza stone has a diameter of 12.5 inches and is 0.75 inches thick. It is designed for use with the Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Kamado grill and fits the built-in tabs of the grill perfectly.
The stone acts as both a heat deflector and warming stone. It works by keeping the flames away from your food and circulating air around the food so that the food is exposed to just the right amount of heat and the heat evenly distributed. The result is well-cooked food that has all its flavors intact.
The stone is made from cordierite ceramic, a hardy material known for its impressive heat retention, thermal shock resistance, and moisture absorption during cooking. By retaining heat uniformly and consistently, it ensures that your pizza is well-cooked all around. You can also preheat your oven to the higher temperatures suitable for cooking pizza without worrying that the stone will get damaged because the stone can withstand up to 1200 °F. Good thermal shock resistance means you can take the stone from the oven and onto a cooler surface without causing any structural damage.
This is a multi-functional stone that you can use as a slow cooker for your meats. You can also use it to bake things like bread and cookies, not just pizza.
More features: withstands 1500° F, FDA approved, no-spill stopper, 60-day money back
The FDA-approved Love This Kitchen the Ultimate Pizza Stone for Oven & Grill is designed to bring restaurant-style pizza right into your home and is the best pizza stone for home oven you can get for less than $50. With a thickness of 0.83 inches and a diameter of 16 inches, this stone is big enough for a large pizza that caters for the whole family.
It’s made from cordierite, a type of magnesium aluminum silicate-based ceramic that is strong and durable. The stone absorbs moisture well, enhancing the formation of a tasty, crispy crust and ensuring the pizza doesn’t become soggy inside. Cordierite is also thermal shock resistant, and this means this stone will not get damaged if it’s exposed to a rapid change in temperature.
The No-Spill Stopper at the rear acts as a lift handle and prevents your toppings from spilling over so you can serve a perfect-looking pizza. To guarantee best cooking results, Love This Kitchen uses unique Core Convection Technology to concentrate the heat in the core of the stone and project it outwards for an evenly-cooked product. The stone has excellent heat retention, which means your pizza (and any other baked products you choose to bake using the stone) cook in a shorter time. It also means you can cook multiple pizzas consecutively without waiting for the stone to heat up since it remains hot all through.
More features: moisture absorbing, carry rack, 2-year limited warranty
The Weber 8836 Gourmet is a popular Weber pizza stone, a fact that has a lot to do with its big, round design and super light weight. It comes with a stainless steel carry rack that makes it a delight to use. And with dimensions of 12 inches across (and 16 inches with the handles), it is the ideal tool for making medium size pizzas. If you have a smaller oven, you may consider using the stone without the rack since it’s removable, and then use heavy oven mitts to remove the stone from the grill.
With the rack in place, you do not need a heat diffuser. Just place the rack directly on top of the grill (on the lip of the hole if using a Weber BBQ grill). It’s this ease of use and compatibility with the grill that makes it the best pizza stone for gas grill all around.
It’s made from cordierite, a strong material with moisture-absorbing properties to help keep the crust of your pizza crisp and flavorful. Because cordierite is resistant to thermal shock, you can place the stone on a preheated oven or transfer it from the grill to a cooler surface without damaging the stone.
The only disappointing thing about it is that it comes with few instructions, so you’ll experiment a bit to see how best to use it with different grills and ovens.
More features: FDA-approved, withstands 900° F, hand-washed
The rectangular Pizzacraft PC9899 pizza stone measures 20″ x 13.5″ x 0.67″ thick, dimensions that make it suitable for use with standard ovens. Pre-2015 versions of this model had a length of 22″, but the stones that are currently on sale (new) are all 20″ long for compatibility with the average oven. It is made from Pizzacraft’s patented thermion material, ThermaBond, an all-natural, thermal shock resistant material that is FDA-approved for safety.
You can use this stone on both the oven and grill. If using the stone in an oven, place it on the bottom rack. For first use, preheat the empty oven for 30 minutes before, then place the stone inside to preheat. If using a grill, place the stone in the middle of the grill. In both cookers, you’ll need to preheat the stone for 30 minutes before placing your pizza or other baked food. Be sure to sprinkle a generous amount of corn flour on the stone before placing the pizza to keep the dough from sticking on to the stone.
The manufacturer recommends storing this stone in the oven when not in use since there is sufficient air circulation in there. Completely air dry the stone before storing it to prevent molding.
What you may not like about this Pizzacraft pizza stone is its weight. At 10.9 lb, it’s quite heavy and will require a good amount of muscle power to lift and move around.
More features: hand washed, stopper-handles
The PIT BOSS 70137 pizza grill is versatile enough for use in ovens, barbecue grills, ceramic charcoal grills, and wood pellet grills, which makes it great for outdoor and indoor use. It’s the kind of handy gadget that you can take with you when going camping just so no one has to miss their favorite pizza and baked goodies. The stone works by distributing heat evenly to produce a uniformly-cooked pizza with a crispy crust.
This ceramic pizza stone is hard-wearing, and with good care, will last for years. It has a diameter of 14.5 inches and a thickness of 0.8 inches, making it perfect for medium and large pizzas. It weighs only 4.98 lbs. and is light enough for you to lift and carry without straining. Two wooden stopper handles enable you to put the stone in and out of the oven and carry it with ease, while also keeping your toppings from spilling over.
It comes ready to use and requires little maintenance; hand wash with plain water and use a scraper to remove any food residues. That’s it. Use parchment paper between the stone and your dough (or sprinkle cornmeal) to prevent sticking. This will also make cleaning the stone easy.
This stone is also one of the more affordably priced pizza stones. In buying it, you’re not only getting a quality product, but at a great price too.
More features: fit for stove top
A multifunctional cooking stone, the rectangular Vital VGL1000-01 Volcano Stone Cooking Tile transforms into a reliable pizza stone whenever you need some homemade pizza. Made from 100% volcano stone, this is an all-natural product that is safe to use in the kitchen, and especially when in direct contact with food. The stone measures 12″ x 8″ x 0.8″, a size that is perfect for small pizzas. Its thick form contributes to its hardiness and durability and considered alongside the stone’s strong and hard-wearing nature, should remain in use for a long time.
The Vital pizza stone is best for use in a grill. It absorbs heat quickly and works by distributing heat uniformly across the stone. The result is an evenly-made pizza and a well-done crust. Volcanic stone has excellent heat diffusion properties and effectively disperses the heat from the grill, ensuring that the dough you’re baking on the stone is exposed to just the right amount of heat. As such, there is no possibility that the crust would burn or get charred, even when you’ve set the temperature at 500 °F or higher. You do not need a heat deflector when using this stone. As noted, it does a great job regulating the heat.
This tile is more than just a pizza stone. You can use it to sear your BBQs, for high temperature plancha-style grilling, and stove top cooking.
From the above product reviews, you can identify which stones are more suitable for your cooking needs, going by the materials used, size, design, supported oven or grill type, and more. In this next section, we address each of these factors in more detail so you can understand what role they play in making the stone useable. We also have tips on the best ways to use a pizza stone and answers to some of the FAQs about pizza stones.
A pizza stone makes it possible for you to cook and enjoy delicious, pizzeria-style pizza right at home. Forget ordering in whenever you crave pizza; with this stone, you can make your own in less than an hour.
Pizza stones are designed to be used in the oven or grill, and this makes them perfect for home use. Some can only be used with either the oven or grill, but a good number can be used with both, giving you greater flexibility.
They are easy to use. Pizza stones come ready to use. They require no installation, no assembly, and no seasoning.
They are low maintenance. Some can self-clean in the oven, but most only need to be wiped with plain water.
Place your pizza stone on the lowest rack inside the (cold) oven.
Preheat the oven to 450 °F.
Sprinkle cornmeal on the pizza paddle.
Put the dough on the pizza paddle and add your pizza sauce and toppings.
Slide the pizza onto the pizza stone.
Let it cook for 10 minutes.
Slide the pizza back onto the paddle to remove from the oven.
Serve and enjoy.
Pizza stones are largely affordable, with prices beginning at approximately $30 and going up to $80 for higher end models. Higher cost is not indicative of better quality, however, so you shouldn’t peg your choice of a particular stone on price alone. You’ll find pizza stones with desirable qualities, such as thermal shock resistance, high moisture absorbance, and dual usability, across the price spectrum.
Let’s now look at the specific features to consider when buying a pizza stone.
The material of your pizza stone has a lot to do with the quality of pizza you end up with. Because pizza should be cooked at high temperature, the stone should have a higher temperature tolerance than the average cooking pan. At the very least, the material should withstand 500 °F, which is not a problem when it comes to stone. This constant exposure to high temperatures means the stone should also be too hardy to break under the pressure.
Popular materials used to make pizza stones are stone/clay, ceramic, and cordierite. Their tolerance to high temperature varies, though, with cordierite being able to withstand the highest temperature levels. It’s followed by clay, then ceramic. Special types of ceramic, such as cordierite, can withstand up to 1500 °F. You can preheat Char-Griller 6211 Smokin’ Stone Jr up to 1200 °F and the Love This Kitchen the Ultimate Pizza Stone for Oven & Grill up to 1500 °F.
Other qualities to consider when choosing a pizza stone are how quickly the material heats up, and how well it retains heat and absorbs moisture. Out of the three common materials, clay heats up the fastest, while ceramic heats up slowly. Stone and clay have the highest moisture absorbing properties and the strongest heat retention ability, with ceramic following closely.
Cordierite is similar to the others in many ways, and while more expensive, it’s more durable and thermal shock resistant.
Pizza stones come in different shapes, the most common being round, square, and rectangle. Some, like Char-Griller 6211 Smokin’ Stone Jr, have extensions that make it round, but not quite. When using a pizza stone, you can shape your dough to follow the shape of the stone, but you don’t have to. Your dough can be in any shape you like, as long as it fits on the stone.
However, if you’re serious about preparing your pizza in a specific, well-defined shape, then it’s advisable to choose a stone that’s made in your desired shape. If you’ll be baking different pastries, not just pizza, a rectangular stone is better suited for that.
When choosing between any two stones, always go for the thicker one. The thicker the pizza stone, the better it is going to hold onto the heat, therefore allowing your pizza to cook to perfection. Get one that’s at least ¾-1 inch thick, or if available, pick a stone that is thicker. The ultra thick Weber 8836 Gourmet has a thickness of 2 inches.
The lowest recommended temperature for cooking pizza is 450 °F. You can get better results when you heat the stone to an even higher temperature. Most pizza stones, both ceramic and steel, can safely be preheated to more than 1200 °F. So check what the maximum temperature is before buying the stone. The higher the temperature limit, the more you can do with the stone.
There are pizza stones of all sizes in the market. Where possible, choose the biggest size you can afford because the bigger the stone, the greater the variety of pizza sizes and shapes you can cook.
It’s also crucial to ensure that the size of stone you pick can fit in your oven or grill. The maximum size that can fit a standard oven is 20 inches. Fortunately, many pizza stones are designed to fit in the average oven and will hardly be bigger than 20″. If you have a smaller oven, choose a smaller stone to avoid wasting money on a stone that won’t fit in the oven.
The surface of the stone entails the area onto which you place the pizza for baking. If the surface is small, you can only cook small pizzas on it. A larger surface allows you to bake large pizzas. When evaluating the surface area of your pizza stone, do not include the carry handles, if any. Consider the flat part only.
Opt for a stone that comes with a warranty. Some of the lower-priced pizza stones do not have warranties, but a good number come with comprehensive guarantees from the manufacturer. The Weber 8836 Gourmet, for example, comes with a 2-year warranty. Love This Kitchen The Ultimate Pizza Stone for Oven & Grill has 100% satisfaction guarantee backed by a 60-day money-back policy and a limited lifetime guarantee.
Is the pizza stone designed for the oven, grill, or both? If you prefer to bake your pizza on the grill, choose a stone that is designed for the grill, and vice versa for the oven. A pizza stone that can be used on both types of cookers offers greater flexibility, such that if you’re cooking something else on one cooker, you can bake your pizza on the other.
Overall, pizza stones are easy to clean. Make it a habit to clean the stone after every use, but only after it has cooled down. Handling the stone while it’s hot will burn you.
If there are charred bits of dough on the stone, use a scraper to lightly remove them. Avoid the temptation to use a sharp object to remove food remains as this could damage the stone.
Then wipe using plain warm water to rinse. You don’t want the stone to absorb a huge amount of water because when it does and you don’t dry it properly, the next time you use it, it will steam the crust and won’t yield that crispy pizza texture we all love. That means you shouldn’t soak the stone in water either. If for some reason the stone ends up absorbing water, place it in the oven and heat it up to get rid of the water. Allow it to cool and then store it.
If there are stubborn food remains that won’t come off after you’ve tried scraping them off, put the stone in the oven and preheat for a couple of hours at 500 °F. The remains should now come off easily.
Our top choice, the Kamado Joe BJ-PS24, earns the first place for its big size and quality ceramic construction. We like the high-impact materials and thickness, qualities that make it so strong that it doesn’t break easily. We also like that you can use it with both the oven and grill.
The second position goes to the Crafted Glazed Baking Stone, a cordierite creation that is designed for both the oven and grill. We like how thick and sturdy it is, and its high thermal shock resistance. We also like that it can fit other devices well.
Our third best pizza stone is the Char-Griller 6211 Smokin’ Stone Jr, a small cordierite stone that is designed for the grill and one that fits perfectly into the Akorn Jr. Kamado. We like how sturdy it is, how well it absorbs moisture, that it can withstand temperatures of up to 1200 °F, and that it’s affordably priced.
