Before you decide to cook with or buy a granite pizza stone. You should know what your getting into first. Granite makes a unique cooking stone that has superior qualities to other materials.
Since granite pizza stones aren’t as widely used as traditional clay, ceramic or steel stones. There is not a lot of information about them. I did some research to learn more about cooking with granite.
Can Granite Be Used As A Pizza Stone?
Granite along with ceramic and clay can be used as a pizza stone. Similar to traditional pizza stones, granite retains heat very well. Along with added benefits that make granite a useful cooking material. Granite pizza stones are not as common as clay or ceramic. So they can be harder to find.
There are still some remaining myths about granite. These might lead you to believe that granite would not work as a cooking stone. I will go into detail about the myths along with covering the pro’s and con’s of using granite cooking stones.
Also if you are new to baking stones check out my beginners guide to pizza stones.
Granite Pizza Stone Pros:
- Multi Purpose: Besides using them just to bake or cook, granite stones work well as food preparation and serving platters. Granite stone conducts heat very well, so it feels cool to the touch. It also keeps your dough cold while you top or even roll out your pizza. Can be used as a warming stone for other foods as well.
- Retains Heat: Granite does a great job of holding in heat for a long period of time. Because of the thermal dynamic properties of granite, as mentioned before. It absorbs and retains heat very well. Which is what you want in a pizza or baking stone.
- Heat Resistant: It can withstand very high temperatures for a long period of time. Pizza ovens are known to use very high temperatures. Don’t be afraid of using a granite stone on the grill as well.
- Doesn’t Stain: Ceramic and clay pizza stones stain very quickly. After more than a handful of uses a pizza stone starts to have burnt stains on the surface. Which doesn’t look the greatest. Granite for one looks awesome to begin with. Compared to plain clay pizza stones. Granite will not stain as easily when baking pizza’s and can be cleaned very easily.
- Scratch Resistant: Granite has a high hardness level compared to other stones. Making it much tougher to scratch. You can scrap granite stones to clean without causing damage. Also most pizza stones don’t recommend to slice your pizza on the stone. Granite you shouldn’t worry about it, other than it can dull your blade. But it would be very hard to crack the granite.
- Longer Life Span: Because granite is such a durable stone. Having high heat resistance and hardness. The stone is less likely to accidentally break. A lot of pizza stones wear down after frequent handling. Granite will last a long longer than traditional pizza stones.
Granite Pizza Stone Cons:
- Takes Longer To Heat: Granite does take a little bit longer to come to heat than other stones. As the stone will absorb a lot of oven heat until it has reached temperature. Sort of like a heat sink, but in the long run this is a good quality.
- More Sticky: Polished granite can be a lot smoother than ceramic or other stone. This unfortunately can create a sticker surface for baking pizzas. Especially if the stone is cooler, so you may need to use extra cornmeal or flour. Pizza stones with a rougher surface do not cause sticking as much.
- More Expensive: Compared to other pizza stones made with clay or ceramic. Granite baking stones are usually more expensive.
- Heavier Material: Granite stones will be much heavier than other pizza stones. Which can be harder for a individual to move in and out of a oven, or take to a grill. Also could be damaging to a oven rack or grill grate overtime.
Common Granite Myths
Here are a couple myths about granite that are related to using them as a baking stone.
Myth #1: Heat Will Crack Granite
The most common myth about granite is that heat can make it crack. This is true to an extent, but it has more to do with sudden drastic temperature changes.
Granite is extremely heat resistant when exposed to high temperatures. Granite can easily handle temperatures of 500°F – 1000°F. It is best to let the stone heat up gradually.
Myth #2: Granite Stains Easily
Granite counters with sealants can stain easily when not properly cleaned. On the other hand granite by itself is very hard to stain.
Like other stone granite is slightly porous and does absorb liquids and oils. Usually they are evaporated on their own or can cleaned out. That is why sealants are used.
When cooking with granite, you may find that compared to other material granite doesn’t stain as much.
Don’t Forget
As with any pizza stone always preheat the stone with the oven and or grill. Never place a cool (room temperature or colder) stone into a hot oven or grill. The sudden change in temperature can cause the stone to crack.
Don’t use granite that was once used as a counter top. Unless you can remove the sealant you do not want to cook with this granite. The sealant when exposed to high temperatures can release harmful fumes.
Try to use granite that has been turned into a pizza or baking stone. These have been shaped and designed to be used as cookware.
Where To Find
Finding granite pizza stones is tough to do. Actually the cheaper route is to get granite from a stone shop. Have them cut it too size and use the stone as is.
There are actually two brands that sell granite baking stones. They can be used for breads and pizzas. The brands are Spiceberry and Black Rock Grill in the UK.
The Spiceberry Home Granite Pizza Stone can be found on Amazon here.
The Black Rock Grill Baking Stone is also available on Amazon here.
Related read: How To Drastically Improve Frozen Pizza
