Can I Still Bake with Blackened Baking Stones?

[dannyzmom]

Got this from a past hostess today:

I do have a question for you regarding the baking stones. If a husband leaves them in the oven and sets the oven to self clean, and the stones turn black, are they still good to bake with? Of course this happened to me, and two of my stones are black as night. I haven't used them since this happened, so I didn't know if they would really work the same or not.

 

[BethCooks4U]

The stone would be just fine to use. You do not want to leave stones in an oven and run self-clean because it may cause a thermal shock and cause it to break. It is not going to hurt the stone to be black - that's the goal! The blacker the more seasoned and more loved.

Go ahead and use it.

BTW: You should never leave your racks in the oven during a self-clean cycle either. If you follow the directions for self cleanning the stove you wouldn't leave the racks in and therefore the stone wouldn't be there either.

 

[mom2leelee]

What about self cleaning the over would cause the stone to turn black?? Did he put any kinda of cleaner in there?

 

[Chefgirl2]

I was wondering the same thing about the cleaner. My director left hers in the oven by accident and the came out almost white and unseasoned looking.

 

[jdavis]

I was wondering the same thing about the cleaner. My director left hers in the oven by accident and the came out almost white and unseasoned looking.

That's the way I had heard was that it looked like it was new when someone would use their self cleaning cycle, hmmm, makes you wonder what happened in that oven.

 

[lisacb77]

I have never self cleaned my oven, just used the easy off stuff overnight. What is the benefit to selfcleaning?? I saw I have a setting for that.

 

[Chefgirl2]

I will never ever buy another oven that isn't self cleaning! The salesman talked me into getting only the top oven to be self cleaning. Grrr... After reading the can I can't bring myself to spray the cleaner in my bottom oven that food will be cooked in.

All I do to clean my oven is shut the door and hit clean. Later, I go back and wipe out the charred mess. That is it. Easy, easy easy!

 

[cmdtrgd]

The self-cleaning cycle is basically a sanitizing one. It gets so hot that everything turns to ash and all you have to do is wipe it out.

 

[BethCooks4U]

The self-cleaning cycle is basically a sanitizing one. It gets so hot that everything turns to ash and all you have to do is wipe it out.

Right and our stones are only guaranteed to about 400 degrees - another reason to NOT leave the stone in there.

 

[mom2leelee]

Beth where did you read that the stones are only guaranteed to 400*?

 

[lisacb77]

Oh thanks, I might set it to clean this week then!

 

[Pampered Laura]

Right and our stones are only guaranteed to about 400 degrees - another reason to NOT leave the stone in there.

Hmm weird. The stones are kiln fired at 2000 degrees. Wonder why it would only be guaranteed to 400. It doesnt say that on the use & care guide...

 

[dannyzmom]

Here's the answer I received:
Hello Carolyn

Thank you for your question about our stoneware. Unfortunately, we
cannot guarantee the results of using stoneware after they've gone
through an oven self-cleaning cycle because we do not recommend doing
this. The pieces may have developed hairline fractures from the intense
oven heat, and you may want to visually inspect the stones before trying
to use.

If you wish, you can try removing the black by using our deep cleaning
method:

Deep Cleaning

* Prepare a baking soda paste by mixing 1/2 cup baking soda with 3

tablespoons water.

* Apply paste using a nylon scrub pad or kitchen brush

* Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Repeat steps if necessary.

After the stone has dried thoroughly, spread a package of crescent roll
dough across it and bake according to package directions. Remove
crescents and check to see if stones have started to develop their
seasoning back. Repeat process if necessary.

Again, we cannot guarantee the results of these processes.


Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

The Pampered Chef Test Kitchens

 

[Chefgirl2]

My director taught me how to cook pizza on it at 425. I never heard 400 before. I know you aren't supposed to broil with the stones.

 

[mom2leelee]

I use mine all the time @ 425 to make homemade pizza.

 

[raebates]

I use mine all the time at 450 and occasionally at 500, so I'm also wondering where you got the 400 figure.

 

[monica.dixon]

no broil.....

My director taught me how to cook pizza on it at 425. I never heard 400 before. I know you aren't supposed to broil with the stones.

i broil bacon in mine all the time.....ooops...

 

[JoyfulChef]

I thought it was up to 500 which woudl be broiling. Can't broil with it because it's a direct flame.

 

[chefann]

500 is not broiling, it's just a really hot oven. Only when you specify "broil" should the broiling element in your oven come on. Stoneware is fired at 1400 degrees. So, other than direct flame, anything your home oven throws at it should be OK.