Cleaning Stoneware: Is it Safe and How Does it Become Black?

[chefjulieg]

I have a guest who is concerned about the use of stoneware and it's cleanliness. I explained that cleaning it with hot water kills the bacteria, but couldn't really assure her any more than that. Does anyone have a better explaination for how a stone can become black and still be safe? Thank you!!

 

[JAE]

All I have to say to guests at shows is that I've been using my stoneware for 12 years (some of them) and have never gotten sick and noone in my family has either. I only have ever used hot water and the scrapers or a brush to clean them.

 

[chef_leeanne]

I pulled this off of this site a long time ago. I hope it answers your question. I have had a few guests and hosts that just feel if you don't use soap it is not clean. I then tell them if they need to use something, use baking soda as their cleansing agent.

 

[Jennie4PC]

you can also ask if they cook with cast iron. you cant use soap or water on those and you dont get sick using them

 

[HockeyLover]

I pulled this off of this site a long time ago. I hope it answers your question. I have had a few guests and hosts that just feel if you don't use soap it is not clean. I then tell them if they need to use something, use baking soda as their cleansing agent.

Wow, that will come in handy. Thanks!
I have a host that has been using the stones for years. She insists on using a small amount of dishsoap to clean her seasoned stones. Of course, she says this in front of people that are purchasing brand new stones. I must have told them 10 times NOT to use soap, because the taste would stay in the stone. When I do my 'out of the box' calls to these people, this info will come in handy!

 

[chefjulieg]

I pulled this off of this site a long time ago. I hope it answers your question. I have had a few guests and hosts that just feel if you don't use soap it is not clean. I then tell them if they need to use something, use baking soda as their cleansing agent.

Thank you for all the ideas!! I really like the flyer that was written by the scientist!! Thank you!

 

[mellissacooks4you]

I tell anyone who questions the cleaning of stones that after they have used their hottest tap water if they are still worried about bacteria to put their stone in a 250* oven for 10-15 minutes and that will kill any "germs" left.

 

[pamperedmom24]

Something that I have started doing is bring Anti-bacterial dishsoap and regular dishsoap to my shows. Everyone that says anti-bacterial will in small print say "hand soap" even though it is packaged as a dish soap. The reason for this is because the chemical that makes a dishsoap "anti-bacterial" is actually a poison and not FDA approved to be in anything that comes in contact with our food.

Regular dishsoap as the link earlier explained is a grease/oil releaser but has no effect whatsoever on bacteria. The only way to get rid of bacteria is by using friction ie..scrubbing, or raising the temperature of the stone

I also have mentioned if someone left water soaking on the stone for a few days (hey I have heard people say that) and they are nervous they won't scrub hard or long enough to remove the bacteria to place it in the dishwasher without adding the soap and either run it the rinse cycle or just the dry cycle. That should appease their fears. If the stone feels to greasy the baking soda paste works amazing.

This information really has seemed to help my guests and they don't bring it up again (nice way to say some of the stoneware spoilers at my shows keep quite)

Jennifer