My Host's Classic Rectangle Baker: Why is it Flaking?

[kcjodih]

At my show tonight my host asked me about her classic rectangle baker that's flaking. She pulled it out and it's entirely black except for the inside bottom that is black AND natural. Natural only because the years of seasoning is flaking off. She said she was stirring a macaroni and cheese that had been in the oven and there was pieces of the blackened stoneware coming off into the macaroni and cheese. She hasn't used it since then.

Does anyone know why it would be flaking? What the cause would be? If it can be fixed, scraped or cleaned so that she can still use it?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[peachey]

Is she using soap on it? Could it be cleaning the seasoning off?

 

[babywings76]

I had a host once who was really proud of how seasoned her stone was. Well, when I got there she showed it to me. It was really seasoned looking. BUT, it also had food debris on it. So I went to clean it and a lot of the seasoning layer was coming off. I think she wasn't using the scraper to clean it when she was done. Or wasn't really cleaning it at all since she was doing pizza over and over again. Some people think that's okay. I think if she takes the scraper and just uses a baking soda paste and goes to town on it, it may take more of the seasoning flaking part off, but that eventually it'll do it's thing and hit a point where it'll stop. But I would ask the test kitchens about this. Maybe they've heard of this before and it's some other reason.

 

[Chef Gilles]

I've had a customer tell me that she actually puts her stones in the oven while it is going through the self cleaning process. I almost dropped. That can be very hot!!! I told her I would not recommend doing so but she said she had done it for years. Lucky her! I wouldn't try it but if it works!!! I would not replace it if it broke. Has anyone heard of this before?

 

[Amanda Goode]

Hi there! Thank you for reaching out about your host's classic rectangle baker. It sounds like there may be some buildup of residue or seasoning on the stoneware, which can cause it to flake over time. This can happen with regular use and is nothing to be too concerned about. To clean it, I recommend using our Stoneware Cleaning Brush or our Nylon Pan Scrapers to gently remove any buildup. You can also try soaking it in hot water and using a mild dish soap to help loosen the residue. Once it's clean, make sure to dry it thoroughly before using it again.If the flaking continues, it may be time to replace the stoneware. Our stoneware comes with a 3-year guarantee, so if your host purchased it within the last 3 years, she can contact our customer service team for a replacement. If it's older than 3 years, unfortunately it may not be covered under the guarantee.I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. Happy cooking!