Cast Elegance 14 x 16-Inch Thermarite Rectangular Pizza Stone

Pepperoni, cheese, mushrooms, pineapple, anchovy, barbecue sauce — no matter what toppings you prefer on a pizza, we can all agree on one fact: A pie with a puffy yet crispy-bottomed crust is king. Ordering from your favorite neighborhood pizzeria is always convenient, but nothing beats the joy of making your own customized creation at home.

A pizza stone — a round or square slab made of ceramic, clay, cast iron or cordierite — is a must-have kitchen staple for pizza-making at home. Pizza stones can conduct heat more evenly than metal baking sheets, and the porous surface draws water out of the dough to create a crispy crust with no soggy spots in sight. Placing your pizza dough on a preheated stone also gives it a burst of heat, supporting a fluffier interior.

Ceramic pizza stones heat evenly, helping bakers achieve that crunchy crust, but can crack easily if not properly preheated. Cordierite, a mineral that occurs as crystals or grains in igneous rocks, is more heat-resistant and less likely to crack when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Cast Elegance pizza stones are made from a high-density derivative of cordierite that’s extra-durable. During manufacturing, the stones are heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to improve their capacity to handle drastic temperature changes without the risk of cracking.

In addition to using them in conventional ovens, Cast Elegance pizza stones can be used in gas, wood-fired and charcoal grills. The products can withstand temperatures above 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit and can even be used over a roaring campfire.

The product is available in 16- and 14-inch round sizes and a 14-by-16-inch rectangular size — all of which sport the same durable construction that supports even cooking (aka fluffy-crispy pizza crusts) without cracking. Which one you choose depends on how large of a pizza you’d like to make (a bigger pan equals a larger pizza).

In addition to using them for pizza-making, pizza stones can also be used to cook pastries like croissants, danishes and crusty loaves of bread.

• Over time, the pizza stone will develop marks and spots from usage. This is normal — like laugh lines on your face — and will not affect the performance of the stone.
• To clean your stone, scrape it with the included scraper, wipe it off with a damp cloth, make sure it is dry and store it in your oven or grill. To get rid of cheesy residue, soak it briefly in water. Do not use soap to clean your stone — the porous mineral absorbs cleaning chemicals and soap.
• Preheat your pizza stone for at least 20 minutes in the oven and 30 minutes on the grill before placing your pizza dough on top of it.
• To prevent your pizza from sticking to the stone, make sure the dough is well floured or dust the stone with corn meal. You can also cook it on parchment paper.
• Make sure all of your ingredients, particularly the pizza dough, are room temperature before placing them on your pizza stone. Putting cold items on your hot stone may cause it to crack.
• Do not use your pizza stone in the microwave.
• Use a pizza peel or paddle to transfer your pizza onto the stone after it preheats in the oven or on the grill.
• Always use oven mitts or heat-safe gloves when touching a hot pizza stone; do not touch it with your bare hands.