If you’re an enthusiastic baker, a steel stone baking surface is something that can make a big difference in your everyday baking. NerdChef is a brand that you’ve definitely heard of when it comes to the ideal steel stone baking surface. Their pizza steel stones are built to last long and deliver an excellent performance.
They also bear some unique features that you’ll love when you start using them. The NerdChef steel stone even claims 20x higher conductivity, which is amazing for everyday baking. So, is it really worth it?
Let’s break down its features and see if you’re really getting what you’re paying for!
Overview
This baking surface is a perfect option for pizzas, as the structure of the stone enables you to support the pizza crusts and give them a good shape during baking.
It is built with quarter-inch-thick steel that bears rounded corners. The steel is very durable and tough, being quite resilient to rust and corrosion. And the coating of the steel stone is non-stick, so it’s very convenient.
There are two holes placed around the two corners, which provide a more stable dimension. These corners offer a good and steady grip. They have a no-slip feature in them. The corners only help when the steel has cooled down, so make sure you’re using baking mittens when you’re touching the corners.
However, these stones do not bear any handles. So, if you’re a traditional baker who likes handle-equipped cookware, you might not enjoy this one.
But in terms of quality, this steel stone is truly remarkable. Apart from pizzas, you can make cookies, pastries, and other baked goods on this steel stone. Cookware like this can truly change your everyday baking game to a whole new level.
When it comes to heating, 45 minutes is all it takes to heat fully. It stays hot and that’s the best part. When you’re baking pizzas, your crusts stay crispy even when you’re giving them time to cool off.
But this ability to remain hot can be dangerous to some people. So, to avoid any mishaps, make sure you’re using a heatproof surface to transfer your food. Ideal examples would be heatproof stove grates, cutting boards, etc.
There is 20x higher conductivity than conventional ceramic baking stones’ in this cookware. It can transfer 20x heat compared to ceramic stones, resulting in twice the amount of heat capacity. So, at very little temperature, you can expect the feel of an oven.
You can also store your chilled food in the refrigerator on this pizza pan. So, if you’ve got leftover pizza, you can just keep it in the fridge without transferring it to another pan.
The pizza stone is also super easy to clean. You only need to wash it with liquid soap and a scrubbing sponge. Do not scrape it harshly. This will clean your pan in no time.
Overall, it is definitely a good cookware to invest in, and despite the few problems you may face with it, the quality is unbeatable.
Pros
- Comes with durable and long-lasting steel
- Resistant to rust and corrosion
- Higher heat conduction than ceramic stones
- Retains the heat for a long time
- Versatile and multi-purpose use
- The cleaning process is simple
Cons
- Devoid of handles
- It may lead to accidents if you’re not careful when transferring the food
Key Features
Below are the key features you need to know about.
Sophisticated Design
This pizza stone bears an attractive and sleek design that will stand out in the collection of your cookware. The sleek low-friction surface allows easy sliding of pizzas without any tugging. Besides, the surface comes textured and seasoned with flaxseed oil to allow beautiful crusts with blistering.
Strong Construction
It is built with tough quality and high-graded steel that will last a lifetime. The solid steel design is made to tackle rust, damage, and corrosion that may result from frequent uses. This strong build ensures maximum durability and longevity for a pizza stone baking surface.
Heat Conduction
The pizza stone offers 20x better heat conductivity than ceramic baking stones. Thus, the heat transfer rate is twenty times more than that of ceramic stones, and so is the heat capacity. With this feature, you can enjoy the results of an 800-1000°F wood-fired oven at a lower temperature. Heat conduction is similar to the Dough-Joe Pizza Steel.
Excellent Performance
There’s no doubt about how flawless its performance is. From thin and thick crust pizzas, biscuits, cookies, to delicious croissants and soft pastries, there’s nothing you can’t make on this stone. It keeps the baked goodies hot even when you’re giving it time to cool down. So, you can enjoy them as fresh as possible.
Easy to Handle
With finger holes in the NerdChef steel stone, you can insert your fingers inside and move it effortlessly. You can also hang it on a wall, which gives easy access rather than storing it inside cupboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this steel stone dishwasher safe?
No, it is unfortunately not dishwasher safe. The heavy weight of the stone does not allow it to be a good base for a dishwasher. However, it is very easy to clean with liquid soap, and it takes a short time as well!
2. Does it have multiple thickness options?
Yes. For a better experience with NerdChef, they provide three thickness options to choose from. Based on your requirements and convenience, you can choose from their standard size which is 1/4 (.25) inches, or move on to the thicker versions which are 3/8 (.375) inches and 1/2 (.50) inches.
3. What is the heat capacity of this pan?
The heat capacity of this pizza stone differs according to the thickness of the stone. For starters, the standard size has a heat capacity of 3611 Joules, while the thicker versions possess heat capacities of 5324 Joules & 7098 Joules respectively.
Verdict
Wrapping it up, it’s evident that this product definitely deserves all the hype it’s getting. Especially if you’re thinking of investing in something that will last for a lifetime, the NerdChef steel stone is a great option.
So, if you’re looking for a durable, user-friendly, and high-quality steel baking surface, this one is a suitable product for you.