Best Pizza Stone Substitutes – The Ultimate Guide
If you have ever had pizza that was made on a pizza stone, you know that the main reason it is used is for that ultra-crispy base.
But sometimes it is very difficult to get your hands on one of these stones or they are simply too expensive to buy. They also have very limited uses and can be quite fragile.
Does this mean you can never make the perfect crispy pizza? It does not! Luckily, there are a few substitutes you can use to make delicious crispy pizza, however, some of these substitutes might work better than others.
So, what are the best substitutes for a pizza stone? Your best options for achieving the same crispy and evenly cooked base include using a perforated pizza pan or a pizza baking steel. Other options you can use include cast iron pans, baking sheets, and cookie sheets.
In this article, we will look at how a pizza stone works, how their substitutes will work, and which ones are the best. We will also be looking at the best pizza stone substitute products available to purchase.
Baking Stone Vs Pizza Stone
A baking stone is a portable cooking surface used to bake certain food items. A pizza stone is a type of baking stone, customized for making pizzas specifically.
Baking stones come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes which usually have to do with the intended use. They are made from a variety of materials including ceramic, stone, and salt.
The materials baking and pizza stones are usually made of are very poor heat conductors which is a good thing compared to baking on better conductors like metal or glass.
The reason these stones are better is that you can extract a lot of moisture over a longer period without having the item burn.
These materials also conduct the heat more evenly, resulting in a much more evenly baked product.
These stones are very similar to baking or cookie sheets, however the main difference is that they absorb additional moisture, leaving the base of the pizza or food item much crispier.
How to use baking stones:
- It is recommended to lightly dust the stone with cornmeal or all-purpose flour to prevent the dough from sticking. Alternatively, you can use a piece of baking paper on top of the stone, but this reduced the functionality of it.
- You should also pre-heat these pizza stones as you are preheating the oven. This will prevent the possibility of the stone cracking of thermal shock (the sudden extreme change in temperature).
- Because these stones are porous, they should only be cleaned with hot water, no chemicals or soaps of any kind.
Pizza Stone Substitutions – Buyer’s Guide
So, if pizza stones are so great, why aren’t more people using them? Well, that is most likely due to their price tag.
Of course, you can get cheaper ones, but a quality pizza stone (which we would always recommend) that won’t crack after a few uses, tends to be more expensive than alternative cooking vessels.
Another reason more people don’t use the pizza stone might be that a lot of people don’t like a crispy pizza base.
So, whatever your reason might be why you don’t want to use a pizza stone, there are a lot of substitutes that will give you a crispy and evenly cooked pizza, just like the stone would’ve.
Pizza Pans
There are two types of pizza pans available: a perforated and a non-perforated pizza pan.
The non-perforated pizza pan is exactly like a non-stick baking sheet, the only difference being that it is round instead of the traditional rectangular shape. Sometimes these pizza pans come with two handles on either side.
The perforated pizza pan has a bunch of tiny holes throughout the surface area. These holes contribute in a few ways to the outcome of the pizza.
Firstly, the holes allow for a more even heat distribution on the pizza dough because of the semi-direct contact with the heat source. There isn’t a surface that needs to conduct and spread the heat first before cooking the base, it is now direct cooking.
The second function of the holes is to allow more moisture to be extracted from the dough, ultimately resulting in a crispier base, as you would get with a pizza stone.
These pizza pans are essentially the best option when it comes to substituting pizza stones as they provide the closest result to pizza stones. They are very easy to find and they are budget-friendly.
Non-Perforated Pizza Pans
Pros
- Round shape will ensure consistent pizza size
- Non-stick
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Will not make the dough crispy
- Will not evenly bake the bases )some spots will be more baked than others)
- Cannot bake on open fire
Perforated Pizza Pans
Pros
- The round shape will ensure consistent pizza size
- Will provide crisp bases
- Great and even heat distribution (evenly baked pizza bases)
- Non-stick
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Cannot bake on open fire
Baking Sheets
A baking sheet is one of the easiest substitutes, mostly because you probably already have one in your home.
By simply inverting a baking sheet in your oven, you have the perfect surface for making pizzas. The main reason for flipping the baking sheet around is so you can easily move the dough on and off the baking sheet.
If you were to bake it on the “correct side,” the rim of the baking sheet will prevent you from easily moving the pizza.
Baking sheets are also guaranteed to fit into your oven which is a big pro over the pizza stones. It is sometimes very difficult to find a pizza stone that will fit into your oven.
You can also use a cookie sheet to make your pizzas on. Cookie sheets are essentially baking sheets without the rim (aka, they are flat sheets that go into your oven).
We would just like to mention that, although baking and cookie sheets work to cook the pizza, if you want crispy pizza, you might want to try an alternative method as these will not help you in that department.
Pros and Cons of Baking Sheets
Pros
- The baking sheets will fit into your oven
- Easy to maneuver pizzas in and out of the oven
- Large surface area
- Non-stick
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Doesn’t ensure evenly sized pizzas
- Cannot bake on an open fire
- Will not make the dough crispy
- Will not evenly bake the bases )some spots will be more baked than others)
Cast Iron Cooking Pans
Cast iron cooking pans are another great option for crispy pizzas, provided they are used on an open fire.
Cast iron pans are very durable, affordable, easy to find, and have many uses. Unlike a pizza stone that can only perform a set number of functions, you can buy a cast iron cooking vessel that can do much more.
For example, if you buy a cast-iron Dutch oven, you will be able to make pizzas, bake bread, make stews, and fry off meats. These are only a few examples of what you can do with cast iron cookware.
There are many different shapes and sizes of cast iron cooking vessels so you can choose a vessel that will work for both your pizzas and other uses.
Another bonus of using these shaped cooking vessels to make your pizzas in is that you can standardize your recipe. This might seem pointless to some, but it is always great to have a recipe that you know works.
The pans (or pots) will give you the crispiest results on an open fire, almost like you are making wood-fired pizzas.
You can of course also use these vessels inside the oven, but the results won’t be as crispy.
Pros and Cons of Cast Iron Pans
Pros
- The shape will ensure evenly sized pizzas
- Will make base crispy
- Great and even heat distribution (evenly baked pizza bases)
- Can cook on an open fire or in the oven
- Multiple cooking uses
- Durable product
Cons
- Can give off rust if not maintained properly
- Can be expensive
Baking Steels
If you are looking for a product similar to a baking stone, a baking steel will be perfect. These steels are exactly like the stone, only made from, you guessed it, steel.
They are large and heavy metal sheets that function exactly like the pizza stone. You can bake at much higher temperatures as these are more conductive and much more heat-resistant than the stones.
You can also find them in different shapes and sizes, but they are generally bigger than your alternative vessels.
They will give you crispy pizzas, the only downside being you will have the same problem as with the stones (i.e. the steels might not fit onto your oven). They are also much more expensive than all the other substitutes and even some of the stones.
However, along with pizza pans, pizza steels are one of the best substitutes for the pizza stones.
Pros and Cons of Baking Steels
Pros
- The shape will ensure evenly sized pizzas
- Will make a crispy pizza base
- Great and even heat distribution (evenly baked pizza bases)
- Can cook on an open fire or in the oven
- Durable product
Cons
- Very heavy (not convenient to use)
- Can be very expensive
- Can be hard to find
- Might not fit into your oven
Best Pizza Stone Substitutes To Buy
| Rank | Recommended Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wilton Non-Stick 14-inch Perforated Pizza Pan | Makes a crispy pizza crust |
| 2. | Conductive Cooking 14-inch Round Pizza Steel | Great heat conductor |
| 3. | Home-Complete Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Pizza Pan | Most durable |
| 4. | Wilton Premium Non-Stick Pizza Pan | Premium non-stick pan |
| 5. | T-fal Air Bake Non-Stick Cookie Sheet | Rimless for ease of use |
| 6. | Good Cook Non-Stick Baking Sheet Set | Offers various sizes |
1. Wilton Non-Stick Perforated Pizza Pan
This Pizza Pan from Wilton made our number one spot for many reasons.
Like we have previously mentioned, perforated pizza pans are one of the best substitutes for pizza stones and your final result will be a very crispy, evenly cooked pizza base.
This pizza pan measures 14 inches which will give you the perfect medium to large pizza. It also comes with two handles which makes it much easier to handle compared to its competitors.
The whole pan is non-stick which besides meaning you don’t have to line the pan, means that it is very easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
This is an excellent product and the best part, it is surprisingly affordable!
2. Conductive Cooking Round Pizza Steel
This baking steel is a fantastic product if you want crispy pizza bases baked in the oven, or on an open fire.
This pizza steel is a great heat conductor and will evenly distribute it throughout the vessel and pizza dough. It will immediately extract all moisture from the base, resulting in the crispiest base ever.
This steel is easy to use, easy to clean and maintain and is a product for a lifetime or two.
We ranked this pizza steel second but for one reason only; its price. As we mentioned, these baking steels are more expensive compared to the other pizza stone substitutes, and often more expensive than the pizza stones themselves.
However, if you are willing to invest in a baking steel, we would highly recommend this one.
3. Home-Complete Cast Iron Pizza Pan
This product is a combination of two pizza stone substitutes we have talked about; cast iron cooking vessels and pizza pans.
This is a non-perforated cast iron pizza pan from Home-Complete. The product is a perfect 14-inches in diameter and has two handles for easy use and handling.
Cast iron, like the baking steels, is a product that you will have for the rest of your life if maintained properly. Luckily, this is a very easy material to use and clean.
It can be used in both the oven and on an open fire and will provide you with the crispiest pizza bases every time.
This is a great durable and affordable product that can also be used for many other functions like frying eggs or cooking meats – you truly won’t be disappointed.
4. Wilton Premium Non-Stick Pizza Pan
This is another pizza pan from Wilton only this time, it’s non-perforated.
If it seems like we are massive supporters of Wilton products, you are not wrong.
Wilton is one of the top suppliers in the world when it comes to premium non-stick bakeware, so naturally, we gravitate towards them and their products.
This 14-inch pizza pan is made from steel and a non-stick coating, making it easy to use and clean.
It isn’t perforated so your pizza base won’t be as crispy as other substitutes would make it, however, it is still an amazing product that will at the very least allow you to have consistency in your pizza size.
5. T-fal Air Bake Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
If you don’t have a cookie sheet at home and you are a frequent baker, do yourself a favor and get one.
To recap, a cookie sheet is a baking sheet without the rim. The cookie sheet exists to be more convenient than a baking sheet for baked items without liquid.
This means that you can move your pizza much easier without having to lift it up, like you would have to if using a baking sheet with a rim.
This cookie sheet is especially popular amongst users because it is non-stick. You can make and bake an endless amount of recipes and for pizzas specifically, it gets the job done.
Again, your pizza base won’t be as crispy compared to other substitutes, but it will give you a delicious meal.
6. Good Cook Non-Stick Baking Sheet Set
As we have mentioned, baking sheets are great substitutes for pizza stones, even if they won’t provide the same crispy and evenly cooked results.
Most of you might already have baking sheets, but if you were thinking of adding some or upgrading your old ones, definitely go with this baking set from Good Cook.
This set includes a small (13×9), medium (15×10), and large (17×11) baking sheet which means you have a lot of size options for your oven and pizza.
They are all non-stick which is always the best option you can choose. Non-stick coatings allow you to clean them very easily and they can even be placed in the dishwasher.
A great and affordable option for everyday use!
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