DIY: Craft a Homemade Pizza Stone for Only $5

I'm a big fan of pizza and various artisan breads. One day, I even plan to build a wood-fired, brick oven for baking. But that's not happening today – it's raining!

The secret to those incredible bread crusts is simple. Stone and brick retain heat and form a crust you just can't recreate otherwise. The stone absorbs moisture from the dough, resulting in a perfectly crisp crust. The issue is that commercial baking stones are expensive and, quite frankly, they don't last long – maybe a year at best. There has to be a better option for someone like me.

Unglazed Quarry Tile

Did you know that you can easily create your own pizza stone for just about five dollars?

I never imagined that I'd be browsing through the aisles of Home Depot looking for gourmet baking supplies, but it's become a regular habit. Your local hardware store is surprisingly a great place to find what you need, especially when it comes to unglazed quarry tiles.

Be cautious when selecting tiles, as glazed ones can contain lead. Make sure to pick up an unglazed slab instead. Typically, these tiles are red and about half an inch thick, and they usually come in two sizes:

When selecting your unglazed tiles, aim for a thickness of at least ½ inch, though 1" is even better. This is a standard size that should be easy to find. If you're concerned about lead in the tiles, it's best to check with the manufacturer for assurance. As long as the materials are natural, like "all natural clay and shale," you're good to go. Avoid concrete tiles. At Home Depot, some of these tiles are known as Saltillo Tiles, but other stores may carry them under different names. Expect to pay a little over a dollar per square foot for the smaller ones. Fireclay is a reputable manufacturer that offers lead-free tiles. You might also find small, local manufacturers in your area.

Which Size Should I Use?

Now it's time to decide on the size of your homemade pizza stone. The quarry tile should be small enough to fit comfortably in your oven, leaving about an inch of space around it. Be sure to measure the interior of your oven carefully.

Some people prefer using a single large tile, which is perfect for smaller pizzas. However, it's more versatile to use several six-inch tiles, which can be arranged to fit your oven. If your oven doesn't have a heating unit on the floor, you can simply place the tiles directly on the oven floor and leave them there. The tiles retain heat, allowing you to turn off the oven halfway through cooking and finish with the residual heat from the tiles.

Another option some have used successfully is a kiln shelf, though this might defeat the purpose since some of these can be pricier than commercial baking stones. If you know a potter who’s getting rid of one, you might snag a great deal.

Using Your Homemade Pizza Stone

Bake All Day on Stored Heat

If you're organized enough, you can bake an entire week's worth of food without using any electricity. Your homemade pizza stones will retain heat for hours, giving you plenty of time to bake multiple loaves of artisan bread and even warm up a casserole with the stored energy. It might take a bit of trial and error to perfect, but technically, you could bake a special pizza for lunch and then use the heat for the rest of the afternoon’s cooking.

You can bake breads directly on the stone. Just be sure to always allow the stone to cool completely before cleaning it.

Making your own pizza is not only delicious but also simple and eco-friendly.