Do you love bbq but also long for baking? Kamado Joe Pizza Stone has been very popular among home bakers in recent years. It’s expensive, but is it worth your money?
Not only does the pizza stone’s durability and heat retention define it, but its versatility will guarantee its value.
So, what do you need?
A well-researched review that clears all your doubts about the pizza stone.
Don’t worry; the review is short but helpful for making your final decision.
Let’s begin without further ado.
Kamado Joe, 15 and 20 Inches Pizza Stone Review
Size
Available in 2 different sizes, 15 and 20 inches, the Kamado Joe’s ceramic pizza stone is the first thing to come into your mind when you want to use your giant cooker for baking.
Indeed, Kamado Joe has been caring for the users. It’s why they’ve done great homework to integrate several accessories in their pit-style grill while keeping the working principles of indirect cooking and conduction heating.
And among these, the ceramic pizza stone is the best. It has the perfect thickness of 1/2 inch to keep the heat. Besides this, the size variations of 15 and 20 inches are also great. You can get any according to your Kamado Joe grill size–it also fits Big Green Egg.
Performance
Next comes the actual performance of the pizza stone, which comes directly through the material used for making this pizza stone, is destiny and thickness.
The Kamado Joe Pizza Stone’s ceramic material is not less than an actual stone because the manufacturers have used compressed ceramic material. Thus, it’s more dense. This Kamado Joe’s stone density allows better heat retention and permeability to create the perfect crispy crust for your pizzas.
This is why your large Kamado pizza stone weighs about 9.59 pounds. Hence, the actual proportion to size, thickness, and weight confirms the quality of the pizza stone. And therefore, your pizza stone can withstand the highest induction heat of up to 480 C–you can cook whatever you want using it.
Ease of Usage
When it’s about using the pizza stone comes with a learning curve.
Don’t be misled by Kamado Joe’s insufficiency instructions–yes, a pizza stone should be used on indirect heat, yet Kamado Joe’s instructions are not enough.
Kamado Joe simply advises you to use a heat deflector plate under the pizza stone, and preheat your pizza stone for baking pizzas.
NAAA!
Be more careful… Yes, the pizza stone can crack on such high heat, and you have to put heat deflector plates under it.
Yet, to ensure the longevity of such an expensive pizza stone, we’ll advise you to use free spacers like birks or nuts between the hat deflector plate and the pizza stone to allow more conduction.
Durability and Maintenance
Thanks to its very material and pizza stone thickness, it can withstand high heat in your Kamado Joe- please beware, don’t expose it to direct flames.
Yes, when used following the right steps, the Kamado Joe Pizza Stone will surely last–It won’t crack.
Also, make sure that before putting the pizza stone in the grill, it must be of room temp to bear the shock Otherwise, it can crack.
Cleaning
Being of porous material, it absorbs grease and fats obviously. Yet, you can clean it easily using a damp cloth or hand-washing it after it has cooled.
Price
Besides the pizza stone user instruction, the most susceptible thing is the price. It seems too expensive–overpriced. Is it?
Not… Several pizza stones are available in the market at half of the price, so why is it overpriced?
Quality, my dear friend..!
The pizza stone over there are no heavier than 1.5 Kg. However, the Kamado Joe Pizza Stone weighs 9.59 lbs; so, double the price. It can be a good idea to buy it on some sale days.
Pros
- Excellent heat retention
- Incredible heat resistance
- Pit grills compatible sizes
- Versatile
- Heavy
Cons
- Needs care against heat shock
- Pricey
FAQs
How can I create space between my Kamado Joe Pizza Stone and heat deflector plates?
Creating a space for induction between your Kamado Joe Pizza Stone and heat deflector plate isn’t difficult. You can use any DIY solution for this purpose, like:
- Use the accessory rack to place the heat deflector plates over the flames, then place the grill grates over the heat deflector plates, and finally, put the pizza stone on the grill grates.
OR YOU CAN
- Form 3-4 small balls of aluminum foil of even size
- Use 3-4 nuts or steel drain plugs—you can get them at some local hardware store.
- Use 3 fire bricks.
Or you can use anything that lets your pizza stone smoothly over the heat deflector plates.
How should I clean my Kamado Joe Pizza Stone?
Cleaning a ceramic pizza stone is a relatively simple process that involves a few key steps:
- Let the pizza stone cool completely before trying to clean it. Do not attempt to clean the stone while it is still hot, as this could cause it to crack or break.
- Remove any excess debris or food particles from the stone using a dry brush or scraper. Be gentle and avoid using anything that could scratch or damage the surface of the stone.
- If there are any stubborn stains or residue on the stone, use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe the surface gently. You can also use a mixture of water and mild dish soap if necessary, but avoid using any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners.
- Rinse the stone thoroughly with clean water and allow it to air dry completely before using it again.
Note: Do not put the pizza stone in the dishwasher or soak it in water for an extended period, as this could also cause it to crack or break.
How thick should my ceramic pizza stone be?
The thickness of a pizza stone can vary depending on the material it’s made from and the manufacturer. However, a pizza stone should be at least 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) thick to provide sufficient thermal mass for effective cooking. The thicker the pizza stone, the better the heat retention and durability is.
Kamado Joe Pizza Stone is above ½ inches thick–1.3 inches. This thicker pizza stone is more durable and can hold heat for a longer time. This can be beneficial for achieving a crispy crust on your pizza.
Final Thoughts
Despite being expensive, Kamado Joe’s pizza stone is a perfect value for money. You can even use it in your ovens and other grills. Just be careful not to drop it or use it over direct flames; it’ll last longer.
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