How to Season, Clean, Maintain & Store Your Pizza Steel (Complete Guide)

If you want restaurant-quality pizza at home, a pizza steel is one of the most powerful tools you can own. But to get the best performance - blistered crusts, crispy bases, and consistent heat - your steel needs regular care. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to season your pizza steel, how to clean it (including tough splatters) and how to store it safely so it stays in perfect condition for years.

Why Seasoning Your Pizza Steel Matters

Seasoning does two things:

1. Protects the steel from rust

2. Creates a natural non-stick coating that improves with every use

How to Season Your Pizza Steel (Step-by-Step)

What you’ll need

• Neutral oil with a high smoke point (grapeseed, rapeseed, vegetable, flaxseed)

• Clean cloth or paper towel

• Oven preheated to 230–260°C (450–500°F)

  
  

Steps

1. Wash the steel once with warm water and a tiny amount of mild soap (this is the only time you’ll ever use soap on it).

2. Dry it completely - no moisture at all.

3. Add a few drops of oil to the surface.

4. Rub it in until it looks dry → if it looks shiny or wet, you’ve used too much.

5. Place it in the oven for 45–60 minutes.

6. Turn the oven off and let the steel cool inside.

Your steel should now have a smooth, matte, dark finish. This is your protective base layer. If it is sticky, simply leave in the oven for a little longer.

How to Clean Your Pizza Steel (Daily Use)

A pizza steel is incredibly low-maintenance. After each use:

1. Let it cool down completely

Never clean a hot steel - rapid temperature changes can be dangerous and even warp the metal in extreme circumstances.

2. Scrape off any debris

Use a dough scraper, bench scraper, or metal spatula.

3. Wipe it down

Use a dry or slightly damp cloth. If needed, use hot water only.

Don't use soap, unless you're planning to completely re-season, soap breaks down the seasoning.

4. Dry immediately

Moisture is the only thing that can damage a steel.

Optional: Add a tiny bit of oil

A few drops rubbed in keeps the seasoning strong and prevents rust.

How to Clean Heavy Burnt-On Splatters or Stubborn Bits

Even experienced pizza makers sometimes get runaway cheese, sauce splashes, or burnt semolina on the steel. To remove them:

Method 1: Heat & Scrape (Most Effective)

1. Preheat the steel in the oven at 230–260°C.

2. Once hot, turn the oven off.

3. Use a metal scraper to remove the softened burnt bits.

4. Let it cool, then wipe clean.

   
   

Method 2: Abrasive Re-Set (For Really Tough Mess)

If something is badly baked on:

1. Let the steel fully cool.

2. Use fine steel wool, a chainmail glove or a scrubbing pad to remove the stubborn area.

3. Wipe off all dust.

4. If needed, use a dry or slightly damp cloth with hot water and mild soap (needs re-seasoning - step 5).

5. Re-season the steel with a thin coat of oil and a 45–60 minute heat cycle.

It will look brand new afterwards.

How to Store Your Pizza Steel Safely

A pizza steel is heavy, which means storing it properly matters.

Best storage options:

• Keep it in the oven permanently (bonus: it helps regulate oven temperature).

• Slide it vertically between kitchen units Make sure it won’t fall or tip.

• Store flat in a cupboard with a cloth between it and other cookware.

Avoid:

• Storing it while damp

• Storing it in a cold, humid area (garage, shed, outdoor kitchen)

• Leaning it somewhere unstable - it’s heavy and can cause damage

Final Thoughts

A pizza steel is almost indestructible - it just needs proper seasoning, light cleaning, and dry storage. Look after it and it will give you decades of crisp, stone-oven-style pizzas, at home.

Right. Steel prepped and ready? Let's make some dough