The short version
Both dislike dish soap and a long water bath. Brush the pizza stone dry only, stains belong to it. Wipe cast iron while hot, with a little salt if needed, then oil it thinly , that keeps the patina.
Pizza stone and cast iron are the problem children of grill cleaning because the usual products harm them here. Dish soap soaks into the porous stone and cast iron loses its burnt-in non-stick patina. With the right care both last a lifetime.
Caring for stone & cast iron
Cool down or work warm
Let the pizza stone cool completely. Cast iron is easiest to wipe while still warm.
Brush dry
Clean the pizza stone only with a brush or scraper, dry, stains are normal and not dirt.
Clean cast iron hot
Wipe cast iron with hot water and a brush, for burnt-on bits use some coarse salt as an abrasive.
No dish soap
On both no dish soap and no long soaking, that harms the stone and the patina.
Oil the cast iron
Dry the cast iron, heat it briefly and rub it thinly with oil, that renews the protective patina.
Stains are not dirt
Dark stains on the pizza stone are burnt-in fat and completely harmless, they do not disappear and do not need to. The only thing that matters is brushing off loose residue before the next bake.
What helps
What to look for:
- A brush or scraper for the stone
- Coarse salt as a gentle abrasive
- Seasoning oil for cast iron
Frequently asked
Can I clean the pizza stone with dish soap?
How do I care for a cast iron grate?
What is the patina on cast iron?
The whole grill clean
From grate to stainless steel to cast iron , the right move for every material.
Links marked „Ad” are affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are made independently.