Pizza Steel - DIY Baking Steel
Instructions on how to descale and season a piece of raw steel and turn it into a pizza or baking steel.
Servings 1 pizza steel
Cost $40.00
Ingredients
Materials
- 1 piece 1/4 x 16 x 16" steel plate see notes below
- 3 ounces organic 100% pure flax oil
- 1 gallon distilled vinegar
- 1 gallon water
Tools
- 4 pencils to act as spacers
- 1 roll paper towels lint free paper towels or blue shop towels recommended
- 1 sheet 150 grit sandpaper
- 1 small block of wood to wrap sandpaper
- 1 large tub, wheelbarrow, etc see notes below
- 1 abrasive sponge Scotch-Brite or similar
Instructions
Descaling the steel
- Wrap the sandpaper around the block of wood and lightly sand all edges of the steel plate checking for any sharp burrs. You only need to take a few swipes with the sandpaper to knock down any sharp edges.
- In a container large enough to hold the steel plate, lay the 4 pencils or any small object to act as a spacer and prevent the steel from touching the bottom of the container. Place the steel onto the spacers.
- Pour 1 gallon of vinegar and 1 gallon of water into the container making sure the steel plate is completely submerged. If the steel is not submerged add more vinegar and water in a 50/50 ratio to completely cover the steel.1 gallon distilled vinegar, 1 gallon water
- After 48 hours wipe off all the mill scale with paper towels and if needed use the scoring action of an abrasive sponge to remove any tough bits. When finished wiping the scale off, rinse with water then dry off immediately to prevent any surface rust from forming.
- Quickly place the dried-off steel in a 170f oven to remove any remaining moisture.
Seasoning the steel
- After 20 minutes remove the dry steel (use heat resistant gloves to handle) from the oven and place it on a clean working surface. Preheat oven to 450f. Squirt a tablespoon or less of flax oil (you don't need a lot) onto the steel and wipe it all over. Flip the steel and repeat, then wipe the oil on all 4 small side edges. Basically, wipe the oil on all 6 sides of the steel.3 ounces organic 100% pure flax oil
- With lint-free paper towels rub off every bit of the oil that you can. A small film will be left on the steel. Place the steel in a 450f oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn the oven off. Leave the oven door closed and wait at least two hours to remove the steel.
- Continue the process until 3 coats of flax oil have been applied. After the third coat, your pizza steel is ready to be used. Enjoy!3 ounces organic 100% pure flax oil
Video
Notes
- The tub or wheelbarrow must be large enough to hold the steel lying flat so that the water/vinegar can completely submerge the steel.
- I have made 3 pizza steels. One each with 5 coats, 3 coats, and 2 coats of flax oil. They all have held up to dozens of pizzas. For extra insurance 3 coats is my recommendation, but feel free to do as many you want.
- Use this ¼” x 16” x 16” steel plate. You can use a 1/2" plate but you will most likely need to reinforce the oven grates.
- Any 100% flax oil will work.
- Cheese, semolina for launching, and a host of other food will wind up on your steel. The high temps will burn off the food and turn it into ashes. You can scrape off the remaining residue with a nylon brush.
- I prefer to leave the steel in the oven at all times and rarely move it.