Baking steel is a highly popular choice for home cooks and professional chefs alike because it provides consistency, fantastic durability, and a versatility envied by the rest of the cookware industry.

However, baking steel is not cheap, and learning to properly clean and care for it is the only way to ensure your investment is worthwhile. Here is

How To Easily And Quickly Clean Your Baking Steel:

  1. The first thing you have to do to clean your baking steel is to let it cool completely. Cleaning a hot piece of baking steel is a surefire way to burn yourself and warp the metal.
  2. Next, make sure to remove any burnt or stuck residue on the surface of the steel. You can use a hard-plastic spatula or non-stick safe scraper to scrape any particularly sticky bits. 
  3. Use a damp cloth or soft sponge to wipe down the entire surface of the baking steel to remove any remaining residue. You can do this between uses to keep your baking steel free of dust and grime.
A dirty cooking steel

While some people don’t like using dish soap on their baking steel, I personally advocate for a gentle soapy water wash every few use cycles to help you remove oil-build up. You can use soap if you find that your baking steel is particularly greasy. Just make sure that you never use abrasive products as these can significantly damage the surface of the baking steel and reduce its efficiency.

  1. Always rinse and dry your steel thoroughly with a clean dry cloth or to avoid rust. Never allow your baking steel to air dry as this is conducive to the formation of rust.
  2. Once completely dry, make sure to store your baking steel properly. The best place to store your baking steel is a cabinet that is away from direct heat or excess moisture. Be sure to never stack heavy objects on top of the steel to avoid unwanted damage.

While your baking steel is virtually indestructible, it is important that you clean it regularly. This is the only way to ensure that you maintain this expensive piece of cookware in good condition for years and years to come. 

Sometimes, you will find that your baking steel may require a bit more care, especially if you find that it has begun to rust.

What To Do If Your Baking Steel Is Rusting

To remove rust from baking steel or pizza steel follow the steps below:

  • Scrub off any loose rust with a stiff metal brush or using steel wool
  • Apply a paste made out of white vinegar and baking soda, and let sit for 30 minutes
  • Rinse the baking steel and dry it completely
  • Repeat until all visible rust is gone

Once the rust has been removed, you are going to want to re-season the baking steel (baking steel comes pre-seasoned from the manufacturer).

Rusting steel tray

How To Season Baking Steel

To properly season your baking steel simply dab a bit of high smoke point oil – I personally recommend flax seed oil for this purpose, but you can use vegetable, canola, or any other type of cooking oil you have available. Use a clean paper towel and rub the oil on the steel surface, making sure to cover every last inch. You can wipe off any excess oil with another paper towel.

Then place your baking steel in an oven that has been preheated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave your steel baking in the oven for about 1 hour, before taking it out and allowing it to cool completely.

Now repeat this process at least two more times for a proper seasoning of the steel surface.

Final Words On Cleaning Baking Steel

Whether you are an experienced chef or a home cook amateur, properly cleaning your baking steel will help to extend the life of this fantastic product and ensure that it continues to deliver on its promise of durability, versatility, and consistency.

In some cases, where the rust present on the surface of the baking steel is extensive, it may prove very difficult to remove completely. At this point, you may want to consider ridding yourself of the rusty steel and replacing it with brand-new, clean baking steel.