Baking Steel Original - 1/4" Thick Pizza Steel (16"x14")
The Original Pizza Steel — Pizzeria-Quality Crust in 5–7 Minutes
The Baking Steel Original is a 1/4-inch thick, 15-pound slab of solid carbon steel (16" x 14") that transforms your home oven into a high-performance pizza oven. Steel conducts heat 20 times faster than ceramic, which means blistered crusts, incredible oven spring, and a crispy bottom, in under 7 minutes. Invented by Andris Lagsdin in 2012, this is the pizza steel that started it all.
It comes pre-seasoned and ready to use right out of the box. Made in the USA from solid carbon steel. Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Perfect For:
- Home pizza makers who want pizzeria-quality crusts in 5–7 minutes
- Bread bakers looking for bakery-level oven spring without a Dutch oven
- Anyone upgrading from a cracked pizza stone or flimsy baking sheet
- Grill cooks who want restaurant-quality pizza on gas or charcoal
- Stovetop griddle users — flip it over for smashburgers, pancakes, quesadillas, and grilled cheese (works on gas, electric, and induction)
Why Is a Baking Steel Better Than a Pizza Stone?
Steel conducts heat 20 times more effectively than ceramic. That means faster bake times, better oven spring, and crispier crusts, every time. Pizza stones crack and lose heat after the first bake. The Baking Steel is virtually indestructible, holds intense heat across the entire surface, and bakes multiple pizzas back-to-back with zero performance drop. It's not a comparison, it's a different category. Read the full breakdown →
What Can I Make With a Baking Steel?
Pizza: Neapolitan, New York, Detroit, bar-style, frozen — the Steel handles every style. Blistered crusts, chewy centers, perfectly melted cheese in under 7 minutes.
Bread: Sourdough, no-knead, baguettes, focaccia, English muffins. The thermal mass gives you incredible oven spring that rivals professional bakeries — no Dutch oven needed.
Everything else: Cookies, pastries, roasted vegetables, pies with crispy bottoms. Flip it over on your stovetop or grill for smashburgers, pancakes, seared steaks, and grilled cheese.
How Do I Use a Baking Steel?
Place it on the upper rack of your oven. Preheat for 45–60 minutes at 500–550°F. Launch your pizza and bake for 5–7 minutes. That's it. For the full step-by-step method with broiler tips and rack placement, read our complete guide →
Product Specifications
- Dimensions: 16" x 14"
- Thickness: 1/4 inch (6.35mm)
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Material: Solid carbon steel, pre-seasoned
- Made in: USA
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty against defects
- Ships: Within 1–2 business days, free shipping in contiguous USA
What's Included
- 1x Baking Steel Original (16" x 14")
- Care instructions
- Access to our recipe library and free live online cooking classes
Complete Your Setup
Pair your Baking Steel with our dough containers for perfect cold fermentation, and our 14-inch cherry wood pizza peel for easy launching and serving. Everything works seamlessly together for effortless pizza nights.
The Original. The Legend.
This is the Baking Steel that started it all. Invented by Andris Lagsdin and launched on Kickstarter in 2012, the Baking Steel Original set the standard for home pizza-making and inspired a movement. Every Baking Steel is cut, finished, and seasoned in the USA. Built to last a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Baking Steel?
A Baking Steel is a thick slab of solid carbon steel designed for baking pizza and bread at home. It conducts heat 20 times more effectively than ceramic pizza stones, creating restaurant-quality crusts with incredible oven spring and a crispy, blistered bottom. The Baking Steel Original was invented by Andris Lagsdin in 2012 and is the original pizza steel that revolutionized home baking.
Is a Baking Steel better than a pizza stone?
Yes. A Baking Steel conducts heat 20 times more effectively than ceramic pizza stones, which means faster cooking times, better oven spring, and crispier crusts. Pizza stones are prone to cracking and breaking, while a Baking Steel is virtually indestructible and will last a lifetime. The Baking Steel also works as a stovetop griddle, making it far more versatile than a stone.
Is a Baking Steel worth $129?
At $129, the Baking Steel is a one-time investment that replaces pizza stones, baking sheets, and griddles. It pays for itself after just a few homemade pizza nights compared to takeout or dining out (typically $15–25 per pizza). With proper care, it will last a lifetime — making it the most cost-effective way to achieve professional-quality pizza and bread at home.
Do I need to season my Baking Steel?
The Baking Steel comes pre-seasoned and ready to use right out of the box. Over time, you may want to re-season it to maintain the non-stick surface. Simply apply a thin coat of flaxseed oil or vegetable oil and bake at 500°F for one hour. This is only needed occasionally — typically once or twice a year depending on use.
How do I clean a Baking Steel?
After the steel cools, wipe it down with a damp cloth or paper towel. For stuck-on food or surface rust, use our Cleaning Bricks to gently scrub the surface. Mild soap is okay if needed. Dry thoroughly and apply a light coat of oil to maintain seasoning. Never put it in the dishwasher.
Will a Baking Steel fit in my oven?
The Baking Steel Original measures 16" x 14", which fits comfortably in most standard home ovens. It's designed to sit on the middle or upper rack with space around the edges for air circulation. If you have a smaller oven or need a different size, we also offer the Baking Steel Mini and other sizes.
Can I leave my Baking Steel in the oven all the time?
Yes. Many home bakers leave their Baking Steel in the oven permanently. It acts as a heat stabilizer, helping your oven maintain consistent temperatures and improving overall baking performance. Just remove it if you need the oven space for large roasts or casseroles. Leaving it in the oven also protects it from rust.
How long does it take to preheat a Baking Steel?
Preheat your Baking Steel for 45–60 minutes at your oven's highest temperature (usually 500–550°F). This ensures the steel is fully saturated with heat and ready to create that perfect crispy crust. For bread baking, 30–45 minutes is usually sufficient.
Can I use a Baking Steel on the grill?
Yes. The Baking Steel works beautifully on gas or charcoal grills. Preheat it on the grill for 30–45 minutes, then use it to bake pizza, bread, or flatbreads. You can also use it as a griddle surface for burgers, vegetables, and more. The steel handles extremely high grill temperatures without warping.
What can I make with a Baking Steel besides pizza?
The Baking Steel is incredibly versatile. Use it for artisan bread, sourdough, no-knead bread, English muffins, bagels, baguettes, focaccia, pastries, cookies, roasted vegetables, and more. Flip it over and use it as a stovetop griddle for smashburgers, pancakes, quesadillas, grilled cheese, and bacon. It replaces multiple kitchen tools.
How long will a Baking Steel last?
With proper care, a Baking Steel will last a lifetime. It's made from solid carbon steel and is virtually indestructible. Unlike ceramic pizza stones that crack and break, the Baking Steel can handle extreme temperature changes and heavy use. We back every Baking Steel with a lifetime warranty against defects.
Do I need any special tools to use a Baking Steel?
The only essential tool is a pizza peel to launch your pizza onto the hot steel. We recommend our 14" cherry wood pizza peel. A dough container helps with fermentation, and our Cleaning Bricks make maintenance easy. But you can start making great pizza with just the Baking Steel and a cutting board as a makeshift peel.
Is the Baking Steel safe to use?
Yes. The Baking Steel is made from food-grade carbon steel with no coatings, chemicals, or non-stick surfaces. The pre-seasoning is done with organic flaxseed oil. Carbon steel has been used in professional kitchens for centuries and is one of the safest cooking surfaces available.
Can I use a Baking Steel for frozen pizza?
Absolutely. The Baking Steel transforms frozen pizza into something that tastes homemade. Preheat the steel as usual, then place your frozen pizza directly on it. The high heat conductivity creates a crispy bottom crust that's impossible to achieve on a baking sheet. Frozen pizzas typically cook 2–3 minutes faster on a Baking Steel.
Where is the Baking Steel made?
Every Baking Steel is made in the USA. We source our steel domestically and every unit is cut, finished, and seasoned right here in America. We're proud to support American manufacturing and maintain the highest quality standards.
We offer free shipping on all orders in the contiguous United States.
As part of Baking Steel's quality policy, customer satisfaction is essential to our business. We will do anything (well, almost) to ensure you are thrilled with your product. If you're not happy, neither are we!
For any item that is found defective, you have a 30-day period (from when the order was shipped) to contact us for a replacement. This return policy applies to any item that is found to be defective in material or workmanship when put to normal household use and cared for according to instructions.
As for refunds, you have 30-days from when the order was shipped to receive a full refund on eligible merchandise. Merchandise must be unused, in the condition it was received and in the original packaging. Custom size Baking Steels are not eligible for returns/refunds. If your return falls within 30 days from when the order was shipped, we will provide you with a prepaid label for return shipping.
*We do not offer returns, refunds or exchanges on custom Baking Steels or used products due to health and safety. Custom orders are final sale.
Please note: Minor imperfections, surface markings and slight color variations are normal result of our hand seasoning process and will not effect the performance of your Baking Steel. For the Baking Steel patinas, these surface blemishes, imperfections will become unnoticeable as the product seasons with use.
All of our steels are American made, and finished to the highest quality by expert craftsmen.
The #1 rated steel
We use high-quality, carefully crafted steel that is specially designed to retain heat and create restaurant results at home. All of our steels are made in America.
Founded from passion
It all started with a passion for making the perfect pizza at home. After launching Baking Steel on Kickstarter, we were overwhelmed by audience demand and the Baking Steel company began.
How it works
How to use a baking steelUse your oven, grill, or stove to preheat your steel before cooking.
Bake your foodPizza only takes minutes on a Baking Steel.
Make cleanup easyImpress friends and family with restaurant quality pizza, made at home in just a few minutes.
