The Original Baking Steel, Pre-Seasoned, 14" x 16" x 1/4", Made in USA Since 2012
Strong buyer feedback on the steel that started the category.
Updated
- 14" x 16" x 1/4" solid steel plate, pre-seasoned out of the box
- Made in the USA since 2012 -- the original home pizza steel
- Works in a standard home oven or on a grill
Best For / Not For
Best for
- Buyers who want the original, most established brand in this category
- Anyone baking both pizza and bread who wants one versatile steel
- Home ovens with at least 16 inches of interior clearance
Not for
- Buyers who want the lightest possible steel to maneuver in and out of the oven
- Anyone who wants to avoid any surface rust spots over time with zero maintenance
Key Details
Why the Original Still Leads
The Original Baking Steel has been the reference point for this category since 2012, and its buyer feedback is strong. At 1/4-inch thick and pre-seasoned out of the box, it is ready to use immediately and holds enough thermal mass to produce the blistered bottom crust a ceramic stone cannot match.
The tradeoffs are the ones inherent to any solid steel plate this size: it takes a while to cool down after baking, bare steel exposed to moisture can develop a reddish-brown rust tint that a light reseasoning addresses, and the plate is heavy. None of this is unique to this product versus other steels in the category, and the buyer evidence here is the most established of any pick in this review.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong buyer feedback
- Pre-seasoned and ready to use out of the box
- Made in the USA with a decade-plus track record as the category original
- Works for pizza, bread, and general high-heat baking
Cons
- A thick steel plate holds its heat, so it takes a long time to cool down after use
- Bare steel can develop a reddish-brown rust tint if exposed to moisture -- a light reseasoning addresses it
- Extremely heavy to move in and out of the oven, as any full-size 1/4-inch steel plate is
Bottom Line
The Original Baking Steel is the best overall pick for most buyers based on strong buyer feedback and the longest track record in this category. At 1/4 inch thick it holds enough heat for a blistered, pizzeria-style bottom crust, though buyers should expect a heavy plate that takes time to cool and may need occasional reseasoning to manage surface rust.
Check current price