What can you do with leftover granite remnants?

When you order custom countertops, a slab of granite is carved into the countertops you need, but anything left of the slab is still valuable granite. Granite remnants can be big enough for a few bathroom countertops or comprised of dozens of smaller granite chips. There are dozens of things you can have done with your granite remnants, especially when you are working with a stone fabricator who is cutting each piece of granite for your personal needs.

Granite remnants can become coasters, serving boards, cheese plates, and polished tabletops. They can be desk organizers and paperweights. You can break them up into mosaic tiles for a floor, shower, or backsplash. But did you know that you can also cook with your granite?

Granite cooking stones have been used for hundreds of years. Why? Because they make excellent even heating surfaces.

What is a Granite Cooking Stone?

A cooking stone is a stone that is heated by fire or an element and then, in turn, cooks food placed on top of it. The great thing about a smooth, even stone like granite is that it heats evenly. Heat the underside and stone-cooked foods will heat at the same temperature across the stone instead of hot-cold sections like pans. This provides for beautifully cooked pizzas, breads, fish fillets, shrimp, and even steaks when done correctly.

A granite cooking stone is a slab of granite that has been cut into an even rectangle, usually between one to two inches thick and polished on both sides. It can be laid over a hot cooking surface to provide a smooth, even cooking surface that is slow to heat, but also slow to cool.

People use granite cooking stones on the grill or stove. Chilled, they are used as elegant cold serving plates and platters. Warmed but not baking, they can act as food warmers for a surprising amount of time.

What Can You Cook on a Granite Cooking Stone?

Cook Pizzas
Bake Breads and Pastries
Fold Ice Cream Toppings
Grill Shrimp and Fish
Grill Steak and Vegetables
Toasting Sandwiches
Warm or Chill Food
Reheat Meals

What can you really do with a cooking stone? Most people dont realize just how versatile a cooking stone can be. That even source of heat is ideal for all sorts of recipes and kitchen tasks. They can be used to serve warmed or chilled snacks because granite holds its temperature for a long time. Breads and pastries of all types like cooking on granite because the bottom doesn’t scorch as with a metal pan. You can put your granite slab on the grill and make some amazing shrimp next to your steak without dropping a single shrimp in the coals – or even nicely sear your steak on the stone.

You can even freeze the baking stone, then use it Cold Stone Creamery style to fold in ice cream toppings without your ice cream melting. It’s great for evenly reheating meals and gently toasting sandwiches. For many having a cooking stone will transform your approach to home cooking – when you have the time to heat it up.

Cooking Tips with a Granite Cooking Stone

Don’t worry about cracking your stone, granite can withstand up to 400 degrees F. The way to cook with granite is simple: you lay it over a heat source while your heat is warming. You can cook with granite over a gas stove, a grill, in an oven, and even over a campfire with the right gear. You can use the granite to give yourself a searing hot solid surface that won’t scorch the bottom of your breads, unlike metal pans.

For most recipes, a granite cooking stone adds a delightful slow-cooking method with a smooth, even distribution of heat. This is the ideal way to handle some recipes and a great alternative to grilling on the grate for your outdoor cooking favorites. Here are some handy tips for cooking with granite.

Heat the Elements and Stone Together

When you cook with granite, be sure to heat the granite slowly with your surface. Place it on a cold grill or in a cold oven, then fire up the heat.

Wait 15-30 Minutes to Heat

Give your granite up to 30 minutes to get hot enough to cook with. Granite changes temperature very slowly which makes it great to retain heat (or cold) but also takes some literal warm-up time.

Don’t Cook from Frozen on a Cooking Stone

Frozen items typically will not reheat correctly on granite and can cause some temperature shock between the cold item and the heating surface. To cook from frozen on granite, let your ingredients thaw first.

Always Use Heating Pads and Trivets

Granite can absolutely get hot enough to do damage, just like any other cooking pan or surface. Be careful! Always handle your granite cooking stone with hotpads and tongs. When placing a hot stone, be sure to use trivets or towels. While it’s true your granite countertops can take the heat directly, you don’t want accidentally super-heat your counters.

How to Clean a Granite Cooking Stone

Wash with Warm Water and Rag – No Need for Soap
Sanitize with 50/50 Isopropyl
Do Not Seal or Reseal

How do you keep a granite cooking stone clean? Natural cooking stones do not need soap. Wash your granite cooking stone under warm or hot water and scrub with a cloth or sturdy sponge. Granite is porous and will absorb water, so it will also need to air out. To sanitize your granite cooking stone when necessary, clean with Isopropyl and water at a 50-50 ratio.

Cutting a Granite Cooking Stone from Your Remnant

When you are installing new countertops, you don’t need to buy a fancy granite cooking stone from a luxury home store; you can have one made from your own granite remnant. In fact, you can probably have several made.

Granite cooking stones need to be about 8″ x 12″, sometimes a little larger or smaller. This gives it enough space to handle a recipe-worth of food on its surface while still able to fit on your stove, in your oven, or on your grill. Take measurements of your favorite cooking appliances to get an idea of the maximum and preferred dimensions of your cooking stone.

Granite Remnant Kitchen Accessories

Want more than one cooking stone? You can have an entire set of evenly cut kitchen rectangles sliced from the remnant to act as serving boards, cutting boards, cooking stones, fancy dinner plates, and food warmers among many other uses for some beautiful portable stone in your kitchen.

From there, have a few coasters and, serving trays, and whiskey stones cut to match. The best part, of course, about cutting kitchen accessory granite from your countertop slab is that everything will match perfectly – the pristinely coordinated kitchen design in luxurious granite.