Instructions

1. Prepare your dough for the chosen recipe. Roll out dough or pie crust on your marble baking stone or on a separate slab of marble if you prefer. The marble's cool, smooth surface helps to prevent sticking.

2. Clean the marble stone with a damp cloth to prepare it for baking use. Do not use soap since marble is porous. The soap will give your baked goods a soapy taste.

3. Place baking stone in a cold oven on the lowest rack if it is electric, or on the floor if it is a gas oven. (A cold oven is important because a sudden change in temperature can cause baking stones of any material to crack or break). Preheat oven to 400°F for about one hour.

4. Check if stone is ready for baking by dropping some water on top of it. If the water sizzles it is ready. You may sprinkle cornmeal on your baking stone to help prevent sticking, but this is generally not necessary for marble.

5. Place pizza, bread or pie directly on top of stone to bake.

6. Allow baking stone to cool down to room temperature before cleaning it.