Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

[Virgil]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

I am a big fan of granite. I'm looking for a nice blue....

[Archena]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

A 10:1 water/bleach mix will sterilize the surface. As the surface degrades you'll have trouble working the dough - it'll stick like crazy. Still, it might not be as bad as I'm thinking - try it and see (seeing as ou already built the countertop...).

[gjbingham]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

I did my counter tops and pizza prep areas in polished concrete. I finished them just a couple of months ago and have not had a chance to work dough on my intended surface. Looking back at all the work involved, I would recommend going granite, somewhere around a meter/yard squared for a working surface.

I suspect that the small porosity that remains in my polished concrete will catch flour (bugs, bacteria, boogers etc.) over time. 800 degrees will take care of of the bad bugs, but the like blowing under a pizza to loosen it from a peel, the suggestion of unsanitary conditions (whether accurate or not) might be a detriment to a healthy appetite of some unknowing guest.

I do like my counters, but a few hundred bucks spent on granite might have made life a lot easier.
G.

[Liam]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

no thanks, i've spent the past 40 years of my life carrying the dam stuff, i am trying to take life a little easier now and let my son do most of the carrying

[Archena]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

a piece 3' x 2' x 3/4'' only wieghs 64lb (28 kg.)

Good - you just volunteered to come over and carry it....







500!!! Woo Hoo!!!

[BRIFRO]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

I use a heavy duty aluminum baking sheet I bought at a restruant supply store. They have large commercial ones which are very sturdy and fairly in expensive. I paid seven dollars for the half size.

[Liam]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

a piece 3' x 2' x 3/4'' only wieghs 64lb (28 kg.)

[Archena]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

True, but I want something larger - and I'm not strong enough to carry it!

But you're right, that will work fine with a smaller board - good idea.

[Liam]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

If it is just a pastryboard size, you can use marble and stand it up when not in use as long as you leave the back unpolished face exposed.

[Archena]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

Marble is the preferred choice for pastry but it's not the most durable. If I were leaving it exposed I'd go with granite. Concrete is porous and even polished won't provide a good surface for long if it's exposed to the elements. None of the soft stones will work well - they either require sealants or are more fragile and likely to flake.

If I put a pastry board in the outdoor kitchen it will be marble and I'll have a cover, probably stainless steel, to go over it when not in use. Haven't decided yet - I kinda prefer having the pastry board inside where I'm more likely to do delicate work and have a portable to use outside. At least until someone tries polished concrete and finds it a lot better long term than I think it would be...

[Liam]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

most marble / granite companies will do a deal on offcuts as they become a nuisance to them, and they have to pay to dump them, providing you take the piece "as is " and cut yourself with a grinder to the size you need

[ERASMO]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

NANDJ
We are a dealer for Pa. Bluestone and regular bluestone I would not reccomend because it can be on the rough porous side. Just today I ordered myself a piece of honed bluestone to try. At the quarry they take the regular bluestone and hone the top like a piece of granite. I will let you know how it works out.

[nandj1966]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

Has anyone checked on blue stone? DIY used it on a outside project, I thought it looked cool with the chipped edge. The question is will it work for a food prep. site?

[staestc]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

Very good idea Elizabeth! I have at least 3 different granite places close to me that would be worth talking to. One I have dealt with, when I had a piece of marble that I wanted cut, edged with an ogie, and polished, and they let me get that work done by one of their employees in his off time and I paid him directly I like those folks, and if I tell them what I am doing, they may well think it is cool enough to cut me a deal!

Travis

[egalecki]

Re: Counter Top surface for pizza prep.

If you want granite, check with a cabinet shop locally to see if the place that fabricates their tops sells offcuts and cutouts. You could save some $ that way, even if you don't get much choice in the granite color.

I have a cutout I'm going to use from a solid surface countertop. I just need to polish the edges a bit (one's broken a little) so I don't have to worry about catching things on them and put a foot on the edge that broke so it won't rock. I'm all for repurposing stuff, and I already have several solid surface trivets from other jobs! I knew there was a reason I kept that piece.