The stones take only 15 minutes to heat in the oven at 350º degrees F. If the oven is preheated, it takes only 10 minutes.

It takes just one hour in the freezer to reach the right temperature to keep your salads crisp and your drinks icy. You can store your stones in the freezer continually so they are always ready.

If treated properly, they should last a lifetime. The first rule of thumb is: always let a hot stone return to room temperature before you chill it, and always let a cold stone return to room temperature before you heat it. If you don’t allow this transition, your stone could crack, just as a frozen casserole dish could crack if you placed it in a hot oven.

Each person may want their own 9” Heating Stone with wooden tray holder and 6” Cooling Stone with wooden tray holder. 

Of course, if you’re having a large salad and a bowl of soup for dinner, then your 6” stone could be used for the soup and the 9” stone to keep the salad chilled. This is the practical beauty of Dining Stones—they are versatile and interchangeable for a variety of uses.

In many cases, wiping the stone with a wet dishcloth or sponge will be sufficient. If there has been spilling, you will need to remove the stone from its holder by pushing up through the 1-inch cutout in the bottom of the tray to release the stone. Safety tip: Always wait until the stone has returned to room temperature before removing it from its wooden tray holder. This will protect you and those around you from possible burns.

Once the stone reaches room temperature, you can rinse with plain water (never using soap) to clean, but avoid completely immersing in water for an extended period of time. To prevent cracking, allow time for your Dining Stone to dry out before freezing it, and never immerse a cold stone in hot water or a hot stone in cold water. Sudden changes of temperature can be damaging to your stone. Even when you are wiping them, use a warm cloth on warm stones and cool cloth on cold stones. By protecting your Dining Stones, they will serve your family for a lifetime.

The wooden trays are finished with a layer of polyurethane, which makes them water-resistant, so they can be conveniently wiped clean with a wet dishcloth. Never use soap or immerse your tray in water or place them in a dishwasher.

Yes, you can heat four or even eight in the oven, using both racks and stacking two at a time.

You can use your Dining Stone in the freezer for a “quick chill.”

Say you’re making a salad, and your green and yellow peppers are only room temperature. Set a plastic bag of sliced peppers on the already frozen Dining Stone in the freezer, and the peppers will become chilled in minutes, making your entire salad instantly crisp.

Or perhaps you’re making a glass of iced coffee, and the coffee has only cooled to room temperature. Place the iced coffee on the pre-chilled Dining Stone in the freezer, and the coffee will become icy in just 15 minutes!

As a kitchen accent, you can display Dining Stones beneath a wine bottle or vase of flowers to add rustic charm to any kitchen. You may want to keep your smaller Dining Stones in the freezer, so they’re always ready for use. The others can remain stacked in their tray holders like dishes. Rubber stops on the bottom of the trays prevent them from scratching when stacked.