According to the top-rated answer to this question, you cannot wash the baking stone (or else you can, using baking soda and a lot of care and time, which is not practical). I am mostly interested in baking at the temperatures of cr. 180°C (360°F), although sometimes I use 450°F (230°C) regime.
I wanted to compare three options that could potentially be put on top of a baking stone, to avoid hygiene concerns:
- Silicone sheet - it's stated to be safe for temperatures up to 500°F (260°C), but I have read that the safety of silicone at high temperatures is disputed. Other than safety concerns, I see no downside;
- Baking paper - it's stated to be safe for temperatures up to 420°F-450°F (210°C-230°C), and is single-use;
- Thin steel tray - I have made it up myself, it's obviously safe, but does it negate the advantages of baking stone?
Is my analysis correct? What am I missing? What are your recommendations?
As per this webpage, a lot of people are using parchment paper to avoid sticking, and discuss silicone as an alternative.