Hot Egg on Soapstone

Hoffrock

My tile guy tells me I should not have my XL egg sitting directly on my soapstone counter.  I had a special low cabinet made for it so it is sitting directly on the soapstone.  When it gets over 400 degrees a natural crack opens up but it closes back up when it cools. My counter top guy says the soapstone can handle it and that crack will just open and close but is not a problem.  I wonder if I should have some air underneath the egg just in case (but it weighs 200 pounds).  Any suggestions appreciated.

HeavyG

Almost everyone here will tell you that you should have an air gap. Not so much to protect the soapstone but to protect whatever is beneath the soapstone as a lot of heat transfers thru the soapstone and might cause problems if the material underneath is combustible.

stlcharcoal

Stone is a conductor of heat, not an insulator.  You're paying to heat the soapstone, and then risking burning whatever its sitting on.

Get an air gap to fix both issues.

Hoffrock

Thanks, this is good info.  My cabinets are aluminum frame to there is no other material under the soapstone except air so I might be ok.

HeavyG

Hoffrock said:

Thanks, this is good info.  My cabinets are aluminum frame to there is no other material under the soapstone except air so I might be ok.

In your case I wouldn't bother with an air gap either.

stlcharcoal

In that case, all you need is a handful of 1x1 floor tiles.  

milesvdustin

Get some of the little ceramic egg feet, they will only raise it a half inch 

Hoffrock

Thanks Miles - just order a set of feet from Amazon.  Could not find them on the Egg site.