There is much debate about the best way to heat massage stones (hot stones). Many beginner massage therapists heat the massage stones in a slow cooker to save costs. Others choose to heat the massage stones in an air fryer, towel warmer, a pan with water, an oven, or the microwave.
Most professionals, however, opt to heat the massage stones in a hot stone heater. This is the most professional way to heat massage stones. In this article, we will discuss the most commonly debated methods for heating hot stones. Before we do so, we first want to explain the importance of heating hot stones at the correct temperature.
Table of Contents
- Why should hot stones be heated at the correct temperature?
- Heating hot stones with dry heat
- Heating massage stones in a towel warmer
- Heating massage stones in the microwave
- Heating massage stones in the oven/air fryer
- Heating hot stones with steam
- Warming massage stones in a slow cooker
- Heating massage stones in a pan with water
- The best method for heating hot stones
Why should hot stones be heated at the correct temperature?
Hot stone massage is relaxing and, therefore, extremely popular! Offering hot stone massages can be a great way to attract more clients.
However, there is one nightmare every massage therapist dreads during a hot stone massage: one of your clients gets burned! The client leaves a bad review online. Not to mention the personal distress of the client.
Although several factors can lead to a client getting burned during a hot stone massage, this fortunately does not happen often, and you don’t need to worry about it if you heat the stones correctly.
The ideal temperature for the stones is 45ºC to a maximum of 50ºC. If you heat the stones to a higher temperature, the risk of burns significantly increases. Additionally, stones that are too hot are very uncomfortable for your clients and can severely diminish the treatment experience.
Heating hot stones with dry heat
Now that we know that heating massage stones at the correct temperature is crucial, it’s time to explore the different methods for heating hot stones.
Heating massage stones in a towel warmer
Some spas choose to heat their massage stones in a towel warmer. While this is an excellent method for warming towels, it is not recommended for heating massage stones. The reason is that it is impossible to regulate the temperature.
Another downside is that the stones are heated with dry heat, which can cause them to dry out and crack. At ZenGrowth, we strongly advise against this method.
Heating massage stones in the microwave
If you have ever tried to reheat a frozen meal or leftovers in the microwave, you probably don’t need us to explain: one part of your meal is scorching hot, while another part is still frozen. In short, a microwave heats inconsistently and unevenly.
Uneven heating is not suitable for massage stones because they all need to be heated to the same temperature. As a result, you cannot control the temperature, significantly increasing the risk of burns.
Additionally, the stones are exposed to dry heat, which can cause them to dry out and crack. Combined with the fact that the temperature cannot be regulated, the stones can even explode in the microwave. For these reasons, we strongly discourage this method!
Heating massage stones in the oven/air fryer
Heating massage stones with dry heat is not recommended. While ovens and air fryers allow you to set the temperature, which reduces the risk of burns compared to the methods mentioned above, dry heat still poses a risk of drying out and cracking the hot stones.
It is therefore better not to heat massage stones in an oven or air fryer but instead choose a "wet" heating method. For this reason, we also do not recommend this method!
Heating hot stones with steam
Heating hot stones with dry heat is not good for the massage stones. But there are alternative methods for heating hot stones, such as using a slow cooker. Below, we explain more!
Warming massage stones in a slow cooker
One of the most commonly used cheaper methods for heating hot stones is using a slow cooker. However, there is one major drawback to heating massage stones in a slow cooker: a slow cooker only has high and low settings for temperature control. This means you cannot precisely regulate the temperature.
Additionally, slow cookers are often small, making it very inconvenient to heat multiple stones at once. If you need to search for the right stone in the middle of a hot stone massage and cannot find it immediately, it can be quite frustrating.
In summary, while a slow cooker might be a cheap option for heating hot stones, it is certainly not the safest, most convenient, or most professional method. The temperature is difficult to control, and it is challenging to heat multiple stones at once.
At ZenGrowth, we do not recommend this method either.
Heating massage stones in a pan with water
Some massage therapists choose to heat their stones in a pan with water. The problem with this method is that it is difficult to regulate the temperature precisely. As a result, the stones may easily become too hot.
You could use a thermometer to check the water temperature. However, the downside is that you need to monitor it constantly. This is impractical if you are in the middle of a treatment and fully engaged in your massage.
The risk of forgetting the thermometer is high, potentially causing the massage stones to overheat. For this reason, we also discourage this method.
The best method for heating hot stones
So what is the best method for heating hot stones? This is a question that we and our suppliers have carefully considered. The answer is using a hot stone heater.
Our hot stone heaters are developed in collaboration with massage therapists. This is why these hot stone heaters are highly favored among many massage professionals!
With these hot stone heaters, the temperature of the massage stones can be perfectly controlled. You don’t need to monitor them constantly during heating, as the heater automatically maintains the set temperature. The temperature will never exceed the desired level, ensuring that overheated stones are a thing of the past.
At ZenGrowth, we offer hot stone heaters with 6-liter and 18-liter capacities. The 18-liter heater has a large base, allowing you to easily heat 60 stones at once without losing track of them. During a hot stone massage, it becomes very easy to take a specific stone from the heater without searching for it.
The 6-liter heater is compact and portable, making it ideal if you frequently work at different locations. It is also a great option if you have limited space in your massage practice or if you want to try out hot stone massage before investing in a larger unit.
View all our hot stone heaters and massage stones here!
How do you heat your massage stones as a professional? Do you use a slow cooker or a professional hot stone heater? Let us know in the comments!
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