Whether you’re looking to make a classic Neapolitan Margherita pizza or experiment with unique flavor combinations, learning the basics of pizza-making is the first step in your journey!
Let us provide you with an introduction to the essential tools and techniques needed to make delicious pizza at home and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about pizza-making.
Trust us – your journey will take you to exciting new places…
…and the worst thing that can happen?
It’s still pizza! So experiment and enjoy!!
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Tools & Equipment
Before you start making pizza, it’s important to have the right tools and equipment. Here are some essentials:
- Oven
- Pizza stone or baking sheet
- Pizza cutter
- Scale
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A stand mixer is great but not necessary
You don’t need a dedicated pizza oven to make pizza at home. A regular oven will do! But when you’re ready to graduate to your own pizza oven – we’ve got you covered!
“Life is like a pizza, you gotta enjoy every slice of it and savor the cheesy goodness. And if things get a little messy, just grab a napkin and keep on munching!”
Pantry items to have
Aside from the tools and equipment, there are some pantry items that you should have on hand:
- Flour: All-purpose flour or bread flour are often used for beginners to start out. The high protein content makes them stronger and generally better for indoor ovens. But there are other fun options to explore like Italian double-zero.
- Yeast: This is necessary for making the dough rise.
- Salt: This is used to enhance the flavor of the dough and toppings.
- Olive oil: This is often used to coat the dough and add flavor.
- Tomatoes: Be they canned, pureed, or whole, these can be used to make your own pizza sauce or as a topping.
- Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is the classic pizza topping, but you can also experiment with other types of cheese.
- Toppings: This can include anything from vegetables and meats to herbs and spices. You can go classic or try your own fusions!
Pizza FAQS
Do I Need a Pizza Stone? Pizza Steel?
Cooking a pizza in an indoor oven often benefits greatly from cooking on a hot surface like a pizza stone. The stone helps create a crispy crust by absorbing moisture from the dough. A pizza steel (or baking steel) or heavy-duty baking sheet have a similar effect as a pizza stone and some people prefer them.
What is the Best Pizza Pan for Baking in a Home Oven?
There are many options for selecting a pizza pan. A cookie sheet will do, if that’s what you have. Or a cast-iron skillet can be used for baking pizza in the oven.
For a very modest price, a perforated pizza pan can also be used to create a crispy crust. Another favorite of ours is a pizza screen, which has a lot of venting and makes for a very rigid crust.
Don’t use a pizza pan in an outdoor pizza oven unless it’s specifically made for that!
Should I Use Store Bought or Homemade Pizza Dough?
Both store-bought and homemade pizza dough can be used for making pizza. Homemade dough allows for more control over the ingredients and can be customized to personal preferences. Store-bought dough can be a convenient option for those short on time. Trader Joe’s is a particular favorite.
What Oven Temperature Do I Bake Pizza At?
The oven temperature for baking pizza can vary depending on the recipe and type of crust. Generally, we use a temperature of 450°F (sometimes up to 550°F) for baking pizza in a home oven. If you are using an outdoor pizza oven, we generally find the best results when the pizza stone is at or above 700°F (especially Neapolitan dough recipes which are often best at 800°F or higher).
Launching a Pizza is HARD. What are your tips?
The most critical issue is making sure that your dough is not on the peel long enough to stick to it. For many pizzaiolos, that means topping the pizza on the counter and THEN transferring it to the peel. I prefer to top it QUICKLY on the peel and then launch.
Make sure to dust the peel fairly generously with flour before putting the dough on. You can use any flour, but a lot of people prefer to use something that is less likely to stick like rice flour, cornmeal, or semolina. In which case, I recommend going sparingly on these.
Lastly, give the pizza a couple of shakes before launching to break it free from the peel and make sure the launch will go smoothly.
How Do I Make Sure the Pizza Dough Cooks All the Way Through?
It’s important that the bottom cooks as fast as the top. One way to ensure that the pizza dough cooks all the way through is to preheat the oven and baking surface before adding the pizza (check with an infrared thermometer if you have one.
Another tip is to avoid overloading the pizza with toppings, which can prevent the dough from cooking evenly. Lastly, if cooking in a very hot pizza oven, a thick dough or a moist dough requires cooking at a lower temperature than a thinner, drier dough like a Neapolitan.
Can I Make Pizza Dough Without Yeast?
Yes, pizza dough can be made without yeast by using baking powder or self-rising flour. However, the texture and flavor of the dough may be different from traditional yeast-based pizza dough. Another option is to use beer instead of water – including non-alcoholic beer. And of course, you can use a starter like sourdough, biga, or poolish.