Making a perfect pizza at home is a rewarding experience. The process involves choosing the right ingredients, making the dough, adding the toppings, and, of course, baking it. However, one crucial element that often gets overlooked is what you cook the pizza on in the oven. The choice of surface can have a significant impact on how your pizza turns out. From the crispness of the crust to how evenly the toppings cook, the right surface can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll explore various options for what to cook a pizza on in the oven. Each method has its own set of advantages, and the best choice depends on the type of pizza you’re making, the equipment you have, and your desired result. Whether you’re using a pizza stone, a baking sheet, or even a cast iron skillet, we’ll cover it all. Let’s dive into the different surfaces and how they affect your pizza.
Pizza Stone
A pizza stone is a popular choice among pizza enthusiasts. This flat, porous surface absorbs moisture from the dough and helps to evenly distribute heat, resulting in a crispy, golden-brown crust. Here’s why you should consider using a pizza stone for your homemade pizza:
How it Works
A pizza stone is made from materials like ceramic, cordierite, or stone, which are excellent at retaining heat. When placed in a preheated oven, the stone gets hot and helps the dough cook evenly, which is particularly important for achieving a crispy crust. As the dough is placed directly on the hot stone, it starts to cook from the bottom up, ensuring that the pizza cooks quickly and evenly.
Benefits of Using a Pizza Stone
Crispier Crust: The porous surface of the pizza stone allows moisture to be absorbed, which leads to a crispier crust.
Even Cooking: The stone evenly distributes heat, which prevents any cold spots and ensures that the pizza bakes uniformly.
Professional Results: Many pizzerias use pizza stones or similar surfaces to get that professional, wood-fired pizza taste. With a pizza stone, you can replicate that at home.
Tips for Using a Pizza Stone
Preheat the stone in the oven for at least 30 minutes before baking. This ensures the stone is hot enough to bake the pizza properly.
Use a pizza peel (a large, flat spatula) to transfer the pizza onto the stone. Sprinkle some flour or cornmeal on the peel to prevent sticking.
Let the pizza cool on a rack before slicing to avoid a soggy crust.
Limitations
While pizza stones are fantastic for many types of pizza, they may not be the best choice for every home oven. Some ovens have a limited amount of space, making it difficult to fit a large pizza stone. Additionally, pizza stones can be heavy and fragile, requiring extra care when handling.
Pizza Steel
Another great option for baking pizza is a pizza steel. This surface is similar to a pizza stone, but instead of being made of porous stone, it is made from steel. The pizza steel has become increasingly popular because it provides even better results in terms of crispiness and heat retention.
How it Works
A pizza steel works in a similar way to a pizza stone but heats up more quickly and conducts heat more effectively. The steel surface heats up faster than a stone, meaning your pizza can cook more quickly, resulting in a crispy crust with a tender center.
Benefits of Using a Pizza Steel
Faster Cooking: Because steel is a better conductor of heat than stone, a pizza steel can cook your pizza faster, which is great when you’re in a hurry.
Superior Crispiness: The heat conductivity of the steel ensures that your pizza crust will be crispy and golden brown, especially on the bottom.
Durability: Unlike a pizza stone, a pizza steel is less likely to crack or break. It’s also easier to clean since it’s made from solid metal.
Tips for Using a Pizza Steel
Like a pizza stone, preheat the pizza steel in the oven for 30 minutes to an hour before baking.
Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza onto the steel, just like you would with a pizza stone.
Since the steel retains heat better, keep a close eye on your pizza to prevent it from overcooking or burning.
Limitations
Pizza steels tend to be heavier and more expensive than pizza stones. Additionally, they require more careful handling due to their weight. However, many find that the durability and fast cooking time outweigh these minor inconveniences.
Baking Sheet
If you don’t have a pizza stone or steel, a baking sheet is an excellent alternative. A baking sheet is one of the most common and accessible options for home cooks. It might not provide the same level of crispiness as a stone or steel, but it’s an effective way to bake a pizza in most home ovens.
How it Works
A baking sheet is a flat, metal tray that is placed in the oven to bake your pizza. It conducts heat evenly, but because it doesn’t have the same high heat retention as a stone or steel, the pizza won’t cook quite as quickly or achieve the same level of crispiness.
Benefits of Using a Baking Sheet
Convenient and Accessible: Almost everyone has a baking sheet in their kitchen, so it’s an easy and budget-friendly option.
Less Risk of Damage: Unlike pizza stones or steels, baking sheets are not prone to breaking or cracking.
More Versatility: A baking sheet can be used for other baking tasks like cookies, cakes, and roasted vegetables, making it a multi-purpose kitchen tool.
Tips for Using a Baking Sheet
To help achieve a crisper crust, place the baking sheet in the oven while it preheats, allowing it to get hot before placing the pizza on it.
You can also use parchment paper or aluminum foil to help with cleanup and prevent sticking.
For extra crispy results, you can even lightly oil the baking sheet before placing the dough on it.
Limitations
The main downside of using a baking sheet is that it doesn’t provide the same crispy results as a pizza stone or steel. The crust might be softer, and it may take longer to cook. However, for a quick and easy pizza that doesn’t require special equipment, a baking sheet can be a great option.
Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is another fantastic option for baking pizza in the oven. This heavy-duty cooking tool is excellent at retaining heat and can provide a beautifully crispy crust, especially when used to make deep-dish or pan-style pizzas.
How it Works
Cast iron skillets are known for their heat retention and ability to distribute heat evenly. When used to bake pizza, the skillet creates a hot surface that crisps the bottom of the dough while maintaining a tender interior.
Benefits of Using a Cast Iron Skillet
Crispy Crust: The heat retention of cast iron ensures that the crust will be crispy and golden brown.
Ideal for Deep-Dish Pizza: Cast iron skillets are perfect for making deep-dish or pan-style pizzas, as they can hold the pizza’s toppings and create a sturdy, crispy base.
Durable: Cast iron is incredibly durable and can last for many years with proper care. It’s also easy to clean and maintain.
Tips for Using a Cast Iron Skillet
Preheat the skillet in the oven before adding the dough to help achieve a crispy bottom crust.
If making a deep-dish pizza, you can add oil to the skillet to create a golden, slightly fried crust.
Be sure to use oven mitts when handling the skillet, as it gets extremely hot.
Limitations
The main limitation of a cast iron skillet is that it’s not ideal for thin-crust pizzas. Additionally, the size of the skillet limits how large of a pizza you can make, so you may need to adjust the recipe depending on the skillet size.
Pizza Pan
A pizza pan is a round, flat metal surface with or without perforations. It’s similar to a baking sheet but specifically designed for pizza. Pizza pans are often used for making thin-crust pizzas and have a more traditional look.
How it Works
Pizza pans allow the dough to cook evenly while the perforations help air circulate, leading to a crispier crust. These pans usually don’t retain as much heat as pizza stones or steels but are a good alternative for making pizza in a pinch.
Benefits of Using a Pizza Pan
Good for Thin Crust: Pizza pans are especially well-suited for thin-crust pizzas, as they help evenly cook the dough.
Light and Easy to Handle: Pizza pans are lightweight and easy to use, making them a good option for beginner pizza makers.
Affordable: Pizza pans are generally inexpensive and available at most kitchen supply stores.
Tips for Using a Pizza Pan
Grease the pan lightly with oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
If you want a crisper crust, consider using a pan with perforations.
Preheat the oven and the pan before baking the pizza to help achieve a crispy crust.
Limitations
While pizza pans are easy to use, they don’t provide the same crispy results as a pizza stone or steel. Additionally, they may not be ideal for thicker-crust pizzas.
Conclusion
The surface you cook your pizza on in the oven can greatly impact the final result. Pizza stones, steels, and cast iron skillets are all excellent choices for achieving a crispy, evenly cooked crust. If you’re looking for convenience, a baking sheet or pizza pan may work just fine. The best choice depends on the type of pizza you’re making and the equipment you have available.
No matter which surface you choose, remember to preheat it before adding your pizza, as this will help ensure a beautifully cooked crust. Experiment with different methods to find the one that works best for your pizza style, and enjoy creating delicious homemade pizzas!
Related topic:
- The Ultimate Guide to Pizza Cheese: Types, Uses, and Tips
- How Much Oil in Pizza Dough?
- What Cheese is Good for Pizza?
