Could you use a pizza peel?
Could you use a pizza peel?
Achieving the perfect pizza at home can be a challenge without the right tools. If you’ve been making pizzas (even frozen directly on your oven rack) without a pizza peel, you’re missing out. Here’s when you should be using a pizza peel and how a pizza stone can make every custom pizza creation better.
When to Use a Pizza Peel:
A pizza peel, also known as a pizza paddle, is a large, flat tool with a long handle to transfer pizzas in and out of the oven. While it may seem like a simple tool, using a pizza peel can significantly improve your pizza-making experience.
Transferring Pizzas: The primary function of a pizza peel is to safely transfer pizzas onto and off of the hot pizza stone in the oven. Its large, flat surface provides ample space to support the entire pizza, ensuring it maintains its shape during the transfer process.
Preventing Mishaps: Using a pizza peel helps prevent mishaps, like toppings sliding off or the pizza sticking to the oven rack. By sliding the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone with the peel, you can ensure that it cooks evenly and remains intact throughout the baking process.
Creating Artisanal Pizzas: Pizza peels also allow you to get creative with your pizza-making endeavors. Whether you're experimenting with unique toppings, crafting personalized pizza shapes, or perfecting your pizza tossing technique, the peel provides a sturdy foundation for your culinary creations.
The Magic of Pizza Stones:
Pizza stones are typically made from natural materials like soapstone or ceramics. Their primary function is to bring the intense heat of a traditional brick pizza oven to your own home oven, resulting in crispy, evenly baked crusts.
Even Heat Distribution: Pizza stones absorb and distribute heat evenly across their surface, ensuring your pizza cooks uniformly from edge to center. This helps prevent soggy bottoms and ensures every slice is perfectly cooked.
Crispier Crusts: Since you preheat the stone while your oven preheats, the pizza stone heats the dough immediately, resulting in a crispier crust with a satisfying crunch. This is particularly beneficial for thin-crust pizzas.
Versatile Usage: Pizza stones aren't just for pizza—they can also be used to bake bread, pastries, and other baked goods, as well as veggies and meats. Their versatility makes them a valuable addition to any home kitchen.
It’s Time to Elevate Your Pizza Game
When you have quality tools at home, “Pizza Friday” is even better without leaving the house. From achieving perfectly crispy crusts to mastering the art of pizza transfer, you’ll be making artisanal pizzas with your favorite toppings all summer long.
