CC Image courtesy of thebittenword.com on Flickr
Many new cooks get nervous about handling dough, but in reality, it’s incredibly easy. We’ll show you how to handle store-bought pizza dough to create easy pizzas you can throw on your grill, oven, or pizza oven.
Stretching the Dough:
1. No cold dough!- Allow dough to come to room temperature so that it will stretch easily
2. Flour the surface and your hands. Start from the center and flatten the dough avoiding the edges so that they will be thicker and form the crust.
3. Pick up the dough. Holding it on the edges, turn the dough and let gravity stretch it. Stretch the dough in a circular shape for a pizza stone, grill, or the pizza oven. Make an oblong shape for a baking sheet
Dough Tips:
- Dough won’t stretch? Let it rest 5-10 minutes
- Tears? Return the dough to your floured surface and fold nearby areas to the overstretched or torn spot
Toppings:
- Less is more. Use smaller amounts of highly flavored ingredients. Think pepperoni, not steak.
- Do not cluster ingredients in the center. This can cause a soggy center. Spread the ingredients around.
Using an Oven?
1. Crank the oven up! 500F or higher. If using a pizza stone, be sure to place it in the cold oven and then turn the heat on. Placing a cold stone in a hot oven can cause it to crack.
2. After stretching dough, if you are using a pizza stone, take it out of the oven using a pizza paddle. Dust the pizza stone or baking sheet with corn meal.
3. Place you dough on the stone or baking sheet and top it.
4. Cook pizza about 10 minutes. Look through the window every 3-4 minutes to make sure the pizza is cooking evenly. If one side is getting browner then the other, turn the pizza 1/4 around. Do not open the oven f you don’t have to! This will slow the cooking and result in a less crispy crust.
5. During the last 2 minutes of cooking time, move the pan to sit on the bottom of the oven. This will help get a crispy, done crust along the bottom of the pizza.
6. When the pizza is done, transfer it to a cutting board. Do not cut on a pizza stone.
Grilling?
1. Whether using coals or gas, make sure your grill is hot and the grate is clean.
2. Brush the stretched dough with olive oil on one side. Place on the hot grill for about 12-3 minutes. Brush the top side with oil. The dough will begin to bubble up. Flip when the down side has some grill marks, but is not too crispy.
3. After flipping, top with your cheese. be sure to spread it out. Then dot with your sauce and finish with toppings. If the cheese isn’t melting fast enough, cover the grill
4. Check to see if the bottom is done by carefully lifting the edge of the pizza and peering underneath
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story