Making homemade pizza can feel intimidating, but with the right techniques, you’ll create restaurant-quality pies that impress your family. The secret lies in mastering a few key elements that professional pizzaiolos have perfected over generations.
It’s really easy to make a high quality pizza at home. And you can customize it any way you want to. The kids really love to help putting them together!
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Start with Quality Dough
Great pizza begins with exceptional dough. Skip the store-bought versions and make your own using just four ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt.
High-protein bread flour creates the perfect chewy texture, while allowing the dough to rise slowly in the refrigerator for 24-72 hours develops complex flavors.
Pro Tip: Look for 00 (double zero) flour at your local grocery store.
The key is proper hydration. A slightly wet dough might feel sticky at first, but it produces those coveted air bubbles and tender crust. Don’t rush this step. Good pizza dough takes time to develop to its full potential.
Master Your Sauce Game
Less is definitely more when it comes to pizza sauce. Use crushed San Marzano tomatoes or high-quality canned tomatoes as your base. Add just a pinch of salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh garlic.
Avoid cooking your sauce beforehand if you can. Raw sauce maintains its bright, fresh flavor and won’t make your crust soggy. Spread it thinly, leaving about an inch border for the crust to puff up beautifully.
Pro Tip: Have you ever tried a white pizza before? (Pizza bianco) We had the most amazing one in Toronto and I’ve never forgotten it. It doesn’t have a sauce on it at all. Instead, it is topped with olive oil, herbs, cheese, and thinly sliced potatoes. I like to add some red onion or shallots to it as well.
Choose Your Cheese Wisely
Fresh mozzarella creates those Instagram-worthy cheese pulls, but it releases more moisture than low-moisture mozzarella. For best results, use a combination of both. Tear fresh mozzarella into small pieces and pat them dry with paper towels before adding to your pizza.
Consider adding aged cheeses like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano for extra depth of flavor. A light sprinkle goes a long way in elevating your pizza’s taste profile.
Get Your Oven Blazing Hot
Home ovens can’t match the 900°F temperatures of professional pizza ovens, but you can still achieve fantastic results. Crank your oven to its highest setting—usually around 500-550°F. Place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the middle rack and let it preheat for at least 45 minutes.
For even better results, consider an outdoor pizza oven that can reach those optimal high temperatures. The intense heat creates the perfect crispy-chewy crust texture that’s hard to achieve indoors.
Perfect Your Assembly Technique
Work quickly once you start assembling your pizza. Stretch your dough on a floured surface, then transfer it to parchment paper for easy handling. This prevents sticking and makes sliding your pizza into the oven much easier.
Layer your ingredients thoughtfully: sauce first, then cheese, and finally toppings. Pat any wet ingredients like fresh tomatoes or mushrooms dry to prevent soggy crusts.
Your Pizza Journey Starts Now
Making exceptional homemade pizza isn’t about fancy equipment or expensive ingredients—it’s about understanding these fundamental techniques and practicing them consistently. Start with these five secrets, and you’ll notice immediate improvements in your pizza-making skills.
Gather your family in the kitchen and create some delicious memories together. With patience and practice, you’ll soon be making pizzas that rival your favorite pizzeria in your own home.
