Today, I’ll be talking about pizza peel alternatives that will do the trick just fine. For example, you can use a baking sheet turned upside down, parchment paper, a pan lid, or even a piece of cardboard. Yes, you read that right – cardboard!
Hacks that are often mentioned (with the best intent):
- Parchment: Let’s get parchment out of the way. Parchment is a fantastic invention for baking. We use parchment all of the time for cookies, vegetables, and other foods that cook below 450F degrees. Parchment is not recommended for cooking at high temperatures because it burns (read the box). You do not want the remnants of burned siliconized paper on the bottom of your pizza. The methods below will demonstrate how to transfer a pizza without parchment.
- Metal screens: This is a plausible solution for baking pizzas. I used them when I worked at Dominoes. These are better than using parchment but are not necessary either.
- Pull the stone out and place the pizza on it. Not a practical solution – and just plain unsafe.
Our go-to method for transferring pizza into a hot oven is to slide it off of a peel. The video below shows how to get a dough ready for ingredients. There are some behind-the-scenes things to know.
- The dough was dunked into that bowl of flour before it was stretched
- The dough you see has been aged so that it has a slightly dry skin that was left intact when stretching.
- This dough has also been allowed to rest and nearly reach room temperature so it is stable and the gluten isn’t shrinking it
- The sprinkle of cornmeal or semolina flour on the peel acts like ball bearings under the dough (Do not put cornmeal or semolina on the stone)
- With the dough on the peel, you can now add your toppings. (Make sure to clean off any drips of sauce and cheese that fall on the peel.)
- Don’t let the pizza sit on the peel too long, the dough will start to stick.
- After a night of cooking pizza, clean by wiping off the wooden peel with a damp sponge and air dry.
Apply Semolina/Cornmeal to wood peel
You can see how easy it is to slide a raw pizza into a hot oven. This is how pizza joints handle and cook pizza all day every day. It is straightforward, but it does take a little practice. You can practice pizza after pizza on your friends – they won’t mind!
How do keep dough from sticking to the peel?
This question comes up all the time. I have put together some recommendations. This is a very common challenge when getting started, but there are straightforward solutions.
5 Expert Tips for Avoiding Sticking on the Peel – Pizza like a PRO
FAQ
What can I use if I don’t have pizza peel?
What can I use if I don’t have a pizza pan?
What is a good alternative to a pizza Peel?
Parchment paper is a great alternative to a pizza peel. It’s easier to use, disposable, and works just as well. How can you forget that it’s cheap too? Once you’ve your dough ball, you can start stretching it into shape. Place the parchment on your work surface and sprinkle some floor so that your pizza dough doesn’t stick.
What can I substitute for chili pepper?
There are many varieties of chili peppers that have varying levels of heat. Typically, the larger the pepper, the milder the heat. If you don’t have chili peppers for the spicy kick needed in a dish you can substitute cayenne pepper or hot paprika. Start with small amounts to taste, then add more if the dish is not spicy enough. For individuals who don’t like spicy food, a mild sweet paprika works as a replacement, or simply use less chili pepper than the recipe calls for. You can also try bell peppers if you are looking to replace nutrients lost by removing chili pepper. For those who are allergic to peppers in general, the appropriate substitution will depend on the specific recipe. Many times chili pepper can be left out of a recipe. Experimentation is best way to find out what works.
Which type of pizza Peel is best?
Pizza peels are available in many options like with holes or no holes, steel or wooden. Yet, having some best wooden pizza peel can be ideal for utility and home usage. What type of pizza peel should I choose. You’ve known about the pizza peel types, but the wooden can be better when it’s about wood vs. metal pizza peel.
Can you substitute a cutting board for a pizza Peel?
Cutting boards don’t have to be big and bulky; in fact, thinner versions are becoming increasingly popular. So, if you’ve one, you can easily substitute it for a pizza peel. If your cutting board has handles, it’ll become even more effective. In that scenario, it’ll not only operate like a pizza peel, but it’ll also appear like one!