It’s pretty likely that you’ve heard that pizza stones are useful for making some tasty pizza, but what actually makes the difference? It is possible to cook pizza in many different ways, but they don’t all produce the same quality slice! Throughout the rest of this article, we will discuss all the common tools used to cook pizza and why a pizza stone always wins.
How Do You Cook Pizza?
Remember the last time you made your own pizza from scratch. You should always remember the pleasure of assembling your favorite pizza with the right amounts of your favorite ingredients! Was it a little underwhelming, or did it completely satisfy your craving? It probably didn’t measure up to some of the gourmet pizzas you had at restaurants that know how to make it.
One of the main reasons for this difference is the cooking tool you use to cook the pizza. It’s good news if you think of a cookie sheet or pizza pan when you hear that because there is a far better way to cook pizza!! You can certainly heat a pizza to an acceptable temperature for eating, but that doesn’t mean it will look good, taste good, or be appealing in any way.
Technically, you could probably cook a pizza on top of a warm car engine, but you wouldn’t want to eat it afterwards.
Choose the Right Cooking Tool
Using the right cooking tool to heat and hold your pizza is crucial to making a perfect slice. Think about it: Is your cooking tool helping or hindering your pizza cooking? It is true that something like a cookie sheet will not get hot enough, but other choices, such as a pizza stone, are much better for cooking pizza. Generally, the choice is between a pizza steel and a pizza stone, but there are other options as well.
Cookie Sheet
You can make a delicious raw pizza the victim of a cruel fate by baking it on a cookie sheet. You hate your taste buds, don’t you? It’s a great way to punish them, because you won’t get a good pizza when you bake it on a cookie sheet. Pizza cannot be cooked on cookie sheets because they don’t retain heat well. This results in a slow cook, which makes the crust hard.
Crispy is nice, but hard is not desirable for any food. Keep your cookie sheet for what it was intended for: cookies. Better yet, try making cookies with a different piece of cooking equipment as well!
Pizza Pan
Pizza pans are a step up from the infamous cookie sheet. The tool has pizza in its name, so this must be promising. Sadly, that’s just a facade since pizza pans are also terrible for cooking pizza. The thinness of pizza pans makes it difficult for them to store heat. Due to this, pizza takes longer to cook, resulting in a doughy pizza.
If you haven’t cooked your pizza yet, doughy is nice. Pizza pans won’t make a good pizza either, so save them for using as sample trays.
Grill Rack
We can now talk about the good ways to cook a pizza after the bad options have been exhausted. As long as your dough is sturdy enough to prevent flopping, it is quite effective to put it directly on the grill rack. Your crust will be nice and crispy since your cooking method will ensure an even cook. There’s nothing wrong with cooking on a grill rack, but it can be a bit hard to maneuver.
Pizza Steel
A pizza steel is another good option. Pizza steels are similar to pizza stones, but they are usually half as thick or thinner, and they often come in rectangle shapes. In fact, they heat up much faster than most options here since steel is a metal and conducts heat well. The pizzas are cooked quickly, taste delicious, and have a crispy crust. The maintenance of steel can be quite challenging. It rusts fairly easily and needs regular maintenance.
Cast Iron Skillet
You might not know that cast iron skillets are great for cooking pizza! Cooked in a cast iron skillet, pizza has the perfect combination of chewy and crispy texture at the same time. Cast iron gets hot fairly quickly, holds heat well, and is quite durable. If it weren’t for the last choice on this list, a cast iron skillet would be the best option!
Pizza Stone
It is absolutely vital that you use a pizza stone when cooking a pizza! A pizza stone is a slab of rock or mineral that bears the same shape as a pizza. As they reach the same temperature as their cooking environment, they can provide direct heat directly to the bottom surface of your pizza! The result is a crunchy crust like no other, and some phenomenally cooked toppings to round out the meal!
Experience the Pizza Stone Difference for Yourself!
For years, pizza has been prepared in a variety of ways. Cookie sheets and pizza pans can be used, but they will not make good pizza. If you really want to treat yourself, cook your pizza directly on the grill rack, on a pizza steel, or in a cast iron skillet. All of these will quickly cook your pizza while making your crust crispy. However, if you want to make the best pizza you’ve ever tasted, you’ll need a pizza stone!
The purpose of pizza stones is to simulate a wood-fired brick oven, which is what professionals use to make gourmet pies. Therefore, a pizza stone is undoubtedly your best option when it comes to making pizza fit for a king (or queen). One of the best pizza stones you can use is one from Cast Elegance!
This stone is made of Thermarite, so it can withstand more abuse and keep churning out amazing pizzas! We also have compiled a guide that will help you choose the best pizza stone for oven. Take a look for yourself today and prepare for some amazing pizza!
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
