Learning how to make homemade pizza takes a little practice; even professional pizzaiolos admit it takes time and some trial and error to get it perfect. But once you get the hang of it, it will be your favorite way to enjoy pizza night without committing the worst sins of homemade pizza making.
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While there are a lot of ways to make homemade pizza, there are a few do’s and don’ts that every pizzaiolo learns along the way when perfecting the art of pizza making. We present you with a list of the seven deadly sins of homemade pizza and how to avoid them to make the best pizza ever.
Sometimes an aspiring pizzaiolo will start by trying as many restaurant pizzerias as they possibly can. Then maybe move on to take and bake pizzas made fresh in front of your eyes… then and only then will they make the dive into trying everything on their own.
Sin #1: Not Using a Pizza Stone
Using a pizza stone makes all the difference in the crust. A pizza stone is round or square and can be made from stone, clay, or ceramic material. Some pizza stones are made to be used only in the oven, and others do double duty and can be used on the grill or a wood-fired pizza oven.
Sometimes pizza stones are referred to as baking stones, but they are essentially one and the same. Basically, a pizza stone helps cook your pizza evenly because they are able to hold the heat. The key to using a pizza stone is to heat up the stone first.
Then, you can either take it out and make the pizza directly on the stone or make the pizza on a pizza peel and then transfer it to the stone that’s already n the oven.
Pizza needs a lot of heat, and if you don’t have a pizza oven that goes to high temperatures and are making your homemade pizza in a regular home oven, then a pizza stone is an important kitchen tool to get the absolute best homemade pizza.
Sin #2: Not Making Your Own Sauce
Making your own pizza sauce is easier than you may think. It takes a little time to figure out how you like your sauce. Some pizza sauces, like the sauce used for Neapolitan pizzas, are made with uncooked San Marzano tomatoes. It is a light, fresh-tasting sauce.
Other pizza sauces, like those used in a Detroit-style pizza or New York-style pizza, are made with cooked tomatoes, herbs, and spices for a richer flavor. Both styles are easy to make, and you will be amazed at the difference in your homemade pizza.
Most cooked red sauce has some tomato paste in it to thicken up the sauce and give it that deep red color. You can make your own tomato paste at home. It’s a simple process, but it is time-consuming, the perfect activity for a rainy day.
Sin #3: Not Diversifying Your Pizza Styles
Another one of the sins we see a lot of people make in their homemade pizza journey is not trying different pizza styles. There are a lot of ways to enjoy America’s favorite food that goes beyond the classic pepperoni.
From Chicago deep dish or square-cut bar style to St.Louis-style to Greek to Connecticut white clam to spicy Calabrese, there are so many varieties of pizza, and you really should try your hand at making them all. Phew!
If you are an adventurous eater, you can try pizzas with unusual ingredients. And if you prefer to eat healthy pizza, then California pizza with fresh local ingredients is one to try. We promise you that expanding your palate and skillset by trying different pizza styles will be fun and delicious.
Of all the sins of homemade pizza making, this one is considered the worst. Please please please diversify your tastebuds and branch out to try different pizza styles once in a while! And remember, there are different ways to eat each style of pizza.
Sin #4: Not Using the Best Cheeses
Use good cheese; it’s as simple as that. Don’t fall into the cheesy sins of homemade pizza and use the wrong cheese. Steer clear of grated cheese and grate your own cheese. The main reason is that pre-grated cheese has fillers and things in it to keep it from sticking together, so it doesn’t melt right.
Fresh mozzarella, aged Parmesano Reggiano, and Grana Padano are all amazing cheeses to use. We also love a creamy Manchego, a pungent blue cheese, a nutty fontina, or a sharp white cheddar. There are a lot of great cheeses out there that can really elevate your homemade pizza. We encourage you to try them all.
Of all the sins of homemade pizza, this one cuts the cheese. It’s really based on personal preference. Experiment a bit and find which cheese suits your family the best. The devil really won’t care.
Sin #5: Not Trying New Doughs
Thin crust, thick crust, stuffed crust, there are a lot of ways to make the crust, but the key is to a good crust starts with a good dough. And a good dough starts with high-gluten bread flour. Bread flour has more gluten than regular flour, and that extra gluten is responsible for a stretchier dough.
If you are looking for other ways to make pizza dough, you can try making sourdough, whole wheat, yeast-free, or gluten-free pizza dough.
We hopped aboard the sourdough train and have been making sourdough pizza dough, and we love the extra tanginess that sourdough adds. But don’t just listen to us; try some different doughs; variety is the spice of life.
Sin #6: Not Using Sauce
We love all of the extra goodies to add to homemade pizza, from hot sauces to dipping sauces; the extra sauce is perfect for a little extra flavor. Of course, Ranch is the classic dipping sauce, but we also love using special flavored Ranch dressing, pesto, chimichurri, sriracha mayo, peanut sauce, and Alfredo for some extra pizzazz.
Sin #7: Not Using a Pizza Oven
If you have always wanted a pizza oven but thought they were too expensive, or you thought you don’t have enough outdoor space, or you are a renter and can’t possibly have a pizza oven, we are here to tell you it is possible to have a pizza oven at home.
You don’t have to be a homeowner with a big yard to indulge in the art of pizza making with a true pizza oven. And you can make pizza without one, we just think not using a pizza oven when you have space and funds, is one of the greatest sins of homemade pizza. You’ll understand after you try.
There are many different types of pizza ovens, from smaller countertop pizza ovens to larger portable pizza ovens to wood-fired brick ovens; there is a pizza oven style that will suit your pizza-making needs.
From affordable pizza ovens to mid-range pizza ovens to high-end pizza ovens, there are options for finding the perfect pizza oven. Making homemade pizza with a pizza oven is the best way to make homemade pizza. So don’t make the mistake of not using one. If you don’t have any of these, do you have a slow cooker, at least?
Have you committed any of the deadly sins of homemade pizza? When we started our homemade pizza journey, we committed a few of these, but now we have seen the light and hope you have too.
Which sin do you think is the worst?
