Pizza is a global food favorite. It mixes crispy crust, hot marinara or white sauce, and personalized toppings to create a custom meal. If you’ve never made a pizza from scratch, you may wonder how these precious pies are made. Here’s a brief look into the process. 

A Guide to Pizza Making

1. Preparing the Dough 

Pizza dough usually consists of flour, water, yeast, and a sweetener like sugar or syrup. Some recipes also call for olive oil, salt, and spices.

The chef will add water and sweetener to activate the yeast while combining the dry ingredients separately. Then, they’ll mix in the oil and combine the wet and dry ingredients, sprinkling the dough with spices. They may form the dough into a wet ball and let it sit for several hours or overnight to encouraging rising, which adds a rich flavor before rolling it out into the traditional circular shape.

2. Incorporating the Sauce

Pizza restaurants often make their sauces using top-quality tomatoes and herbs. Sauce keeps the dough moist in the oven and adds an acidic flavor that helps unite the toppings. Some menus offer several tomato sauces, while others provide additional options like fettuccine alfredo or BBQ varieties. 

3. Adding Toppings

Chefs cut toppings into bite-sized pieces for easy eating. They may offer Italian meats such as pepperoni, sausage, and salami, alongside delicious cheeses such as ricotta and mozzarella. Fresh basil and tomatoes are also popular options when sticking with classic toppings.

4. Layering the Pizza

Some doughs require pre-cooking and head straight to the oven to ensure an even cook. Then, the chef spreads sauce to within an inch or so of the edges of the pie. They may add toppings, dividing the ingredients evenly throughout the entire pizza before adding the cheese. Some chefs place the cheese directly on the sauce and then add the toppings. This choice varies by restaurant, brand, and diner.

5. Baking the Pie

Pie baking time varies based on the oven size, if the oven is brick or convection, and whether the item is fresh or frozen. Larger pizzas require longer cooking times, sometimes taking up to 30 minutes, while 12-inch pizzas can cook in 12 minutes at a hotter temperature. Baking ensures the dough is crusty and flakey while melting the cheese and heating the toppings. 

 

Diners interested in trying out some delicious pizzas should order from Sam’s Coal Fired Pizza in Orange County, FL. The experienced chef creates tasty pizzas to order and ships them across the country. Call the pie creators at (973) 779-6799 or visit the website for information on their menu, including New York pizza to Chicago-style favorites. You can also call to receive free shipping if you order 12 or more pies.