How to Craft the Perfect Pizza that’s Better than a Takeout

There is no food in this world quite as popular as pizza. It is comfort food that cheers you up after a long day. It is celebratory food for when you have something you want to commemorate. And also, sharing a pizza with someone you love makes the gathering that much more special. Regardless of the day, event, or circumstances that you find yourself in, a pizza is going to make everything better.

The only issue is, we have to order takeout to get the ideal pizzeria-style pizza, right? Wrong! It is actually extremely easy for you to channel your inner chef and craft your favorite pizza like a pro. In fact, pizza tastes better when you make it yourself. To help you bring a little taste of Italy to your home, here are all the tips you need to make a perfect pizza that’s even better than takeout.

Use a Pizza Oven 

If you want to achieve that pizzeria-style taste, then your best bet is to purchase a pizza oven. In order to become an amazing home cook who crafts the perfect pizza like a pro, you should consider getting a pizza oven. This is because an oven needs to be very hot –  425 F minimum – to ensure the crust bakes properly, which can be too hot for many regular ovens. A slow oven would not brown the crust enough, and your toppings will cause it to become soggy. A wood-burning oven, on the other hand, provides intense heat that brings out that smoky flavor you desire.

Make Your Own Dough 

If you really want to be the home cook that makes the best pizza, don’t buy some refrigerated, ready-made pizza dough. Instead, make your own. A homemade crust will always taste better because it bakes better than refrigerated dough. Always opt for bread flour because it not only improves the crust, but it is easier to knead, and pizza dough requires a lot of kneading. You need to knead the dough for at least 5 to 10 minutes. 

Rise, Rise, Rise  

This plays a huge role in crafting the ideal pizza. Let your dough rise for long enough. So, never ever skimp on yeast, because that’s what your pizza needs the most. Yeast is the primary ingredient that not only makes your pizza delicious but it is also what causes your dough to rise and produce a bubbly and airy crust. Some cooks choose to leave their dough to rise overnight. However, if you live in a fairly hot climate, your pizza dough could rise within an hour or so. 

Heat Up the Oven

If you are having to cook at home because you don’t have a proper wood-burning oven, don’t fret. There are alternatives as long as you remember the aforementioned tip: An oven needs to be very hot to bake pizza. You can consider purchasing a pizza stone to get the desired result, however, preheating the tray on which you will place the pizza to cook will suffice, and this will ensure your pie turns out just as perfectly as if you did have a pizza stone. 

Be Precise with Toppings

A common mistake many people tend to make is overloading their pizza bases with too much sauce. Less is more in this case because you don’t want your base to become soggy. So spread your sauce evenly and precisely onto your base without overdoing it. Prepare the toppings of your choice as this is where the fun begins. You can choose from tomatoes, cheese, pepperoni, bacon, and sausage, to mushrooms, artichokes, and broccoli. You can also consider anchovies, capers, eggplant, garlic, and black olives; the list is endless, really. This is where you get to personalize your pizza with your preferred toppings. To spice up the flavor, don’t forget herbs like oregano and a pinch of garlic powder to make your pizza irresistible. 

So, there you have it. You can easily craft the ideal deep-dish without too much hassle. While it is advised to use a pizza oven to create a pizzeria-style pie, there are plenty of alternatives to ensure your pizza is as good as takeout. Once you have mastered the ways of this Italian delight, your loved ones will be begging you to bake this more often. Pizza goes with any occasion and is the type of food that brings people together. Baking for the people you love is a special thing, but baking pizza for them will have you creating even stronger bonds and more delicious memories!