Every pizza lover dreams of making the perfect wood-fired pizza. There is something about wood-fired pizzas that just makes them taste so much better than regular pizzas. Maybe it’s the smoky flavor or the crispy crust. But how do you cook wood-fired pizza?
In this post, we’ll show you how to make the perfect wood-fired pizza, so fire up the oven and get ready for some deliciousness!
If you want to make the best wood-fired pizza, the oven temperature needs to be between 400 and 450°C. By cooking your pizza in a hot oven, it will cook evenly from the bottom up and the top down. This will make your dough crispy while charring your toppings perfectly.
What is wood-fired pizza?
Wood-fired or brick oven pizza is cooked using a method that’s much older than gas or electric ovens. As you may have guessed from the name, pizzas are cooked in a special type of oven that’s built from bricks. These types of ovens get much hotter than conventional home ovens, which gives the pizza a unique flavor and texture.
How long does it take to cook wood-fired pizza?
When your oven has heated to 700°F+, place the pizza inside using a peel. You will need to rotate it every 20 seconds, so the part of the pizza closest to the fire is facing away from it. Do this until it’s cooked evenly; usually, this takes one or two minutes.
How to cook the perfect wood-fired pizza
Now that you know the basics of wood-fired pizza, it’s time to get cooking! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook the perfect wood-fired pizza.
Start by heating your oven to the highest temperature
Wood-fired pizza is a type of pizza that is made in a wood-fired oven. The wood-fired oven is heated to a very high temperature, usually around 800 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temperature allows the pizza to cook very quickly, usually in about two minutes.
Place a pizza stone in the oven and let it heat up for at least 30 minutes
Any good pizza begins with a hot, evenly cooked crust. A pizzeria would never dream of cooking a pizza on anything but a stone oven, and you can replicate that same level of quality at home with a little advance planning. Start by placing a pizza stone in your oven and letting it heat up for at least 30 minutes. This will ensure that the stone is nice and hot when you put the pizza on it, resulting in a crisp, evenly cooked crust.
Roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface
When it comes to making the perfect pie crust, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, be sure to roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface. This will help to prevent the dough from sticking to the counter and making it difficult to work with. Second, use a rolling pin to evenly roll out the dough. If the dough is too thin in some spots and too thick in others, it will be difficult to get an even bake. Finally, don’t be afraid to give the dough a little extra time in the fridge before you roll it out. This will help to firm up the butter and make it easier to work with.
Spread your sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border
You may think that making your own pizza is a difficult task, but it’s actually quite simple. All you need is some dough, sauce, and toppings of your choice. Start by spreading your sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Then add your toppings and bake at a high temperature until the crust is golden brown. Homemade pizza is a great way to impress your friends and family, and it’s also a fun activity to do together. So next time you’re in the mood for pizza, don’t order delivery, make your own!
Sprinkle your cheese over the sauce
In cooking, it is important to find the right balance. Too much of one ingredient can spoil the whole dish, while too little can leave it feeling flat. This is especially true when it comes to cheese. A sprinkle of cheese can make a simple sauce more flavorful and satisfying, but too much cheese can quickly turn a dish into a greasy mess. When sprinkling cheese over a sauce, it is important to use a light hand and add just enough to enrich the flavor without overpowering it. With a little practice, you will be able to master the art of the perfect cheese sprinkle.
Add your desired toppings for the pizza
One of the great things about pizza is that you can top it with whatever you like. Whether you’re a fan of classic cheese or pepperoni or you like to get creative with your toppings, there’s no wrong way to top a pizza. Add some of your favorite toppings like sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and olives. But feel free to get creative and add whatever you like. Just be sure not to overload the pizza or you’ll end up with a soggy crust.
Bake your wood-fired pizza at a high temperature until the crust is golden brown
Once you’ve assembled your pizza, it’s time to bake it. Wood-fired ovens are typically heated to a very high temperature, around 800 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the pizza to cook very quickly, usually in about two minutes. So keep an eye on your pizza and be sure to remove it from the oven as soon as the crust is golden brown. The key is to get the oven as hot as possible so that you’ll end up with a crisp, thin crust.
Once your pizza is cooked, let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This will give the cheese a chance to set and will make it easier to slice the pizza without all the toppings falling off.
What wood is the best for wood-fired pizza?
Whether you’re looking for a popular or safe choice, The Firewood Depot recommends hardwoods like oak and maple. Oak is a heavy, dense wood that’s great for high temperatures. Red oak has more flavor and produces more smoke.
Hardwoods gain their classification from carbohydrates which produce heat, resulting in different flavors. Only dense, dry hardwood can provide the amount of heat necessary to cook an authentic wood-fired pizza. Hardwoods are also heavier and tend to burn for a longer period of time compared to softwoods. You may want to check this guide in choosing the right firewood for your needs.
If you want more tips and insights about cooking wood-fired pizza, watch this video called “Ep 12: Pt 4. Making Pizza in the Wood Fired Oven” from The Wood Fired Oven Chef Youtube Channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the commonly asked questions about how to cook the perfect wood-fired pizza.
How do I make my wood-fired pizza crust crispy?
Get the perfect crispy pizza by baking it in a high-heat oven. The dough should be baked for a longer amount of time, which will make the toppings dry in a low-temperature oven. Keep an eye on the fire to avoid burning the pie; it should be even throughout. Pizza flour’s protein content shouldn’t exceed 14 percent.
What temperature do you cook wood Fired pizza?
Before baking your pizza, you’ll want the oven to be at an increasingly hot temperature of around 700°F. When it reaches this desired level, remove the pizza dough that’s been in the fridge prior.
Do you close the door on a wood-fired pizza oven?
Always keep the door open if you want to use flames to cook in your wood-fired oven. The oxygen from outside will feed the fire and create flames, which is necessary for cooking a pizza.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Our guide to making the perfect wood-fired pizza. We hope that this article has helped demystify the process a little bit and show you that cooking up a delicious pie is actually quite simple – as long as you have the right tools and know-how.
Now it’s time for you to get in the kitchen (or backyard) and start practicing. Once you’ve got your dough recipe down pat and can produce a perfectly cooked pizza every time, we guarantee that your friends and family will be begging for more. Enjoy!