Tips for Perfecting Pizza

Americans love pizza. Unfortunately, when it comes to making pizza at home, many Americans turn to the freezer section. That’s a real shame because homemade pizza is not only delicious, but it allows you to be creative as well. If you’re intimidated about making pizza, these tips will help ensure that your first pizza will be a good one.

Tip #1: Don’t Overwork the Dough

For the sake of this article, we’re going to discuss frozen pizza dough. Frozen pizza dough is readily available in most markets and can be found with the other frozen breads and bread doughs. The pizza dough will need to thaw (follow the directions on the package) before it can be worked. Once thawed, you’ll want to handle the dough as little as possible. Overworking the dough can cause the dough to not rise, which makes the crust tough. Form the dough into a ball and then flatten into a disc shape. Use a rolling pin to carefully roll the dough into a circle. You will then need to stretch the circle of dough by hand to fit the pizza pan.

Tip #2: Pay Attention to the Crust

A quick brushing of olive oil around the edge of the pizza crust ensures that it browns up evenly. For additional flavor, you can also add a dusting of Parmesan cheese or dried herbs, such as rosemary or basil.

Tip #3: Remember That Less Is More When It Comes to Toppings

Unless you want to wear your pizza, it’s important to hold back on the toppings. While it may be tempting to add a pound of meat and a half pound of cheese, most pizza crusts can hold that kind of weight. Thus, the crust buckles when you pick up a slice and all the toppings fall off. Instead, stick with half a pound of meat or less when making a large pizza and cut vegetables into thin slices so they cover the pizza without adding too much weight.

Tip #4: Be Creative

Pepperoni is king when it comes to pizza toppings, but that doesn’t mean it’s your only choice. Try working with different sauces, meats, vegetables and cheeses to create your own signature flavors. And, remember, pizza can be as gourmet or laid back as you like. It all depends on the toppings you use. You can even create dessert pizzas. So stop grabbing pizzas from the freezer section and surprise your taste buds with new and creative flavors.