What is the best flour for homemade pizza crust?
Selecting a flour for your homemade pizza dough is all about the kind of crust you want to create.
For Detroit-style pizza and other thicker crust varieties, the dough just needs standard bread flour. Bread flour is a better option for pizza dough than standard all-purpose flour, and will create a more chewy texture. Exactly what you want for thicker-crust styles.
Some homemade pizza dough recipes will call for ‘00’ Flour, a special finely ground Italian variety that’s particularly suited to the thin-crust texture of Neapolitan-style pizza. For a classic margherita, this is your best bet.
For store-bought pizza dough, check the ingredients list before you buy — the fewer ingredients the better — in order to understand the type of crust it will produce. Store-bought frozen dough can be highly elastic, so it helps to portion the dough into smaller balls to make it easier to spread when you’re ready to start cooking.
If anyone in your family eats gluten-free, there are now a fair number of gluten-free pizza flour options from reputable producers like King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill.
What are some tips for making homemade pizza?
Make your own dough! It’s easier than you think, and making homemade dough will help you find exactly the right recipe for your preferred pizza style.
Don’t crowd toppings! A pizza jam-packed with watery or oily toppings can create a soggy slice, even when your crust is fully cooked. Take it easy with the toppings, and make sure any wet ingredients are patted dry, or salted beforehand (zucchini, eggplant) to draw out moisture.
Pre-heat your skillet! A pre-heated skillet will give you a head start on crispy crust and cut down on the overall cook time so your toppings stay fresh.