Most consumers think making pizza at home might initially feel overwhelming, but once they have the right tools, it becomes so easy it almost feels like a game-changer. Imagine consumers setting out a variety of toppings and letting everyone create their pizza masterpiece for a fun family night. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
Or they’d like to level up with online pizza-making classes and get a few pro tips. With these peels, ovens, cutters, and other pizza essentials, consumers will be whipping up pies like a pro in no time. So, read on to discover nine super important pizza-making tools consumers will need for the perfect pizza at home.
Table of Contents
9 pizza tools consumers need when making pizzas at home
Wrapping up
9 pizza tools consumers need when making pizzas at home
1. Pizza steel or stone
The secret to making amazing pizza at home? A pizza stone or steel. This hefty slab heats up in the oven and mimics the brick floor of a real pizza oven, giving consumers that perfect crispy crust. The intense heat from below ensures the dough cooks evenly and quickly—no more waiting for soggy results.
Additionally, a pizza stone or steel can easily cut a consumer’s cooking time in half, meaning consumers will get a lighter, crispier crust. Instead of drying out the pizza for over ten minutes, they will get the perfect bake in a fraction of the time.
Although consumers can realistically use a baking sheet to make their pizzas, it won’t hold the heat enough to get that perfect bake. Even between steel and stone, the former performs better than the latter. Metal absorbs heat faster than stone and is way more durable (stone breaks after a few years).
2. Digital scales
Pizza dough is all about getting the right ingredient balance. So, consumers must have the perfect ratio (i.e., how much water, yeast, and salt compared to flour). For example, if consumers have 1000g of flour and 650g of water, they have 65% hydration dough.
To nail this, consumers need a digital scale. Measuring by cups won’t cut it if consumers want consistent results. Baking is a science, after all. Without precise measurements, their dough can turn out differently every time, and nobody wants an unpredictable pizza night.
3. Pizza cutter
This tool is what consumers need to slice up that freshly baked pizza. Since cutting clean, even slices without any hassle is always satisfying, a sharp, sturdy pizza cutter will help consumers enjoy their perfect dish. Businesses can offer them the classic wheel cutter or the rocker blade.
Although the full rock blade is more expensive, it’s a beast of a tool. Plus, some consumers think it’s fun to slice their pizza with one swift rock—a cool upgrade if they’re into pizza-making. Remember to avoid those novelty cutters shaped like guitars and bikes. While they look fun, they are flimsy and less effective—give consumers the real deal.
4. Dough mixer
Consumers can knead pizza dough the old-fashioned way (by hand) or let an electric mixer do the heavy lifting. With a bowl and dough hook, the mixer handles mixing and kneading, making home pizza much easier. It’s especially handy when consumers are working with larger batches of dough.
Another plus? A mixer gives consumers consistent results. They must set it to the right speed and time, allowing them to repeat that perfect combo every time. Kneading by hand takes a bit more practice so most home bakers will have a better time with mixers.
5. Wooden/metal pizza peel
A wooden peel is the go-to for sliding pizza into the oven. The tool’s porous surface helps prevent dough stickiness. After spending all that time preparing the dough, stretching it out, and topping it, the last thing consumers want is for it to stick to the peel.
That’s why wooden pizza peels are super important for any home baker. Otherwise, getting the pizza into the oven would be nearly impossible. However, wooden peels aren’t the best for taking the pizza out after cooking. That’s the job of the metal pizza peel.
Wooden peels are too thick to slide under a cooked pizza, making it tricky to pull it out of the oven. On the other hand, metal peels are thin enough to slip under the pizza easily, making it great for turning it if one side is cooking faster than the other. But metal peels have their downside, as raw dough often sticks to them.
6. Dough scraper
This tool is an absolute game-changer when working with dough. Consumers can scrape the dough off the counter, cut through it easily, and even clean up their work surface afterward. Dough scrapers are also great for handling larger dough chunks, especially when things get sticky. The best part is they are super affordable (and fun to use!).
7. Proofing containers
Pizza dough is pretty sensitive to air. It dries out quickly and forms a tough skin on the surface. Consumers must keep their dough airtight to prevent this, especially when fermenting for long periods. While they could use a bowl and plastic wrap, it’s not the best solution.
Investing in a proper container with an airtight lid may be better. It’s large enough to handle the dough’s growth, and consumers can simply pop it in the fridge until they’re ready to use it. Plus, no more plastic wrap waste for the eco-conscious consumer.
Businesses can offer shallow proofing boxes, which consumers can use for balling up dough side by side. They can also stock taller food containers for consumers to ferment a bulk batch.
8. Pizza serving board
A serving board is super handy for transferring cooked pizza. It also gives the dish extra time to cool before consumers slice it up. Since it’s wood, consumers can use their pizza cutter without worrying about damaging the surface. But that’s not all these wooden boards can do. Consumers can also serve their pizza on them, especially if they are going for a casual, shared vibe.
9. Portable pizza oven
Consumers no longer need a huge, permanent wood-fired oven to make amazing pizza. These days, retailers can offer them a compact, affordable pizza oven that’s easy to pack up and store after cooking. Even better? These smaller ovens heat up fast—no more waiting hours to get that perfect temperature.
In just a few minutes of prep, consumers will be ready to cook Neapolitan-style pizzas in about 90 seconds. And they don’t have to worry about sacrificing quality with these smaller models (they offer amazing performance, too). Plus, many models now come with gas burner options alongside the classic wood fire, giving consumers even more flexibility.
Wrapping up
Uni-taskers aren’t everyone’s favorite. After all, people are shying away from tools that do only one thing. But when it comes to pizza, it’s a whole different story. It’s the one dish that truly calls for some specialty gear.
Although some tools make life easier (like a pizza wheel or a food processor), certain great pizzas won’t be possible without the essentials, like a good peel and a pizza cutter. These nine tools can make all the difference. So, stock them and help consumers fulfill their pizza adventures.