What is the Best Pizza Oven Temperature?
Pizza is an all-time favorite. Everyone loves pizza, kids and adults alike. And we have all tried our hand at replicating store-bought and restaurant-style pizzas at home. Alas! They never turn out the same. We use the same dough, the same toppings, the same chicken, and the same sauce, then where do we go wrong?
Let me tell you. The secret to a well-cooked pizza lies in your pizza oven temperature. You could be doing it all right but the wrong pizza oven temperature could leave your pizza looking lovely from the outside and cold and uncooked from the inside or even burnt crust or toppings.
And it’s not just when we’re cooking pizza from scratch when we encounter temperature problems. People have similar complaints when reheating pizza or cooking a frozen pizza. So let’s have a look at the best oven temperature for cooking the perfect pizza.
Best pizza oven temperature to cook homemade pizza
Generally it is suggested to put your pizza oven at the highest temperature it will go. In most home pizza ovens, the highest temperature possible is around 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 Celcius). In contrast a traditional wood fired pizza oven can reach almost double a conventional oven at 500 degrees Celsius (930 degrees Fahrenheit).
Tip: Always preheat your pizza oven for 20-30 minutes prior to cooking pizza!
Cooking in a pizza oven that has not been pre-heated can result in your pizza having cold spots, chewy dough, or the pizza being partially undercooked.
Why do you need such a high temperature for cooking pizza?
High temperatures are essential to cooking a good, tasty pizza. The dough needs a high temperature to rise up just right. High temperatures ensure you have a crisp base, fully melted cheese, perfectly cooked dough, and the toppings and sauce to be set perfectly well against the base of the pizza.
Is it safe to put a conventional oven at its highest temperature setting?
Yes! It is absolutely safe for you to use your pizza oven at its highest temperature. All pizza ovens, especially those built for domestic use, are constructed and designed to be used safely at their maximum temperatures.
How will I know when to put the pizza in the oven?
If you want to be completely sure, then you can use this little strategy. Roll up a small ball of dough and place it in the oven in the shape of the pizza. Place it in the oven, let it cook, and see if it turns out how you like it.
Using an infrared thermometer to check the temperature
If you don’t have the dough to spare or don’t have the time for cooking dough, you can go for the surefire way: using an infrared thermometer to check the temperature. Infrared thermometers can measure the temperature inside the oven accurately. These are ideal especially if you are using a pizza stone to ensure the pizza stone has reached the desired temperature.
What is the best temperature to cook a frozen pizza?
We all like to keep a secret stash of frozen pizza for cravings that spring up at ungodly hours. And we’re all left a little dissatisfied because frozen pizza never seems to cook well. The fault again lies with how we bake our frozen pizzas.
So, what temperature to cook a frozen pizza?
Most frozen pizza instructions recommend temperatures in the 375-425 deg Fahrenheit (191C-218C) range. Some prefer to go the maximum temperature, which is fine too, you will just need to be more vigilant that it doesn’t burn.
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature or the oven maximum.
2. Place your pizza on the pizza stone in the oven (if you have one) or on top of an upside down baking tray. Position the pizza as close to the centre of the oven as possible.
3. Cook for the recommended length of time – usually around 15-25 minutes depending on the size and thickness of pizza toppings. If you opted for the maximum temp cooking time should be as little as 5-8 minutes.
4. Remove the pizza from the oven once you see the pizza has browned and the cheese has melted nicely. Use a pizza peel if you have one or simply remove the whole baking oven tray.
5. Let the pizza stand and cool slightly for around 3-5 minutes before cutting it with your pizza slices.
See also our article: How to cook a frozen pizza using an air fryer.
Wrapping it up
When cooking pizza, the pizza oven temperature plays an important role in creating the perfect pizza. For better results, you’ll want to make sure you preheat your oven for around 20-30 minutes, then cooking your pizza in the oven at a high temperatures of 450F-500F.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on your pizza, you don’t want to let it burn.
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