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The Spruce Eats / Zackary Angeline
There are so many things to love about homemade pizza: the flexibility to choose your own toppings, filling your kitchen with the most delicious smells, and satisfying your pizza cravings whenever you want. The hardest part about making from-scratch pizza is waiting long enough to avoid burning your mouth on that first bite (we’ve all been there). To get started, you just need to have the right tools.
Best Pizza Peel
Honey-Can-Do Kitchen Supply Aluminum Pizza Peel
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Amazon
Sturdy
Handle is easily removable
Comfortable to hold
Not dishwasher-safe
This pizza peel outperformed its competitors during testing, winning our coveted best overall title. While a bit heavy, this pizza peel is well balanced, with a comfortable handle and sturdy build that can support heavy pizza pies. It made sliding pizzas in and out of the oven a breeze, and the handle can be removed or swiveled for easy cleanup and storage.
For a more nonstick option, consider trying the Toscana Acacia Wood Pizza Peel (our best wooden option), and if you’re planning on turning your pizzas as they cook, we recommend the Chef Pomodoro Aluminum 9-Inch Turning Pizza Peel with Detachable Wood Handle (our best for turning option).
Price at time of publish: $24
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Handle Length: 11 inches | Paddle Size: 14 x 16 inches | Materials: Aluminum paddle, wood handle
Best Pizza Stone
NerdChef Baking Steel
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Amazon
Cooks pizza quickly
Comes pre-seasoned
Generously sized
No handles for lifting and moving
Very heavy
Best left in oven to cool after use
For a crispy, evenly browned, and gorgeously blistered crust, this baking steel is a must-have. Our No. 1 pick in testing, it offers 20 times the conductivity and twice the heating capacity of traditional ceramic pizza stones. Translation? You can cook multiple pizzas back to back without having to wait for this baking steel to come back up to temperature. It’s about as indestructible as it could possibly be, and the sturdiness comes with a good amount of weight—about 16 to 32 pounds depending on how thick it is.
Price at time of publish: $100
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The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
Material: Steel | Available Sizes: 14.5 x 16 inch with varying thickness (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch) | Safe For: Oven
Best Pizza Cutter
Oxo Good Grips Large 4-Inch Pizza Wheel and Cutter
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Amazon
No disassembly for cleaning
Dishwasher-safe
Comfortable handle with thumb guard
No blade guard for storage
Could be a bit sharper
Our favorite pizza cutter comes from a well-known kitchen utensil brand, and if you already have Oxo Good Grips tools at home, you know how comfortable they are to hold (even if your hands are wet or greasy) and how easy they are to clean. The 4-inch wheel on this pizza wheel cuts through thin and thick pizza crusts with ease, thanks to a sharp blade and a thumb guard that keep your fingers safe.
Price at time of publish: $17
Material: Stainless steel and rubber | Dimensions: 9.38 x 4.13 x 0.63 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Bench Scraper
Oxo Bench Scraper
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Amazon
Versatile
Blade remains sharp after years of use
Sturdy
Doesn’t come with a sheath
Another standout Oxo offering, I can personally attest to the sturdiness and helpfulness of this bench scraper. There are so many ways to use this tool, and for pizza, you can use it to level measuring cups and spoons, portion your dough, and even clean your work surface. The soft non-slip handle fits comfortably in your hand, and even after 3+ years of owning it, the blade is still as sharp as the day I bought it.
Price at time of publish: $12
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The Spruce Eats / Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Size: 6 x 4 x 2 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Soup Ladle
Rösle Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle with Pouring Rim
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Sur La Table
Pours without dripping
Smooth, comfortable grip
Sturdy and well made
Pricey
If you think ladles aren’t anything special, think again. This durable stainless steel ladle pours like a dream and is just the thing for spreading sauce all over your homemade pizzas. The long handle keeps you from losing it in your saucepan (unlike an average spoon), and it even comes with a lifetime warranty. In testing, we could feel the quality in the weight of this ladle from the moment we picked it up. It’s balanced, smooth, sturdy, and sparkling.
Price at time of publish: $39 for pouring, 5.4-ounce (hooked)
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The Spruce Eats / Julie Laing
Material: Stainless steel | Length: 12.8 inches | Capacity: 5.4 ounces | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Pizza Oven
Ooni Koda 12 Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven
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Amazon
Cooks pizza in 60 seconds
No assembly required
Highly portable
Can be tricky to rotate pizza
Sure, you can bake pizza in a standard home oven, but if you want to level up your at-home pizza cooking setup, a pizza oven is the way to go. This one from Ooni crushed the competition after many rounds of testing, and it’s actually one of the brand’s less expensive models. We love how easy it is to set up, the sleek design, and the fact that it just takes 12 to 15 minutes to get to pizza baking temperature—a casual 950 degrees Fahrenheit. At that high heat, you can cook pizzas in about a minute, and turning is crucial for even cooking. Beyond pizza, it can be used to cook fish, steak, lamb chops, sweet potatoes, corn, and so much more.
Price at time of publish: $375
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The Spruce Eats / Fred Hardy
Temperature Range: Up to 950 degrees | Heat Source: Propane | Max Pizza Size: 13 inches | Weight: 29 pounds | Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.6 x 24.8 inches
Best Kitchen Scale for Baking
Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Scale
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Amazon
Sleek design
Perfect size
Cleans and stores easily
Must be charged before use
Must be turned upside down to change type of measurement
Make a perfect pizza crust with the help of this sleek kitchen scale. It’s part of Zwilling’s new electronics line, Enfinigy, which combines Zwilling’s time-tested German engineering with modern design. This digital scale can measure quantities in grams, kilograms, ounces, and pounds, and the LCD-lit display is easy to read.
Price at time of publish: $49
Dimensions: 9.60 x 7.40 x 0.80 inches | Maximum Capacity: 22 pounds
Best Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge Blacklock Triple-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
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Amazon
Lighter weight than most cast irons
Super nonstick
Heats up fast and great for searing
Looped handle stays cool
Some spillage from pour spouts
Make pan pizzas with the help of a classic cast iron pan—this one from Lodge is our favorite after testing more than a dozen popular options. Part of Lodge’s line designed to replicate antique cast iron, these cast iron pans are thinner than the classic Lodge pans, so they are lighter and heat up faster. We were able to cook fried eggs on this pan without a lot of sticking, so you shouldn’t have any issues serving pizza out of it.
Price at time of publish: $80
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The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
Available Sizes: 7, 10.25, 12, and 14.5 inches | Weights: 1.81, 3.87, 5.37, and 7.19 pounds | Pre-Seasoned: Yes | Induction Compatible: Yes | Lid Included: No
Best Half Sheet Pan
Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet
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Amazon
Sturdy construction that resists warping
Heats evenly across the entire baking sheet
Very affordable
Must wash by hand
Surface can get scratched
For square pizza pies, these aluminum half sheet pans are a must. Our top pick, these versatile pans can be used for cookies, veggies, and (of course) pizza. They are inexpensive, sturdy, nonstick, and oven-safe up to 450 degrees. Nordic Ware offers a lifetime warranty on the pans and recommends washing by hand to prevent discoloration that can happen from dishwasher detergent.
Price at time of publish: $26
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 17.9 x 12.9 x 1 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best Stand Mixer
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
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Amazon
Easily handles dense doughs
Heavy-duty bowl with handle
Impressive array of optional attachments
May require additional hand kneading
Save yourself the arm workout that comes with kneading pizza dough and let this iconic stand mixer do the work for you––or at least give you a head start. In testing, we found this KitchenAid model absolutely lives up to the brand hype in its streamlined design, convenient size (not too big or small), power, and quality. Plus, with all of the attachments available for purchase (from pasta makers to juicers), it can help you make more than just pizza dough and cookies.
Price at time of publish: $350
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Number of Speeds: 10 | Power: 325 watts | Bowl Volume: 5 quarts | Warranty: 1 year limited | Attachments: Beater, dough hook, wire whip, plastic pouring shield
Best Detroit-Style Pan
Lloyd Pans Kitchenware 8 by 10 inch Detroit-Style Pizza Pan
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Amazon
Specifically made for Detroit-style pizza
Durable
Nonstick coating
Not dishwasher-safe
For thick-crust Detroit-style pizza, this heavy-duty pan is a must. The dark color of the pan is said to bake hotter and faster than bare aluminum, and the brand’s proprietary coating keeps your pizza from sticking to the pan, while still getting a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside crust. This durable pan is designed for the wear and tear of a commercial kitchen, which means it should stand up well to your at-home pizza-making endeavors.
Price at time of publish: $38
Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 2.25 inches | Temperature Range: Up to 700 degrees
Best Dough Proofing Container
Chef Pomodoro Dough Proofing Box
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Amazon
Large capacity
Convenient carry handle
Airtight seal with lid
Not dishwasher-safe
Proofing is a crucial step when making pizza dough, as it helps to ensure that your pizza crust has the right flavor and texture. This one is big enough to proof four to six dough balls for 12- to 14-inch pizzas, plus it has an airtight lid and a convenient carrying handle if you need to transport your dough. The transparent design allows you to check on your dough without interrupting the proofing process, and if you buy multiple boxes, they stack on top of each other.
Price at time of publish: $30
Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 14 x 11 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best Serving Tray
Hans Grill Pizza Cutter and Round Serving Board Gift Set
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Amazon
Unique design
Natural wood material
Metal blade comes with a protective shield
May be too small for large pizzas
Slice and serve your homemade pizza with this fun serving set. The mezzaluna-style pizza slicer cuts into the grooves of the acacia wood serving board to ensure everyone gets a perfectly portioned slice. The 13.5-inch board can be used to help you slice pizza, pies, and cakes into eight even portions and looks great on the table. The slicer is also said to cut pizza without pushing or dragging toppings off the slices. You can also flip over the board for a flat serving surface that’s perfect for charcuterie.
Price at time of publish: $33
Material: Stainless steel, acacia wood | Number of Pieces: 2 | Dishwasher-Safe: Knife is, wooden board is not
What to Look for in Pizza Tools
Versatility
Our favorite kitchen tools are multi-purpose, and many of the tools included in this roundup can be used for more than just pizza-making. A pizza cutter can be used to cut pastry or pasta dough and thin breads like focaccia, and despite the name, a pizza oven can be used to cook a wide variety of proteins, vegetables, and baked goods. When it comes to precious kitchen space and dollars, invest in the tools you’re going to use time and time again.
Durability
Pizza is cooked at high temperatures, so you’re going to want to work with tools that can stand up to the heat. When purchasing things like pizza stones, sheet pans, and pizza pans, check to see their maximum oven-safe temperature and make your buying decisions accordingly. For smaller tools like pizza cutters and bench scrapers, look at reviews to see how these products last over time.
Ease of Use
For tools like pizza peels and pans, the best version will depend on the type of pizza you’re planning on making and the oven you’re cooking them in. In general, wood pizza peels are more nonstick but can be thicker and more difficult to maneuver than their aluminum counterparts. Pizza pans of different shapes and sizes can help you achieve deep-dish pizza styles.
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The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
FAQs
How do you make homemade pizza dough?
Pizza dough is made of just a few simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have at home: all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, water, oil, and yeast. Hector Godinez, culinary manager at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, notes that while pizza dough is easy to make, it does require some patience.
“When making the dough, get your arm strength ready, because once you start to mix the ingredients you will need to knead the dough for 12 to 15 minutes by hand or 10 to 12 minutes with a mixer,” he says. Once the dough is mixed, he recommends letting it rest for one hour at room temperature if you’re planning on using it that day or in the fridge to use the next day. When it’s ready, the dough will be soft to the touch and easy to stretch out with a rolling pin. “It’s important to allow the dough to proof so the yeast can rise properly when cooking. If not proofed properly, it will be tough to stretch or roll out and create lots of bubbles.”
For Nino Coniglio, head chef and co-owner of Williamsburg Pizza, making perfect pizza dough can take three to four days. He mixes his dough, puts it in the fridge overnight, kneads it, lets it rest for an hour, shapes it into a ball, and then puts it back in the fridge for another two to three days.
“This allows for additional fermentation, which not only makes the flavor irresistible, but also creates the classic New York pizza crust,” he says.
How do you make pizza sauce?
When it comes to making a delicious tomato sauce for your homemade pizza, Katie Parla, Rome-based food and travel writer and co-author of “The Joy of Pizza,” says it’s all about the ingredients.
“I get really high-quality whole, peeled canned tomatoes like the Gustarosso brand, then I crush them by hand and season lightly with salt,” she says. “Basta! I always 86 [get rid of] brands that have tough and unripe bits. You feel them immediately when you’re crushing them by hand and it really signals a low-quality product lacking in all the potential seasonal tomato flavors.”
For Lisa Dahl, executive chef and owner of Pisa Lisa and Dahl Restaurant Group in Sedona, Arizona, freshness is key.
“There are multiple ways pizzerias distinguish their style, and aside from the crust, the most important one is the sauce,” she says. For a delicate pizza dough (like Neapolitan pizza), she recommends making a quick, easy sauce with San Marzano tomatoes, high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, salt, a touch of chili flakes, and garlic.
“Top the sauce with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil,” Dahl says. “If you’re working with a thicker, denser crust (like pan pizza) I recommend cooking up a sauce that is a little more labor intensive, which will result in richer flavors to balance the dough.”
How do you clean a pizza stone?
The heat of an oven does most of the heavy lifting when cleaning a pizza stone. “Allow the stone to sit inside the oven set at the highest temperature possible to burn off any leftover flour or other debris,” Godinez says. He notes that you should keep your pizza stone away from water while it’s hot, or else it can crack or break. Once the pizza stone is completely cool, Godinez recommends scraping it with a flat utensil like a metal spatula. “A pizza stone is similar to a cast iron skillet; the more you cook on it, the more seasoned it gets,” he says.
Parla prefers cooking with a pizza steel because “they don’t break and are easy to scrape between bakes or rinse with soapy water and dry well when they cook off.”
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Can you freeze pizza dough?
Yes, you can! You can coat a dough ball in oil and place it in a freezer bag or place it in a stackable metal proofing pan.
“I figured out by accident that metal pizza dough pans are awesome,” Coniglio says. “After your dough ferments, stick it in the freezer and pull it out an hour ahead of use. The dough will defrost super quickly as the yeast helps it warm up.”
Dahl calls freezing pizza dough the “perfect pizza party hack” and recommends waiting to top the pizza with fragile toppings like basil after defrosting and baking.
How long does pizza take to cook?
When making pizza in your home oven, you’ll want to crank up the heat. You should cook your pizza at the highest temperature possible, typically 450 degrees Fahrenheit in most household ovens, according to Godinez, and be sure to preheat your oven with the pizza stone inside. He notes that with a hot pizza stone, it should take about 10 to 11 minutes to cook. If you like a crispy crust, err on the longer side.
Dahl notes that cook time and temperature depend on a variety of factors: the style of pizza, the thickness of the dough, and the type of oven you’re using.
“Eyes are your best thermometer, and rotating the pizza crust so that it browns and bakes evenly on all sides and starts to bubble is the best bet!” she says.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance journalist who specializes in food and drink content. She interviewed passionate pizza experts to learn more about the best tips and tools for making pizza at home, and she’s always keen to share this knowledge with readers. She loves pizza way more than a lactose-sensitive person should.
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