Making homemade pizza is a lot of fun, in part because you can create the perfect pizza with the perfect ingredients every time. A gooey pizza filled with your favorite ingredients and nothing else is a great treat, but if you have problems with the pizza sticking to the pan, you’ve come to the right place.
To stop your pizza from sticking to the pan add some olive oil to the dough, use the right type of pan, avoid adding too much water to the dough, use parchment paper and season your pan correct. This article will explore the top reasons why pizza sticks to your pan and how to prevent it.
1. Add Some Olive Oil to the Dough
One of the easiest ways to help make sure the pizza doesn’t stick to the pan is by applying a thin coat of olive oil on the surface of the dough. What this does is adds moisture to the entire pizza, helping to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
The olive oil also helps you get a nice brown crispy crust in the end, so there are actually several advantages to doing this. If you don’t have olive oil, you can use another type of oil, but olive oil will taste the best.
2. Use the Right Type of Pan
The pan you bake your pizza in makes a difference in almost every aspect of baking pizza. It might surprise many pizza-lovers to know that most pizza experts bake all of their pizzas in a cast iron pan.
Choosing a cheap metal pan will make it more likely that your pizza will stick.
Cast iron baking pans help create that “authentic” pizza flavor, making the pizza perfect in every way in the end.
You should know that cast iron baking pans are a little pricey at first, but they are more than worth it because if you take good care of them, they will last forever.
You can wipe off a sticky mess with a damp towel or sponge. Just avoid soaking or using soap on it in any way. Clean it with a damp towel and hot water, then when it’s dry, apply a small layer of oil to the pan to keep it clean and working properly the next time you use it.
3. Avoid Adding a Lot of Milk or Water in the Beginning
When making your homemade pizza dough, you must make sure the ratio of flour to milk or water is just right. If you don’t, the dough is going to be sticky, and, therefore, it will stick to the pan.
Pay very close attention to the recipe instructions, following them to the letter. When you’re mixing up the dough, add the water or milk very slowly at first, then mix the liquid and flour until it becomes a dough. If you have to add more liquid, add just a tiny bit at a time.
If you remove the dough from the bowl to place it on your pan and the ball of dough is very sticky, go ahead and add flour a little at a time until the dough is the right consistency.
4. Use Parchment Paper on Your Pan
The combination of parchment paper and olive oil can help prevent your pizza from sticking.
First, place a thin layer of olive oil on the pizza pan, then place parchment paper on top of that.
Afterwards, spray a little more olive oil (or rub it) on the pan so that the parchment paper is damp. In addition to this, try stretching out the pizza dough as much as possible so that it covers the entire bottom of the pizza pan.
5. Season the Pan Before You Use It
By “seasoning” the pan, we don’t mean adding spices and herbs to it. What you’ll be doing is applying a very thin layer of vegetable oil on both the inside and outside of the pan.
Afterwards, place the pan in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly 10 minutes.
Combine this with applying a thin layer of oil to the pan each time you bake a pizza, it will go a long way in helping the pizza slide right off of the pan instead of sticking to it.
Also, you can look for pizza pans that come pre-seasoned.
Should Cheese be on Top or Bottom of Pizza?
The cheese on your pizza should be the second ingredient from the top, with the toppings being on the very top. Many people put their toppings on first, then the cheese, but it should actually be done the opposite way. You should layer your dough at the bottom, then the sauce, then the cheese, and then your toppings.
Avoid putting the cheese over the edges of your pizza or onto the tray. This will make it more likely that the pizza will stick to the tray and pan.
Should You Cut Pizza Right Away?
Cutting pizza as soon as it comes out of the oven isn’t a good idea because it will be way too messy. Instead, wait 2–3 minutes and then cut it. The pizza needs to be warm but not hot in order to be cut into slices without making a terrible mess.
This will also help to avoid the cheese spilling over and sticking to the pizza stone or tray. Wait until the pizza is cool and transfer it to a wooden chopping board. Cut with a pizza cutter or sharp knife.
Should You Cook Veggies Before Putting Them on Pizza?
It is not necessary to cook your veggies before putting them on your pizza, but there is an exception. If you put hard-to-cook or extra-tough veggies on your pizza, such as broccoli or cauliflower, they do need to be cooked a little bit first.
You should do this because the rest of the pizza may cook before the veggies do, which means the veggies will still be tough when you eat the pizza. Cook the vegetables until they’re almost done, then place them on top of your pizza.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like homemade pizza, but if you find that your pizza is sticking to your pan, just know there are things you can do about it. Seasoning the pan, using a cast iron pan, oiling the pan, using parchment paper, and using the right amount of flour and water are great ways to start.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.