If you’re a pizza enthusiast, chances are you own a pizza peel since it’s a must-have when it comes to making pizzas. So, what do you do if you lack a pizza peel in your kitchen when preparing pizza? What are the possible pizza peel substitutes? Let’s find out.
Pizza peels can be expensive, but they’re a very handy tool. They’re not like other kitchen tools that you can replace with something makeshift.
You need the right tool to do the job. But if you’re willing to get a little bit creative, it is possible to improvise a pizza peel out of materials you have at home.
If you don’t have a pizza peel, don’t despair. You can use the following alternatives; a Rimless cookie sheet, a wooden cutting board, baking paper/parchment paper, an upside-down rimmed baking sheet, a stiff piece of cardboard, and a big spatula.
What is a Pizza Peel
A pizza peel is a pizza shovel that allows you to safely place a pizza in the oven. It looks like a cross between a paddle and a cookie sheet. A flat surface (paddle or cookie sheet) is needed to slide the pizza into the hot oven.
The flat surface of the peel has a thin layer of flour on it, which allows the baker to slide the dough from the peel onto a hot stone or pan in an oven. After the pizza is done, it’s also easy to slide it back onto the peel for serving.
The handle allows you to safely slide the hot pizza on and off of the oven rack. The primary benefit of using a peel is that it keeps your hands safely away from the blazing hot oven.
Pizza peels are also useful for handling other foods that stick easily, like cookies or bread dough. They’re also good for moving hot sheet pans around in your oven.
Pizza peels may seem like a frivolous kitchen gadget, but they are very useful tools. The wooden or aluminum blades help you slide pizza dough in and out of a hot oven, and they also make it easy to transfer bread, pies, cakes, and pastries.
7 Best Pizza Peel Substitutes
1. Rimless Cookies Sheet
This is a readily available item in most kitchens thus making it a great substitute for pizza peel. A flat metal cookie sheet can be used in place of a pizza peel. You can use it as an upside-down spatula to slide the pizza off onto the baking stone or rack. Make sure your hands are protected by an oven mitt.
Rimless cookie sheets are flat but with one raised side which gives you something sturdy to hold on to thus making it easy to remove your pizza from the oven.
2. A Wooden Cutting Board
A large wooden cutting board works well as a makeshift pizza peel. It’s easy to slide under the dough and provides a smooth surface for sliding your finished pizza onto the stone or steel.
The fact that large cutting boards have a shape similar to that of a pizza peel makes it an ideal pizza peel alternative provided your pizza is not much larger than your cutting board.
3. Baking Paper/Parchment Paper
If you don’t have a metal pan, line your baking pan with parchment paper. This will allow you to slide the pizza off of the pan onto the baking stone or rack without worrying about burning your hands in the process.
Just make sure your pan has sides so that none of your toppings fall off while traveling to the oven.
When using parchment paper in place of a pizza peel, place your pizza dough on the parchment paper and add your toppings. After that, place the parchment paper(with your pizza on top) onto the pizza stone and bake. This will ensure the effortless removal of your pizza from the pizza stone.
4. Rimmed Baking Sheet
If you’re making a small pizza, an upside-down baking sheet will work in place of a pizza peel.
Rimmed baking sheets have raised edges that prevent grease or oil from spilling into the oven thus making it a perfect pizza peel alternative.
When you’re ready to slide the pizza onto the stone or steel, simply shake the pan so the dough falls right off. It won’t be as easy to handle as with a peel, but it’s certainly doable.
5. Cardboard
Most people may doubt whether cardboard can be used in place of pizza peel but fortunately, it can be used if you don’t have any other options.
The cardboard isn’t very sturdy, but it’s strong enough to support a thin-crust pizza. Simply cut out a large rectangle (bigger than your pizza) and gently slide it under the dough before topping it and transferring it to the oven.
6. A Big Spatula
Whenever you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a large metal spatula can be used to get the pizza out of the oven.
7. Serving Plater
Another possible pizza peel substitute is a serving plater provided it has the right size and thickness.
The fact that a wooden serving platter can easily be slid between a pizza and a pizza stone makes it a perfect pizza peel alternative.
On the merits, most serving platters are round in shape thus making them suitable for the traditional pizza shape.
FAQ’S
What Makes Pizza Stones?
Pizza stones are commonly made of natural materials such as clay, marble, and tile for optimum performance.
Pizza stones can be glazed or unglazed thus giving you a chance to choose the perfect one as per your preference.
How Do I Prevent My Pizza From Sticking To The Pizza Stone?
Pizzas tend to stick to the pizza stones occasionally when cooking but you can prevent this with the following practices.
The first method you can use is by using all-purpose flour. Make sure to place your flour n your pizza stone before placing your pizza dough to prevent it from sticking.
For this method, use flour with a coarser grain to get the best results ever. Such flours include polenta, cornmeal, or semolina.
Do I Preheat My Pizza Stone?
Yes. It’s important to preheat your pizza stone to prevent your pizza dough from sticking.
For perfect results, preheat your pizza stone for at least 30 minutes or up to one hour.
You should note that your oven may be hot but your pizza stone is not therefore make sure to give it enough time to heat before adding your pizza dough.
At What Temperature Should I Cook My Pizza On The Pizza Stone?
To attain the best results ever, the pizza must be cooked on a very hot pizza stone therefore you’ll have to set your oven at high temperatures between 450 and 500 degrees F.
NOTE: The thinner the pizza, the higher the temperature, and the thicker the pizza the lower the temperature.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Pizza On A Pizza Stone?
The thickness of your pizza will determine how long you should cook it. Thicker pizzas will take longer than thin ones.
Generally, a pizza should take about 10-12 minutes when the pizza stone is properly preheated.
Is It Ok To Add Oil On A Pizza Stone?
No, you should not. pizza stone has a porous surface that soaks up anything put on it therefore you should never put oil or grease on it. The oil and grease available in the pizza are enough to cook it.
How To Clean A Pizza Stone
To clean your pizza stone, use hot water on your cooled pizza stone and scrub it with a hard dry brush.
Avoid using soap and any other chemicals on your pizza stone as they can be permanently absorbed which may be risky at long last.
If your pizza stone is in a big mess, you can consider using baking soda and warm water to remove all the dirt.
Can I Cook A Frozen Pizza On A Pizza Stone?
The answer is Yes. You can cook frozen pizza on a pizza stone by simply heating the frozen pizza and the pizza stone at the same time.
Do not place a frozen pizza on a hot pizza stone since the temperature shock may crack it.
Bottom Line
Any time you are making pizza and find out that your pizza peel is missing don’t panic. Try the above pizza peel substitutes and thank me later.
The above alternatives for pizza peel will work differently but they are worth a try. It’s therefore up to you to choose the one that works best for you as per your needs.
1 thought on “7 Best Pizza Peel Substitutes”
Comments are closed.