Homemade pizza can seem intimidating for a few reasons, one of which has to do with the oven temperature. It's easy to write off the idea of attempting it simply because the oven doesn't pack the same heat as, say those professional wood-fired ones that help render Neapolitan pizza so exceptionally exquisite.
Thankfully, there are several tools on the market that make homemade pizza more approachable. Simple, practical, and easy to source, these tools will take your homemade pizza game to the next level. They effectively "integrate" the difference in heat that exists between professional and home ovens, allowing for optimal cooking of the entire pie, pizza dough included – the results are just as professional as some of the best out there. Whether you're looking to make a classic Margherita or a more adventurous topping, these three devices will awaken your inner pizzaiolo in no time.
1. The four-minute oven
The 12″/30 cm wide plate is made of refractory stone which allows you to cook or reheat pizzas in a few minutes. It can reach a temperature of 752°F/400°C, that of professional wood-fired ovens, and it cooks a perfect pizza in just four minutes. This one is from Ariete, but other manufactures make similar contraptions.
2. Lava Cooking Stone
You begin by cooking the lava stone on the fire, then finish cooking it in the oven. Once hot, the stone evenly distributes the heat and retains it for 30 minutes after cooking. The metal structure keeps the dough hot when it's on the table. The version pictured is from DiLagostina.
3. Refractory Cooking Stone
The refractory cooking stone produces pizzas with final results on par with those of some of the world's finest pizzaioli. It's placed on the bottom of the oven, where it absorbs a large amount of heat and speeds up cooking times. The version pictured is from Smeg.
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