5 Pro Tips for Cooking Pizza in a Home Oven

fresh mozzarella

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: shredded mozzarella

Part-skim mozzarella has fewer calories while shredded mozzarella is often less expensive.

San Marzano tomatoes

🥗Healthier: any canned tomatoes

💰Cheaper: regular tomatoes

Canned tomatoes are more accessible and affordable.

extra virgin olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers a similar flavor with a higher smoke point.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free alternative, while pecorino can be less expensive.

Preheat the oven for 30 minutes before cooking the pizza.

Position the pizza stone on the top rack of the oven.

Set the oven to broil at maximum temperature for 30 minutes.

Check the temperature of the stone; it should be around 260 Celsius (about 500 Fahrenheit).

Place the pizza on the preheated stone in the oven.

Partially bake the pizza before adding toppings.

Add olive oil to the crust before adding cheese.

Use dry mozzarella cheese instead of fresh mozzarella to avoid sogginess.

If using fresh mozzarella, cut it the night before and drain in the fridge.

Finish baking the pizza until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden.

Add basil and olive oil on top before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens