If you have your pizza dough constantly sticking to your pizza peel then this post is definitely for you.
I have had times when I was a newbie at making pizzas where the dough got stuck to the pizza peel frequently and I was really annoyed because then I had to start all over again and make a new pizza.
If you are facing similar issues and want to know why your pizza dough is sticking to the pizza peel then this post would help you as we would discuss all the possible reasons as to why you might be facing these issues.
There are going to be times when you are just out of luck and it happens out of the blue but if you are facing the problem quite often then check out the points below as it could be anything from reasons mentioned below!
1. Use the right dusting mixture
It is important to dust your pizza peel with a mixture of dough and semolina before you place the pizza base on the peel and start making the pizza.
You can even use cornmeal but just make sure that it is enough to make the pizza slide when you move the peel in swift to and fro motion.
This mixture is going to really help you avoid the dough from sticking on the pizza peel which is a problem so many beginners face when they start making pizzas.
You need to make sure that the dough/cornmeal mixture is 50/50 so that the dough can easily slide on the pizza stone when you want it to.
2. Work a little faster
Once you have your pizza dough stretched out on your pizza peel then you need to work a little faster on the pizza and get started with spreading the sauce and adding toppings.
If you take a lot of time then the base would start to get sticky on the peel which would then make it very difficult to put the pizza in the oven.
You might want to keep the sauce and the toppings ready before you put the pizza dough on the peel.
When Is tarted out, I was looking for one last topping and in the search, my pizza stuck to the peel and I had to start all over again.
So make sure that you are ready with all the ingredients and toppings around you so that the pizza does not stick to the pizza peel.
3. Do not overload the pizza
Another reason the pizza base might stick is maybe due to the reason that you have loaded the pizza with a lot of toppings.
This just increases the moisture content in the base and hence the pizza sticks to the peel.
Make sure that you add just enough toppings so that you do not load your pizza and make it so heavy that the pizza is just stuck to the peel.
If you REALLY want to go all the way with toppings then you can add extra toppings once the pizza is on the stone.
Although I would never understand the need to add so many toppings, it would be better if you avoid this from happening and just cook an extra pie.
4. Use a wooden pizza peel if possible
Using a wooden peel really helps you avoid the dough from sticking since wood is a nice insulator and it keeps the pizza dough intact.
There are so many pizza makers that use the wooden peel just to place the pizza inside the oven and later on use the rotating peel or a metal peel to cook the pizza and take it out.
If you can spare some $15 then it is worth it to get a wooden peel that would help you easily place your pizza inside the oven.
You can achieve the same results with the metal peel as well but if you are just not able to do so, then I would highly suggest that you go with a wooden peel.
5. Wet Dough
If you are making the dough at home then there can be an issue with the consistency of the dough itself.
If the dough is even slightly wet then that would cause the pizza base to stick easily. Make sure that the dough you knead is perfect and not very sticky.
It can take some time to knead the dough but make sure that you do it right, else you would end up with a pizza dough that sticks to the peel.
Always check if the pizza base is easy to move around on the pizza peel before you get started with the sauce and adding toppings.
This would help you get an idea if the pizza dough is perfect. With some practice, you would be able to see it yourself but if you are a beginner you can give this top a try.
6. Pizza Sauce consistency
The Pizza Sauce if too watery can weigh down the pizza and this has happened to me in the past when I was a beginner.
Since I make my own pizza sauce, it has happened that when the sauce is too watery, it can weigh down the pizza and cause the pizza to be really soggy making it stick to the peel.
You might be able to overcome this issue by adding a little sauce on the base but still, it is better to use a sauce that is not watery.
Another point to remember is do not add a lot of sauce as that would not only overpower the flavor of the pizza but also weigh it down.
These are a few tips that you can use in order to avoid the pizza from sticking to the peel.
If you have any more tips do share them with us!
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