If you are a fan of making pizza at home, you need to have all the necessary tools. A “pizza dough scraper – do you even need one?” is a question I get most of the time.
I have to admit that I did not own a pizza dough scraper during the first months of cooking pizzas at home. However, I did not hesitate to invest in one once I got extra cash on hand.
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From then on, I cannot imagine how I have managed to produce amazing pizzas, portion, cut, and clean my workspace without the help of a great pizza dough scraper on the side.
Making pizzas at home almost guarantees that the kitchen will get messy if you make the dough by hand. A pizza dough scraper helps in cleaning up the sticky dough from your workspace.
You can also use the pizza dough scraper in many different ways to make your pizza-making process a little easier. It is a tedious process so you need to get all the help that you need.
I have collected the information that you need about pizza dough scrapers so we can answer your question of whether you need a pizza dough scraper for pizza-making or not.
What Is A Pizza Dough Scraper?
Imagine a smaller pizza cutter rocker. That is what a pizza dough scraper is, but it is not sharpened in any way as it only deals with the raw dough when preparing or before you cook.
A pizza dough scraper is a very simple tool that you can use to move the pizza dough around without using both hands to hold it. You can manage the dough by folding it with the scraper.
There are also other uses of pizza dough scrapers such as cutting the dough. It has always been a challenge for me to properly portion the pizza dough before proofing.
Now, I even use the pizza dough scraper to measure the size of the pizza dough and cut it with the scraper to have balanced portions in case I want to cook multiple pizzas at a time.
A pizza dough scraper usually has a metal scraper and a plastic or wooden handle. The handle should be ergonomic to hold it firmly when you are cutting or managing the dough.
Metal scrapers are more sharp and hence help cutting the pizza dough easily and the metal pizza dough scrapers with handles are easy to use as the handles are longer.
The plastic scrapers are all plastic while you see metal pizza dough scrapers with handles.
There are also plastic pizza dough scrapers that you can buy. These pizza dough scrapers are great and can also do the same thing without damaging the workspace, especially wood.
How to use a Pizza Dough Scraper?
You can use the pizza dough scraper such like the name suggests to scrape it off the kneading surface while kneading.
It is a little difficult to expolain how to use a pizza dough scraper through words so watch the video below to get an exact idea on how to use a pizza dough scraper.
What Are The Types Of Pizza Dough Scrapers?
There are two main types of pizza dough scrapers and they are mostly differentiated by the materials used to make them. The most common are metal and plastic pizza dough scrapers.
There are wooden pizza dough scrapers but they are not that common. Often, you would find them in antique shops or just artisan places that use the original tools for preparing food.
The main problem with these wood pizza dough scrapers is that they are also prone to getting the dough sticking to them if you use them to cut or manage the pizza dough.
While they are great, I suggest that we move to the more modern options and see how they are more convenient and easy to use compared to wood options.
Metal Pizza Dough Scrapers
Metal pizza dough scrapers are the more popular types of pizza dough scrapers. They are great for managing or manipulating the pizza dough and cutting the dough into smaller dough balls.
When you have a high hydration pizza dough, it becomes extremely important that you shape it using the metal pizza dough scraper with handle that is usually made up of wood.
Stainless steel is the material used for metal dough scrapers. These types of pizza dough scrapers are used mostly by professionals for mixing the dough for different recipes.
They are not that expensive and I think that investing in one is a must. Even if you are a home cook, nothing stops you from getting the best tools for making the best pizzas at home.
The stainless steel build is, of course, more durable and that is why I think it is a great investment. It can last for years and you can use it for so many other recipes and processes.
Since the metal pizza dough scraper is less likely to bend, it is easier to cut it. It is also sharper compared to a plastic pizza dough scraper so you can even use it with chopping vegetables.
Plastic Pizza Dough Scrapers
If you do not have the budget for buying metal pizza dough scrapers, you can always go with the cheaper option, the plastic pizza dough scraper.
I still recommend using a stainless steel pizza dough scraper but there is nothing wrong with plastic ones. I think that plastic pizza dough scrapers are better if you do not cook too often.
No matter how long you store the plastic pizza dough scrapers without using them, they hardly degrade. Metal pizza dough scrapers can sometimes rust after a long time without using them.
Plastic options are also more gentle when it comes to the work surface. They do not scratch the countertop when you try to remove the excess dough stuck on the workspace.
Why do you need a Dough Scraper?
For the most part, a pizza dough scraper is not a tool that you need for making pizzas. You can make great pizzas without using a pizza dough scraper.
However, it does help a lot when it comes to preparing the dough. You do not have to deal with dirty work surfaces or sticky dough that latches onto your hands while you need or cut it.
There are some steps in making the pizza dough that can become so much easier with the help of a pizza dough scraper. Such uses are the following:
Dealing With A Sticky Dough
If you have tried making Neapolitan pizzas, you have tried dealing with a sticky dough made out of 00 flour. It is a really hard process when you knead the dough before proofing it.
The reason behind this is that the 00 flour needs a high level of hydration. That means that you need to make sure that it has enough water in the mix to attain that crispiness on the pizza.
Since there is a lot of water in the dough, it tends to be super sticky. You can observe this when you compare the dough you make for your pizza with the dough used for bagels.
Kneading with two hands means that you need to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. You can use more flour on the workspace but this can disrupt the dough hydration level.
That is where the pizza dough scraper comes in as it helps you manage the dough. You can use one hand to grab the dough or push it and then use the pizza dough scraper to fold it.
I do this because I often rub the pizza dough scraper and my hand with cooking oil before kneading the dough. That way, the dough does not stick too much on both.
Cutting Dough Balls
The large dough ball you have just made needs to be cut so that the smaller dough balls can be placed in smaller containers and portions so you have a dough ball ready anytime.
The pizza dough scraper is a huge help when it comes to cutting the dough into smaller pieces. Pizza dough scrapers have a straight edge that is not that sharp but enough to cut dough.
It can create a straight light in just one slice so you can separate smaller dough balls from the big pizza dough. This has helped me make the process faster when making multiple pizzas.
Another benefit of using a pizza dough scraper for cutting the dough is that you do not risk making scratches on your workspace. It is the perfect substitute for knives for this job.
Use Pizza Dough Scraper to transfer Pizza Dough Balls
After you have cut the pizza dough into smaller pizza dough balls, you will need to let them rise in a smaller container. Each ball of dough goes in a small container to allow it to double in size.
This is the part where I love using plastic pizza dough scrapers instead of metal ones. The pizza dough scraper is a huge help for removing the pizza dough ball from the container.
I divide the pizza dough into smaller dough balls, fold them in, and then place all of them in a large plastic container. This makes it easier to remove them when I need one for a pizza.
The pizza scraper offers a lot of help with this part of the process. Since the pizza dough sticks to the container, you need the pizza dough scraper to get everything off of the container.
This is especially true with small dough containers where you cannot use your hands to get the dough out.
Plastic pizza dough scrapers prevent scratching the container as well.
Using a plastic pizza dough scraper, you can easily insert it between the dough and the container without scratching the container. From there, you can scrape off the sticky dough.
Cleaning Your Workspace
Aside from using the pizza dough scraper for cleaning or removing the dough from the container, you can also clean the excess dough stuck on your countertop.
Often, I deal with this problem where after I baked the pizza, I see patches of dough sticking on the table or the workspace and these patches are hard to remove.
If you have a marble countertop, then it is best to use a metal pizza dough scraper but you still have to be careful when you do it since the metal can still scratch the surface if you go too hard.
For wooden countertops or workspaces like mine, I recommend using a plastic pizza dough scraper. Not only does it do the job but it also prevents the likely damages and scratches.
Best Pizza Dough Scrapers
1. Chef Pomodoro Multipurpose Pizza Dough Scraper
If you are an avid baker, you should get the multipurpose pizza dough scraper from Chef Pomodoro. It can be used in so many things aside from just preparing your pizza.
This one is very similar to the Ooni pizza dough scraper, actually it is identical to the Ooni pizza dough scraper and I must say it is even better.
First off, the pizza dough scraper has measurements down to a millimeter. This gives you a more precise measurement of your recipes and helps cut your pizza dough.
The pizza dough cutter has a contoured grip that is both ergonomic and non-slip. Even when my hands are oily, the handle of the pizza dough cutter hardly slips from my hands when it is in use.
The high-quality stainless steel makes sure that it does not rust for years. The company also offers guaranteed money back if you are unsatisfied with the product.
==> Get this Pizza Dough Scraper
This is by far the best pizza dough scraper that I have come across and you should definitely give it a try.
2. Kitchenaid Gourmet Bowl Scraper
Perhaps the best plastic pizza dough scraper that I have used is the Kitchenaid gourmet bowl scraper. It is flexible and it can get the sticky dough out of the container you put it in.
It is another best pizza dough scraper for someone looking for a plastic pizza dough scraper.
Because of the flexible nature of silicone, you can easily bend the pizza dough scraper into the edges or the slanted curves on bowls when transferring the dough on the countertop.
I love using this pizza dough scraper when I have kneaded the dough using a stand mixer. It has always been a challenge for me to remove the pizza dough from curved surfaces.
The plastic pizza doughs scraper is also heat resistant and can withstand a temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit so you can use it with hot water, and it is easier to clean it with hot water.
It does have some difficulty cutting the pizza dough as the dough sometimes sticks to the plastic surface but it can still do the job if you oil the pizza dough scraper lightly.
This can happen if you have a very high pizza dough hydration, which is anything about maybe 70 percent.
==> Get this Pizza Dough Scraper
If you stick to 60-65 percent pizza dough hydration, this pizza dough scraper can work, else it is best to use metal pizza dough scraper with handle.
Still, if you are looking for a plastic scaper then this is the best pizza dough scraper out there.
3. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pizza Dough Scraper
This pizza dough scraper also includes measurements although it can only go down to a quarter-inch accuracy. Nonetheless, it can be great for dividing or cutting the pizza dough.
Another one of the best pizza dough scraper in metal, which is perfect to handle high hydration pizza dough.
The stainless steel build can last up to years, even decades, if taken care of properly. It is also sharp, so it easily slices the sticky dough in half when I tried cutting the dough with it.
This is another pizza dough scraper that looks very similar to the Ooni Pizza dough scraper but again feels like a better dupe of it.
The blade part of the stainless steel part is tall enough so even if you cut through a thick dough, you do not get your hands on the food. It is great for chopping some vegetables for salads.
The handle of the pizza dough scraper is amazing, instead of just the regular plastic that you usually get from most pizza dough scrapers, the handle is made out of something that is almost like rubber.
==> Get this Pizza Dough Scraper
It is soft and ergonomic, so it hardly slides off of your hands no matter how hard you press making it to the best pizza dough sraper list.
4. Lasenersm Pizza Dough Scraper
This is another plastic pizza dough scraper that I have come to like. It has non-toxic, food-grade PP plastic which ensures that your food stays healthy when using the scraper.
This is a really good plastic pizza dough scraper and that is the reason we had to mention it in this list of the best pizza dough scrapers.
It is dishwasher safe, but I just wash it by hand since I use this pizza dough scraper for my sticky pizza dough. I recommend using warm water or just leaving it soaked in water for an hour before washing it.
Soaking the plastic dough scraper in water helps remove the dough pretty easily from it. It is non-stick but still, some stubborn food residuals stick to it.
It is perfect for scraping off the dough from the bowl because of the bent blade, it can easily go through curved edges to scrape off the pizza dough.
==> Get the Pizza Dough Scraper
You can even use it for small quantites of dough to knead and manage it well but If you use higher hydration dough then using it might need some expertise from your side.
5. MS WGO Pro Pizza Dough Scraper
Made with pure stainless steel, the MS WGO pizza dough scraper is perfect for your next pizza. It has measurements so you can divide the pizza dough accurately for batches of crusts.
The handle of the pizza dough scraper is a continuation of the blade which is rolled so that you can handle it without experiencing fatigue or cramps on your wrist and hands.
It is dishwasher safe so you can place it along with the other utensils in the dishwasher. It is also easy to clean by hand and I think you will do a better job removing the dough if you wash it by hand.
The ergonomic design gives it a great look, allowing you to store it in small spaces. It easily slides in my drawer and I usually put some plastic utensils on top so it does not get damaged.
==> Get this Pizza Dough Scraper
However, I would rather get the Chef Pomodro pizza dough scraper mentioned at #1 on this best pizza dough scraper list just because it has a better handle.
Also, Chef Prmodro is pretty similar to the Ooni Pizza Dough scraper and a lot cheaper, almost half the price so do consider getting it.
Metal Pizza Dough Scraper vs. Plastic Pizza Dough Scraper- My thoughts
I usually like metal pizza dough scrapers as they have longer handles that makes it extremely easy to use the pizza dough scraper.
The metal pizza dough scraper with handles are a lifesaver for someone who is dealing with a high hydration pizza dough.
I usually stick to 65 percent hydration but there are times when it can go upto 70 percent hydration and it just feels like I cannot do without the scraper then.
The pizza dough scraper with handles then prove to be so useful as it makes managing the dough very easy and since the handles are long, I do not risk touching the dough while managing it as that just gets messy.
The plastic pizza dough scrapers do not have long enough handles and even though you can work with it, I prefer the metal ones.
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