Love those pizzas on the grill...!

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Currently using a 3/4" thick pizza stone atop a 1" ceramic heat deflector. The heat deflector gives me a little more margin for error...so that the bottom and top crust gets done at the same time.

At our former house using the 75k BTU SS LPG grill I could also bake great pies...it just took > 30-minute preheat to get the 'system' heat soaked and up to the proper temp.

Also, another neat little trick I learned of late: Instead of placing the hot out of the oven pizza on a cutting board, let it cool slightly on the wire rack first as shown. Then transfer the pizza to the cutting board for slice and serving. This keeps the bottom of the crust from getting soggy. Worked like a charm!
 
check out the little propane dedicated pizza oven here, the Pronto.

(no idea if it's any good and no affiliation but cute concept)


and a couple of gizmos that could be useful to the grill discussion at hand



http://www.surlatable.com/search/search.jsp?N=4294967064&Ntt=pizza+oven


edit: if link isn't working for specifics, search for "pizza oven" once you get on that web site
 
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I haven't used cast iron for pizza...but have been using stones for nearly 3-decades. I would guess the CI isn't going to stay flat north of indoor residential oven temps...

If you opt to go stone get one at least 3/4" thick...a few good ones out there but mostly crappola that won't take 600*+F...

Dennis (Komodo Kamado, UPS'd from CA) sells the real deal stones in different diameters: https://www.komodokamado.com/productskomodo-accessories/

This is what I use: http://www.chefdepot.com/pizzamaking.htm

Like CI you'll need to break in your stone...to get it to non-stick condition for pizzas.
 
Has anybody used the Lodge cast iron 14" pizza pan? Pros and cons of CI vs stone? I'm gonna get some sort of pizza stone before long so tell me what y'all like.

--john

I've used both a pizza stone and cast iron for pizza and personally I prefer the texture of the crust better from CI than I do from my pizza stone. The only thing is that you can't really preheat the cast iron if you use it for pizza...it's really not practical, unless you have asbestos fingers. However, the end results have been good for me. I do oil the bottom of the cast iron before I lay down the dough. Sauce and toppings.

Have checked out the baking steel? http://bakingsteel.com/
This will be my next baking/pizza related purchase.
 
So on the Pizza making website, the trend seems to be steel plates 1/2 thick. I think 6 are used to fill a standard oven rack. It must be heavy as hell, but...

The results are supposed to be very good. I would think loading all that steel and then storing all that steel would be a pain, but for some, it's the way. I want to try a very thin steel pizza pan on top of the stone just to make thing easier to handle. I baked some bread like this in a steel skillet and it was perfect.
 
I've got ceramic and CI but I'm gonna raid my metal scrap pile just for the heck of it. Stainless maybe to start with? mmm....
 
dang, I tried some premade dough from TJ -again- and it was disappointing -again-. (Some garlic herb affair this time.) Didn't taste like a crust from a restaurant or store...

Any advice about dough, beyond the bit above?
Something good out there to buy? What?

Or just have to make your own?
 
e9999;8975673 Any advice about dough said:
Yes. TJs I'm sure is OK but you can make a dough with better ingredients your self and learn something about baking in the meantime.

I have been playing around with various fermented/delayed ferment doughs and can recommend this method. While I have been using my sour dough starter, you could do 90% of the same thing with commercial yeast, and let the dough "cold ferment" in the fridge for 2-3 days. See the sour dough thread and also the Jeff V website.

Then lots of heat. I've maxed out at 550 and would like to try higher, but I had to fix the controls of my oven just to get to 550. Spresso can go to like 800F!!!

It's nice because once you learn to make a good dough, whether it's with a sourdough starter (which vary in sourness) or with commercial yeast, and you start doing the delayed fermentations, you bread improves a lot very quickly, and the same basic method can be used to knock out everything from sourdough bread, to focaccia, pizza dough, ciabatta etc. The higher the rise you want-reduce the water percentage. Flat breads are wet and sticky. Get used to it.

Basic dough:

1000g King Arthur Bread Flour (All Purpose from KA is good too)
700g water
30g salt
2 packages of yeast proofed 5min in warmish water with a spot of sugar

I made the math easy for you Eric so you can scale up or down.

Notice no EVOO in the dough. It won't rise as much. Pour the evoo on top if you make focaccia.

Mix, knead for 10 minutes by hand or 7 min in a mixer

Divide the dough into thirds and store the dough balls in the fridge for 2-3 days. Each ball will make one small to medium pizza dough. They will rise more than you think in the fridge-just be aware. Try overnight the first time to get the feel for it. All the yeast will make this rise reliably and very fast. While that isn't good for flavor, it's good to get you started.

This is a 70% dough (Jeff V likes 65%) which is a bit sticky and wet, but makes a nice pizza crust or focaccia. When you bake, you flatten and stretch, top and bake as hot as you can on a stone until it's done.

If you have a sourdough starter, make 1/2 or so of the final weight using your starter and no commercial yeast. This will yield even tastier results but you can get 90% there with the active dry yeast.

I posted a pic of a focaccia in the SD thread that's made with starter only, no yeast, and 2 nights ago I made a french loaf sourdough that was KILLER using the sourdough starter, a preheated oven to 450, and a pre-heated dutch oven (Lodge DO, with no feet--ie not a camp oven) sitting on the pizza stone. It's tricky though, you gotta let it rise about 3 hours, then transfer to the hot DO without burning your hands. (Hint-use parchment paper) The first half of the bake was covered then the top removed for the rest of the bake. The covered initial bake mimics the steam injection of a commercial oven and gives a perfect crust texture.

Sorry-more than you wanted to know, but if you want to do things right, you gotta put some time in it and tolerate some initial failures. While you are initially messing with dough and how much hydration you like, just make bread sticks. It's the same as pizza dough, much easier to prepare and your family will love them. Once you master the method, it's pretty easy.
 
Yes. TJs I'm sure is OK but you can make a dough with better ingredients your self and learn something about baking in the meantime.

I have been playing around with various fermented/delayed ferment doughs and can recommend this method. While I have been using my sour dough starter, you could do 90% of the same thing with commercial yeast, and let the dough "cold ferment" in the fridge for 2-3 days. See the sour dough thread and also the Jeff V website.

Then lots of heat. I've maxed out at 550 and would like to try higher, but I had to fix the controls of my oven just to get to 550. Spresso can go to like 800F!!!

It's nice because once you learn to make a good dough, whether it's with a sourdough starter (which vary in sourness) or with commercial yeast, and you start doing the delayed fermentations, you bread improves a lot very quickly, and the same basic method can be used to knock out everything from sourdough bread, to focaccia, pizza dough, ciabatta etc. The higher the rise you want-reduce the water percentage. Flat breads are wet and sticky. Get used to it.

Basic dough:

1000g King Arthur Bread Flour (All Purpose from KA is good too)
700g water
30g salt
2 packages of yeast proofed 5min in warmish water with a spot of sugar

I made the math easy for you Eric so you can scale up or down.

Notice no EVOO in the dough. It won't rise as much. Pour the evoo on top if you make focaccia.

Mix, knead for 10 minutes by hand or 7 min in a mixer

Divide the dough into thirds and store the dough balls in the fridge for 2-3 days. Each ball will make one small to medium pizza dough. They will rise more than you think in the fridge-just be aware. Try overnight the first time to get the feel for it. All the yeast will make this rise reliably and very fast. While that isn't good for flavor, it's good to get you started.

This is a 70% dough (Jeff V likes 65%) which is a bit sticky and wet, but makes a nice pizza crust or focaccia. When you bake, you flatten and stretch, top and bake as hot as you can on a stone until it's done.

If you have a sourdough starter, make 1/2 or so of the final weight using your starter and no commercial yeast. This will yield even tastier results but you can get 90% there with the active dry yeast.

I posted a pic of a focaccia in the SD thread that's made with starter only, no yeast, and 2 nights ago I made a french loaf sourdough that was KILLER using the sourdough starter, a preheated oven to 450, and a pre-heated dutch oven (Lodge DO, with no feet--ie not a camp oven) sitting on the pizza stone. It's tricky though, you gotta let it rise about 3 hours, then transfer to the hot DO without burning your hands. (Hint-use parchment paper) The first half of the bake was covered then the top removed for the rest of the bake. The covered initial bake mimics the steam injection of a commercial oven and gives a perfect crust texture.

Sorry-more than you wanted to know, but if you want to do things right, you gotta put some time in it and tolerate some initial failures. While you are initially messing with dough and how much hydration you like, just make bread sticks. It's the same as pizza dough, much easier to prepare and your family will love them. Once you master the method, it's pretty easy.


sounds good and fairly easy. thanks for detailed info. Will definitely try. Not with sourdough though, I am not fond of the stuff.

odd that you suggest using the fridge for rising, I would have assumed one can leave it outside for faster rising. But will trust you on that, seems like you know the stuff.

I rummaged though the cabinets and found everything needed but the yeast is stamped best by Oct 2013. Still good you think if I can't wait to try before going to the store for fresher?
 
So in the fridge it isn't just rising. It's metabolizing and the waste products add flavor. THere are also likely some bacteria in the flour and their metabolism adds flavor too. Sourdough is the logical extension of that.

You should try some sourdough that isn't San Francisco style. It's basically a yeast culture, with some tasty bacteria.
 
...
I rummaged though the cabinets and found everything needed but the yeast is stamped best by Oct 2013. Still good you think if I can't wait to try before going to the store for fresher?
Yeast does have a definite shelf-life, but your yes is only 3 months past the "beat by" date, so it should be fine.
 
I also suggest checking out the pizza section of www.seriouseats.com

Serious eats is currently my go-to site for foodie stuff. Lots of good tips and some great recipes.
 
e9999,

Proceed with this pizza dough making quest with extreme caution...its a prodigious rabbit hole entered by an incredibly slippery slope...not matched by anything un-Land Cruiser related :D. I had to buy a new HAM radio for the 100 just to break free :D

But since you've apparently gone from a green to a silver star maybe you can now justify the time for such projects :D

Seriously: Give Jeff's slo-gro pizza dough recipe a try...it has a shelf life in the fridge of about a week...giving us lots of options for busy weeks. And remember his dough recipe is for Neapolitan style dough and pizza: Its not the dough if you are an American pizza ingredient hog :D. You'll be amazed how even a seemingly simple addition like fresh garlic can screw it up. Keep it simple...to keep it good.

Don't be surprised to find yourself searching for backyard brick pizza oven plans...

We'll expect a full report.
 
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found the verazano site but it seems like the recipe is predicated on having starter dough. I only have instant dry yeast.
I'll try to use Andy's recipe for now then.
 
Do you have Active -dry, or "Instant Rise"? You want Active Dry.

I hope you have worked with bread dough before, because this will make a fairly sticky dough and you'll need to flour working surface and your hands or you will have a big sticky mess.

For your overnight (or 2 night) rise, put the dough in an oiled bowl. and cover with some cling wrap. It will still stick a bit, that's fine.

When you go to bake it, flatten out on your peel, or if no peel, use the floured (or corn meal or semolina) back of a cookie sheet. Let it rise for an hour or so, then top and bake on your pizza stone. Depending how it turns out, you can then adjust the recipe to your liking-like more flour, add some semolina flour, less salt etc. Don't use a lot of sauce or a ton of smothering stuff like pepperoni-they will keep the dough too wet. Everything in moderation.

Good luck, pictures mandatory.

My guess is it will be better than you think.
 
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