Did you know that 15% of all people in the United States list pizza as their favorite meal?

Pizza is a common comfort food that people have customized to their liking, making it a versatile lunch and dinner.

If you are thinking about making pizza from scratch, there are a couple of issues that could arise. 

Continue reading to discover the most common pizza cooking mistakes and what you can do to avoid them! 

1. Using Too Much Flour 

One of the biggest pizza cooking mistakes that people make is adding in too much flour.

If you notice that your dough is stiff and hard to manipulate, you likely have too much flour in the mix. When forming your dough, try flipping it to get rid of extra flour if you think that you have added too much. You can also add more of the liquid ingredients to the recipe to balance out the flour ratios.

It is also common for people to line their pizza pans with flour to prevent sticking. Although this can be an effective method, when you add too much it becomes a problem. When there is too much flour on the pan, it can stick to the crust of your pizza and give you a dry bite when you go to eat. 

2. Not Measuring Ingredients 

Unless you are very experienced with making pizza, you will want to follow a recipe when making your dough and sauce.

You must use a recipe for dough so that the texture and flavor are tasty. When looking at the recipes, make sure that you put in the correct amount of ingredients. Adding too much flour, water, or yeast can cause issues with the pizza and take away from the flavor.

You should also measure your ingredients when making sauce. Often, people will make sauce without measuring anything and just going by taste. Although this method can work if you have knowledge of sauce, it can make it difficult to replicate the sauce in the future. 

3. Setting the Oven Wrong 

Once you put the pizza in the oven, you will need to let the oven do its job. 

Most people recommend 450 degrees Fahrenheit for the temperature for cooking pizza. This temperature will ensure a consistent cook from your dough to the toppings. If everything is cooked through, but you want a crispy top, you can turn the broiler on for a moment at the very end of its baking time.

When making pizza in the oven, you should also avoid opening it to check on your progress. Opening the oven while your pizza is cooking can slow down the process and lose a lot of heat that is already in there. If you want a well-baked pizza and don’t have the time to cook it, Flippers Pizza is an excellent substitute. 

4. Overworking the Dough 

Most people knead and roll out dough for pizza, which can lead to overworking the dough.

If you want the best dough for your pizza, you should never have to use a rolling pin. Most professionals will tell you to toss your dough instead. Using a rolling pin overworks the dough and takes away all of the air pockets that lead to a fluffy texture.

Always be gentle when forming your dough to fit the pan so that you don’t change the texture of your crust. You should also give your dough plenty of time to rest before shaping so that the yeast can work to help raise your crust. 

A good pizza crust should feel elastic, sticky, and springy when you are forming it. 

5. Ignoring the Crust 

Are you someone who eats their pizza crust or tosses it in the garbage or to the dog?

When making pizza from scratch, you should never ignore the crust. Many people recommend putting a little bit of butter on the crust and then seasoning it with your favorite spices. Adding flavor to the crust makes your slice more filling and it will taste much better than a plain crust. 

Don’t ignore your pizza crust, it is best to treat it like a breadstick. You will also want to ensure that the crust is well formed to make eating easier and less messy. 

6. Keeping Toppings Too Large

Before you start making the dough, you should have all of your pizza topping options nearby and prepped.

Prepping the toppings ahead of time, by cutting them and cooking them, will make for a better pizza. If you keep the toppings too large or don’t pre cook them, they could come out raw when your dough is already done. 

Try to cut thin slices of meat and vegetables for your pizza, especially if you aren’t cooking them before the pizza goes in the oven. This will help them cook at the same rate as the dough. Another reason to cut smaller toppings is so that you can taste each flavor in every bite of your slice. 

7. Improper Ratios 

Have you ever had a pizza that didn’t have enough cheese, sauce, or toppings?

When the ratios are off, it can ruin the entire eating experience. If you have a thick crust pizza, make sure that you add plenty of sauce and cheese. Thin crust pizzas won’t need as much sauce or toppings, otherwise, it can make the slice heavy and messy. 

Try to add enough cheese to coat the top, but don’t layer it on too thick. You should avoid adding too many toppings as well, as they can take away from the crust and sauce. 

Avoid These Pizza Cooking Mistakes 

When it comes to making a delicious dinner, there are many pizza cooking mistakes to be aware of. 

While going through your pizza cooking checklist, make sure that you measure your ingredients and focus on each topping. Ignoring one component can harm the entire pizza, especially when it comes to the dough and toppings. 

Don’t be afraid to take risks and put your own spin on the pizza, just make sure that you adjust the other ingredients to ensure that it cooks correctly. 

Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about new pizza recipes and making your favorite foods from scratch!