While a stone is essential for making great pizza at home, there are multiple alternatives you can use to achieve the same outcome. A pizza stone keeps your hot oven hot to produce a cracker-crisp crust for your pizzas. But if you don’t have this kitchen tool, you can still use an inverted baking sheet to accomplish the same results. This guide will show you how to use an inverted baking sheet in your kitchen to produce perfect pizzas easily.
What is an Inverted Baking Sheet?
This unique baking tip involves baking on a side opposite to what should be done with cookie sheets, like jelly roll pans. Metal baking sheets act as heat conductors and are great for baking pizza. However, you must ensure you bake pizzas or cookies in the middle of the baking sheet and not on edge to avoid getting burnt.
My number one favorite alternative to a pizza stone is using a rimmed baking sheet. Because you probably have a rimmed baking sheet in your kitchen, it is hassle-free. Just place rimmed baking sheets on the lowest shelf of your oven, so they are ready to use when you bake pizza.
The baking sheet’s heated surface will make the pizza crust nice and crisp. Using an inverted baking sheet will make it easier to put the pizza in and take it out of oven than if the baking sheet was placed right-sided down.
How To Use An Inverted Baking Sheet For Pizza
Drag the scrap dough from the oven onto a rimless baking sheet and place it on an inverting baking sheet. Bake (midwest rack) for 13 to 16 minutes until the crust is golden brown, the toppings are hot and bubbly, and the cheese melts.
Can I Use A Baking Sheet Upside Down?
Yes, you can use shiny sheets for baking pizza and cookies. Use sheets that have no sides or that have extremely low sides. If all you have is one with sides, flip them to the other side, and use the bottom part for baking.
How To Bake A Pizza In The Oven
The perfect temperature for baking pizza is about 450 to 500 degrees F (approximately 250 to 260 degrees C). The higher the temperature in your oven, the hotter your pizza will be. Pizza stone should be placed on the bottom rack of the oven.
Should I Preheat My Pizza Pan?
For the perfect crust and golden brown edges, preheat your oven before you put in your preferred dishes. If using a pizza stone, put it in a very hot oven for at least 20 minutes.
What Are Cooking Steels?
Steel is very conducive, and using steel rather than aluminum bake sheets or a brick oven to bake pizza makes the crust crispy. And the temperature will be significantly lower than when baking with aluminum sheets.