As long as you remember just a few guidelines, you can learn how to work with yeast as you make pizza dough. If you plan to allow the dough to rise inside the refrigerator overnight, the "resting and rising" process takes longer, and your baked pizza crust is yeasty and crunchy because the dough is allowed to rest and ferment. If you are planning to make and eat a pizza the same day you make the dough, the final result might not be as crunchy, but it can be just as tasty.
Overnight Method
Step 1
Mix the dry ingredients for the pizza together in a 4-qt. bowl. This includes flour, salt and yeast.
Step 2
Stir olive oil and cold water into the flour mixture using a large metal spoon. Work the spoon like the dough hook on an electric mixer. Hold the spoon in one hand and work with the dough, bringing it to a smooth consistency as you rotate the bowl with your other hand.
Step 3
Continue mixing the dough. After five to seven minutes of mixing, the dough should be soft and smooth. By this time, the dough should be coming off the sides of the bowl easily. If it is also coming off of the bottom of the bowl, add 1 tsp. of cold water and continue mixing.
Step 4
Sprinkle flour or cornmeal on the counter and move the dough to that area. Spread a piece of parchment paper over a cookie sheet and lightly oil the parchment paper.
Step 5
Cut the pizza dough into large pieces of equal size. Sprinkle flour over the dough and flour your hands. Round each piece of dough into a ball, then place them on the parchment paper. Smooth olive oil on the dough and slip a large plastic bag over the dough balls and cookie sheet.
Step 6
Refrigerate the dough until you are ready to make the pizza.
Step 7
Take out as many balls of dough as you need to make pizza and set them on a floured and oiled portion of the kitchen counter to rest for two hours. Sprinkle the dough with flour and add flour to your hands. Press the dough into flat disks that are 1/2-inch thick and about 5 inches around. Sprinkle the dough with flour one more time and add a misting of olive oil. Cover the dough gently with a plastic bag and let it rest for two hours.
Same-Day Method
Step 1
Mix sugar and yeast in a measuring cup, then add 1/2 cup of warm water. The water should be between 100 and 110 degrees F. Mix the water, sugar and yeast well, then set aside for five minutes.
Step 2
Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Stir them together with olive oil and the activated yeast and water. Mix everything with a large fork until the oil and water have been fully absorbed.
Step 3
Sprinkle flour or cornmeal on the counter and add flour to your hands. Spread the flour out with both hands. Place the pizza dough onto the flour.
Step 4
Knead the dough with both hands for eight to 10 minutes, working to bring it to a smooth texture.
Step 5
Put the dough back into the mixing bowl and sprinkle a little olive oil on top. Place the bowl in an area free of drafts and cover it with a towel. Leave the dough alone for one hour, punch it down and let it rise for another 45 minutes.
Step 6
Cut the dough in half and shape it with your hands on a floured counter, molding it to the size you need.
Tips and Warnings
- As you are working with the dough to shape it, add flour to keep it from sticking to the counter or your hands.
Things You'll Need
- 4-qt. bowl
- Large metal spoon
- Flour or cornmeal
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Olive oil
- Dough scraper or knife
- Bowl of water
- Large plastic bag
- Sugar
- Measuring cup
- Warm water
Member Comments