Pan pizza is tied to the Chicago tradition of creating thick pizzas with lots of toppings. Pan pizzas are usually made in cake pans or in heavy, cast iron skillets. The key to making a good pan pizza is getting the crust just right, which may require a few tips and tricks.
Dough Preparation
Pan pizza dough is thick and chewy, but not overly dense. To get the right texture and consistency, roll out the dough to the approximate size and shape of your pizza pan and so the dough is about ½ an inch thick. Before putting the dough in the pan, allow it to rise at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes. Allowing the dough to rise will give it a lighter consistency, while maintaining the proper thickness and texture of a good pizza crust.
Crisp Crust
While the inside of pan pizza dough is thick and chewy, the outside is crispy and firm. To prevent a soggy outer layer, use olive oil. Before putting the dough in your pan, brush olive oil across the entire interior of the pan. After the dough is in the pan, brush the top of the dough. As the pizza cooks, the oil will fry the dough to a crisp texture.
Prep Time
Pan pizzas generally have several toppings, which can add up to a lot of time slicing, dicing and shredding. To save time, consider purchasing ingredients that are already prepped. You'll find containers of pre-made dough, cans of pre-made sauce and bags of shredded cheese in most grocery stores. For other toppings, look for pre-sliced olives, mushrooms and other vegetables in the canned food aisles.
Slicing and Serving
Before slicing, allow your pizza to rest for a few minutes. Resting allows the melted cheese and sauce to set slightly, so you can make cleaner cuts through the pizza. If you want to slice the pizza while it is still in the pan, use a knife instead of a pizza wheel. A pizza wheel can't get to the edges of a deep pizza pan. Use a pie server or cake server to remove slices from within the pan. You can also slice the pizza outside of the pan by using a spatula to lift the entire pizza onto a cutting board or pizza stone.
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