Stretching pizza dough helps to thin it out and create a more evenly shaped crust. This can help to ensure that the pizza cooks evenly, with a crispy crust and a fully cooked center. It can also help to make the pizza more visually appealing, as a evenly shaped crust can be more attractive than a thick or uneven one. Stretching the dough can also help to make it easier to handle and top with ingredients, as a thin, stretchy crust is less prone to tearing or breaking. Stretching the dough can help to create a larger pizza, as it allows you to spread the dough out over a larger area.
Instead of stretching, you can use a rolling pin but that will remove the air from your dough. If you like a flat crust then a rolling pin is for you. If however you’re like me, I prefer a puffy crust like you find on a Neapolitan pizza which means you need to use your hands and that’s a combination of stretching and pushing air to the crust.
Advantages of stretching are:
- Flavor: Stretching the dough can help to expose more of the surface area to the heat of the oven, allowing it to cook more evenly and become crispy and flavorful.
- Size: As mentioned earlier, stretching the dough can help you create a larger pizza if that’s what you’re looking for. You can also use stretching to control the size of your pizza, making it as large or small as you’d like.
- Texture: Stretching the dough can help to create a thin, crispy crust that’s satisfying to bite into. A thicker, doughier crust may not be as appealing to some people.
- Handling: Stretching the dough can make it easier to handle and top with ingredients, as it becomes more pliable and less prone to tearing or breaking.
The technique of stretching
To stretch pizza dough properly, follow these steps:
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Gently press down on the dough with your fingers to form a small, thick disk.
- Use your fists to gently stretch and press the dough outwards, rotating it as you go to ensure an even stretch. Be careful not to press too hard, as this can cause the dough to tear.
- Once the dough is at the desired size and shape, transfer it to a lightly floured pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet.
- If the dough becomes too springy to stretch further, let it rest for a few minutes before continuing. This will allow the gluten in the dough to relax, making it easier to stretch.
- Make sure your dough is at room temperature before you start stretching it. Cold dough will be more difficult to stretch and may become tough and chewy when baked.
- Use your fingers to press the dough outwards from the center, forming a thick disk. This will help to create an even thickness and prevent the edges from becoming too thin.
- If you’re having trouble stretching the dough, try using the heel of your hand to gently press and stretch it. This can help to evenly distribute the dough and create a more even thickness.
- As you stretch the dough, use your hands to gently rotate it to ensure an even stretch. If the dough becomes too elastic and snaps back, let it rest for a few minutes before continuing.
- If you’re using a pizza stone or baking sheet, be sure to lightly flour the surface to prevent the dough from sticking. This will also help to give the crust a crispy texture.
- If you’re making a large pizza, it may be helpful to divide the dough into smaller pieces and stretch each one separately. This will make it easier to handle and will help to ensure an even thickness throughout the crust.
