Buying guide for best pizza peels
There are few things better than hot, fresh pizza from your favorite pizzeria, unless it’s a delicious homemade pizza that you customize with your favorite toppings. If you want an authentic pizzeria-quality pie at home, you have to have the right equipment, and a pizza peel is definitely a must-have tool.
But while all pizza peels may seem the same, they’re not really created equal. You have to decide what material best suits your pizza-making needs, as well what shape, size, and other features will work best in your kitchen. Considering all the available options, choosing the ideal peel can definitely get confusing.
When you’re ready to shop, check out our top pizza peel recommendations in the product list above. For general tips about how to choose the perfect peel, continue reading our shopping guide.
Why use a pizza peel?
If you want the same crispy crust on your homemade pizza that you get at the local pizzeria, you must be able to move your prepared pizza to a cooking surface that’s already incredibly hot – without a pan in the way. A pizza stone works well as a pizza cooking surface, but in order to place your pizza on the hot stone, you need a peel, essentially a flat paddle with a long handle. The peel makes it easy to move the pizza without worrying about getting burned.
"The best way to wash a wooden peel is with a damp sponge or towel. Don’t soak the peel in water or put it in the dishwasher. It could warp the peel. "
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Using a pizza peel
The first step to making delicious homemade pizza with a peel is preheating your pizza stone. While you won’t get a home oven as hot as a professional pizza oven, set your temperature to about 500°F and allow it to preheat, with the pizza stone inside, for at least 20 minutes.
Sprinkle the surface of the pizza peel with some coarse cornmeal or flour to make sure the dough doesn’t stick to it. Carefully transfer your rolled pizza dough to the peel. Add the sauce, cheese, and other toppings, and take the peel to the pizza stone. Carefully slide the pizza onto the stone. Cook the pizza according to the recipe’s instructions. Use the pizza peel to remove the hot pizza from the cooking surface when it’s ready.
Pizza peel features to consider
Material
Traditional pizza peels are usually made of wood, but now you can also find metal and composite models. Some pizza peels have a combination of materials, such as a metal paddle and wooden handle.
Wood
Pizza dough doesn’t stick to wooden peels the way it does to other materials,
A wooden peel can also serve as a cutting board when your pizza is done without worrying about it damaging your pizza cutter or knife.
Maintenance is more involved than for other options. Wood can warp, and it may absorb stains and odors if you don’t care for it properly.
Wooden peels can sometimes suffer scorch marks.
Wooden peels are fairly thick, which can make maneuvering them more difficult.
Metal
Metal pizza peels are extremely easy to clean and highly durable.
A metal peel is very thin, so it’s easy to maneuver when sliding a pizza on and off a stone.
Raw pizza dough sticks to metal more readily than it does to wood.
Composite
Composite peels are much easier to clean and maintain than wooden peels.
Composite peels are thinner than wood but not as thin as metal, so it can sometimes be difficult to slide a pizza off it.
Composite peels tend to have shorter handles, which may not allow you to slide the pizza to the back of a hot oven.
Shape
Pizza peels usually have a round or rounded shape because it corresponds to the shape of the pizza. However, there are some square peels. For large professional ovens, a round peel is usually the best option because it enables you to easily place multiple pizzas inside at different angles. In a home kitchen, a square peel often works best because you’re usually only placing a single pizza inside your oven from the front.
Size
The best size for the paddle portion of a pizza peel depends on how large you usually make your pizzas. For the most versatility, choose a peel that is at least 14 inches wide and 15 inches long.
Handle
A pizza peel should have a long enough handle that the front edge of the paddle can easily reach the back of the oven and still give you about four or five inches of distance from the oven door. In general, that means the handle should be 19 to 38 inches long.
With a handle that long, the full length of your pizza peel may be as much as 56 inches, making it extremely difficult to store. For easier storage, consider a model that has a folding handle, so you can fit it inside your cabinets.
Pizza peel prices
Pizza peels range in price based on material and size. You can expect to pay between $15 and $70.
Wooden pizza peels: You’ll usually spend $15 to $40 for a small or medium wooden pizza peel. A large wooden pizza peel usually costs $40 to $70.
Metal pizza peels: You’ll usually spend $16 to $32 for a small or medium metal pizza peel. A large metal pizza peel usually costs $32 to $55.
Composite pizza peels: You’ll usually spend $30 to $45 for a small or medium composite pizza peel. A large composite pizza peel usually costs $45 to $60.
Tips
Rub food-grade mineral oil on a wooden peel before using it for the first time. The oil will help seal the wood and prevent it from drying out and cracking.
Air-dry a wooden peel completely before storage. This reduces the chances of warping or bacteria growth.
Disinfect a wooden peel with vinegar. Wipe down your peel with vinegar instead of washing it with soap and water.
Wipe down a metal pizza peel before storage. It doesn’t need to air-dry fully like wood. Wiping the peel down with a towel is sufficient.
Sprinkle cornmeal or flour (or both) on your peel before putting the dough on it. It’s especially important to do this with a metal or composite peel because the dough is more likely to stick to those materials.
Line your peel with parchment paper if you don’t have cornmeal or flour. It will keep the dough from sticking to the peel.
- Start small. If you’re new to using a pizza peel, it’s best to start with a smaller pizza. A 12-inch or smaller pie will slide off the peel more easily.
FAQ
Q. Can I bake a pizza on a peel?
A. No, pizza peels are not designed for cooking the pizza. They’re intended as a means to move the pizza from your prep area to a very hot oven or grill. If you tried to bake your pizza on the peel, you would likely damage it, particularly a wooden peel.
Q. What size pizza peel works best for a pizza large enough to feed two or more?
A. If you want to make large pizzas, it’s best to choose a pizza peel that’s at least 15 inches wide. For smaller pizzas, a 12-inch peel is usually sufficient.
Q. Are there are any other uses for my pizza peel?
A. You can use a pizza peel to move other baked goods in and out of the oven, such as bread or calzones. You can also use the peel as a cheese board or serving platter for cut fruit, veggies, and bread. It’s best not to use a metal peel as a cutting board because it could damage knife blades.
