May 19th 2025
How Pizza Presses Improve Crust Texture Across Pizza Styles
Perfecting pizza dough is an art form, and the right tools impact the results. A pizza press improves crust texture, offering consistency and efficiency. Ahead, we’ll explore how to use a press for four popular styles of pizza.
Crispy Thin-Crust Pizza
Thin-crust pizzas are all about achieving that satisfying crunch while keeping the interior delicate. A pizza press helps evenly flatten the dough to a precise thickness for consistency throughout the crust. Using this tool also eliminates uneven cooking and gives the dough a uniform texture, which results in a perfectly crispy bite every time.
On a commercial pizza press, these results can typically be achieved by selecting the thinnest setting to remove air pockets and shape the dough uniformly. Achieving the same results by hand can be incredibly difficult, especially in a fast-paced restaurant environment, making a pizza press essential for establishments known for thin crust.
New York-Style Pizza
New York-style pizza is beloved for its foldable slices and chewy crust. A pizza press machine helps the dough stretch evenly, offering the ideal balance of chewiness and slight crispiness. The press guarantees gentle handling of the dough to enhance crust texture while maintaining its elasticity, which is critical for this pizza style. Set the press to a moderate thickness to create an evenly rolled base with a slightly thicker edge for the crust.
Neapolitan Pizza
Neapolitan pizza is known for its soft, airy crust and signature charred exterior. Using a pizza press to prepare Neapolitan dough keeps the thickness uniform but still light enough to create the desired air pockets during baking. The even pressure maintains the integrity of the dough without overworking it.
For the best results, set your press to a relatively thin setting. After pressing, the dough should retain some elasticity to promote the iconic airy texture. When baked in a high-temperature oven, the dough puffs up slightly while remaining tender and chewy.
Deep-Dish Pizza
Deep-dish pies feature a thick crust that is buttery, flaky, and sturdy enough to hold layers of fillings. Using a pizza press for these types of pies simplifies the process of achieving a consistent thickness while maintaining the dough’s structure. Uniform pressing leads to an even bake, which prevents soggy bottoms.
For this pizza style, set your press to produce a thicker base, using it to shape the dough before transferring it to the pan. Once transferred, place the dough in the middle of the pan, spreading it evenly by hand until it reaches the edges.
Pizza presses improve crust texture across various pizza styles, delivering consistently exceptional quality and elevating the dining experience for customers. Start crafting perfect pizza crusts with a press today!