As a proclaimed pizza enthusiast, I am always eager to find out ways to improve my pizza baking at home. The most used thing is the use of pizza steel in pizza kitchen. I researched for the details and found out some interesting about wooden pizza peel vs. metal pizza peel. So if you also want to explore, come close and let me share my findings with you:
What is pizza peel?
A pizza peel is an important tool for pizzerias providing a smooth and easy way to slide pizzas in and out of the oven. Pizza peels has different types some are solid and some are porous, you may find the details in my blog…another difference is of their material usage. Some are wooden pizza peels and some are metal pizza peels. Which one is better is a long and infinite debate and answer lies in your situation and requirements. Let’s find out the details to have some light on this query
Wooden Pizza Peel: Traditional and Time-Tested
Wood is an ancient material and has been used for kitchen utensils for centuries. It’s also been a good choice for pizza peels.
Rough texture
Wooden pizza peels are helpful and liked by many due to their rough structure that helps in sticking the dough while pizza transfers from oven to counter and from counter to oven.
Insulation
Wood is also preferred due to its insulation property which maintains the ideal temperature of the dough resulting in a crisp and perfectly cooked crust of pizza.
Lightweight and Antique look
Wooden peels are lightweight and aesthetically appealing, adding a rusty and antique touch to your kitchen.
Eco-Friendly
Wooden pizza peels are obtained from a renewable source and are a good environmentally friendly choice.
To check all its properties, I decided to try it.
Self-experimentation
I preheated my oven to the highest temperature it can handle, which is 500 degrees Fahrenheit in my case. I placed my wooden pizza steel on the middle rack and let it heat up for about 30 minutes. Then, I slid my pizza onto the wooden surface and let it bake for around 10-12 minutes. The result was a perfectly crispy and evenly cooked crust. I was impressed by how well the wooden pizza peel performed, but there were a few things that caught my attention.
Slower Heat Transfer
Wooden pizza took longer to heat up when compared to a metal pizza peel but it is also a good heat conductor and can store the heat for a more crispy pizza crust. This may seem tough to those who want a quick and easy pizza making with a metal pizza peel.
The rough texture of wooden pizza peel
Wooden pizza peel has a rough surface so to maintain its smooth surface, we need to lightly oil it before and after use to prevent cracking from drying out.
Special care
Wooden is a natural material and wooden pizza peels tend to absorb moisture which can lead to the growth of bacteria if not properly cleaned and dried. Due to their light weight, they need to be handled with care and are not suitable to hold heavy and large pizzas causing them to lose their shape over time.
Metal Pizza Peel
In recent years, with more material explorations in the world, metal pizza peels specifically stainless steel and aluminum pizza peels have gained popularity. Let’s find out some details about it.
Smooth and shiny
These metal pizza peels have a very smooth and slippery surface allowing an ease of sliding of pizza.
Durable
They are also highly durable and can bear high temperatures without cracking or warping.
Quick in heat catching
Metal pizza peels also catch heat very quickly thus reducing overall pizza-making time. This can make a large choice for commercial pizzerias where large and heavy pizzas are in demand.
Low maintenance
Metal pizza peels need low maintenance for cleaning and storage. They aren’t probes for moisture absorption and thus don’t offer a chance for bacterial growth. Metal pizza peels also offer porous pizza peels which helps in a crispier pizza crust. Steel pizza peels are rust-proof and are long-lasting.
But as wooden pizza peels have some drawbacks metal pizzas also do have their downsides.
Dough Sticking Potential
The glossy and slick surface of metal pizza peel may cause the dough to stick which can result in difficulty in transferring pizza from the oven to the counter.
Difficult handling
They are not heavy and need strength to use and hold. They also need proper handling as can damage the surface of the oven while scratching the oven’s surface.
Pizza Peel sizes
Above the debate of metal or wooden material peels, Pizza peel sizes are also important to consider in pizza-making games. A pizza peel of 16 inches is considered as standard size and suitable for most pizzas. But if you just need a small pizza peel for small or medium pizza size then 12 inch pizza peel is a better option for you.
Pizza oven sizes must also be compatible with pizza peel sizes as larger peels may not fit comfortably in a small oven. Conversely, a smaller peel may not handle the larger pizzas in a larger oven causing trouble while transferring the pizza from the oven.
Wooden Pizza Peel vs Metal Pizza Peel
The final of the debate wooden pizza peel vs metal pizza peel results in personal preference of what is required by one. If you are a traditional lover and like the rustic feel of wood then go for wooden pizza peel but if you have to bake large and heavy pizzas or you work in a restaurant then metal pizza peels will fit your requirements.
Whether you choose wooden or metal pizza peel, make sure to keep it clean and maintained for long-term use and performance. For a query: about how to clean pizza steel?, you may visit my blog https://versatilepizza.com/how-to-clean-a-pizza-steel
Conclusion
After thorough research and debate, it is concluded that both wooden and metal pizza peels have their own strength and weaknesses. The choice comes down to personal preferences and needs. The purpose of use and difficulty involved in maintenance may help you choose the right one for you. Well for a better decision try both of them in your kitchen for an on-and-off experience for a variety of user experiences and food tastes. We wish you happy pizza-making!!