Cooking a great pizza in our home oven.

Making homemade pizza and achieving a result similar to that of a wood-fired oven is possible, especially if your electric oven has a pizza function. With the right tricks and careful cooking management, you can achieve a crispy base and a golden crust. Here's a complete guide to making the most of your electric oven and baking the perfect pizza.

Many modern electric ovens have a specific pizza function that optimizes the temperature and use of heating elements to achieve intense, evenly distributed heat. This function simulates the environment of wood-fired ovens, ideal for cooking pizza at high temperatures and in a short time. But do you really need 300 degrees? Absolutely not.

Recommended settings for the pizza function:

Temperature: Set the oven to 250-280°C, the maximum temperature the oven can reach. The pizza function is designed to quickly heat both the top and bottom, allowing for optimal cooking of the pizza.

Preheating: The oven should be preheated for at least 20-30 minutes before baking, so that the internal temperature is uniform and stable.

Using a grill or pizza stone: If you have a pizza stone, place it in the lower part of the oven. The stone retains heat and allows for a more wood-fired oven-like cooking experience, giving the pizza a crispy crust.

Baking is crucial to ensuring the pizza is cooked to perfection, and small adjustments can make the difference between a soft and a crispy crust.

Preparing the base: After rolling out the dough, spread it directly on baking paper or on a peel to make transferring easier.

Transferring the pizza to the stone: If you're using a pizza stone, use a peel or baking paper to place the pizza directly onto the stone while it's already hot in the oven.

Oven position: If you don't have a pizza stone, place the pizza on a baking tray and place it in the lowest part of the oven, near the lower heating element, which will be very hot with the pizza function.

The cooking time for pizza in an electric oven varies depending on the temperature and type of oven, but generally takes between 8 and 12 minutes. A careful visual check during cooking is essential for a well-browned and evenly cooked pizza.

Monitor cooking: Don't open the oven too often, as each opening causes heat to escape. However, you can take a quick look after about 6-8 minutes to make sure the base and sides are cooking evenly.

Rotate the pizza if necessary: ​​If you notice that one side is browning more than the other, rotate the pizza for even cooking.

For a crispy base, use the heat from the lower heating element:

Grill function for a final minute: If your oven allows it, turn on the grill for the last 30-60 seconds of cooking to give the crust a slightly charred effect, typical of Neapolitan pizza.

Crust thickness: Roll out the dough thinly in the center, leaving the edge slightly thicker. This will give you a well-baked crust and a soft crust.

5. Condiment Management

The quality of the seasonings is crucial, but how you manage them during cooking also affects the final result. Here are some tips for perfect seasoning:

Mozzarella: Spread the mozzarella evenly over the pizza, avoiding overcrowding so as not to weigh down the base.

Toppings added at the end of cooking: If you use ingredients like prosciutto, arugula, or basil, add them immediately after taking the pizza out of the oven to maintain their freshness and consistency.

6. Tricks to Improve Cooking in the Electric Oven

Refractory stone: The stone stores heat and distributes it evenly, ensuring a crispy base and intense heat that recreates the effect of a wood-fired oven.

High humidity: While baking pizza, try placing a bowl of hot water in the oven to maintain the necessary humidity and prevent the pizza from drying out excessively.

Perforated baking tray: If you don't have a baking stone, a perforated baking tray can help create a crispy base, allowing the heat to cook from below as well.

Enjoy your meal and happy cooking!