Everybody likes their pizza differently. It could be chicken & pepperoni, marinara & mozzarella, Hawaiian, or spicy jalapenos, it all depends on your taste. How you cook your pizza also affects the taste of your chosen variety.
If you’ve been thinking of having a pizza party in your home, there are several ways to go about it. You could use an oven or better yet, go for a square pizza stone on a grate over an open fire.
A pizza stone is made of durable clay that can withstand extremely high heat while distributing temperatures quickly and evenly. You can use a pizza stone in an oven or on a grill grate. You can also cook your pizza directly on the grill if you have the right surface.
Using a grill is usually easier and timesaving but the stone method is said to add to the flavor. The idea is to choose the cooking appliance that best works for you.
Features of a good pizza stone and grill
A good pizza stone is one that can be termed as durable and excellent for cooking pizza with a crispier crust. The essential features for these cooking appliances include:
Safety and efficiency
The stone should be made of natural cordierite material. It has excellent thermal shock resistance and can withstand extremely high temperatures without the worry of exploding or cracking. Also, the material handles direct flames and distributes heat evenly and quickly which helps produce the best crust.
A good grill grate should be made with quality heat-resistant materials for durability. Such materials provide good heat transfer. These include heavy cast iron, porcelain-coated cast-iron, stainless steel, or even a plain steel grate.
Size
The size you need will vary based on the size of pizza you wish to make. The larger the pizza, the larger the stone and grill.
How to use a square pizza stone and grill grate
When your dough has doubled in size and is ready to roll, put your pizza stone onto the grill, close the cover and preheat. This ensures even distribution of heat.
Once heated, place your pizza carefully on the stone, close the grill, and cook for 5-15 minutes or desired doneness. And there you go; your pizza is ready to be served!
Why cook pizza on stone and grill
It only takes a few minutes to cook pizza on a grill; between eight and ten minutes on average. That said, the duration can vary depending on the thickness of the crust and the number of toppings.
This technique also gives you ample time to make pizzas alongside your bacon, burgers, steaks, and hotdogs. You just need to place them on the other side of the grill. The method is also a great substitute for someone intending to cook pizza without an oven since it results in crispy crust easily. Furthermore, using a pizza stone gives pizzas a taste that mimics the traditional brick-baking methods.
