Pizza Peel vs. Pizza Paddle: What’s the Difference
Pizza Peel vs. Pizza Paddle
The main difference between a pizza paddle and a pizza peel is that a pizza paddle is usually made of wood, whereas a pizza peel is commonly made of metal. Also, a pizza peel is a large, flat tool used to slide pizzas in and out of ovens, while a pizza paddle is a small, narrow tool used to transfer pizzas from a countertop to a baking sheet or pizza stone.
Pizza Peel
Pizza peels transfer pizzas in and out of ovens; they are typically made of wood or metal. Pizza peels can be found in a variety of sizes.
You may also hear the pizza peel in some cultures described as a pizza paddle. Some people consider this an American term for what other cultures call only “a bakery shovel.”
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Pizza Paddle
A pizza paddle is a kitchen tool used for transferring pizzas from a countertop or baking surface to an oven or grill. Pizza paddles typically have a flat, circular surface with a long handle attached to one side.
Pizza paddles help prevent pizzas from sticking to countertops or baking surfaces and make it easy to slide pizzas into and out of hot ovens and grills. Also, pizza paddles come in various sizes and materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. Choose a pizza paddle that is the right size and material for your needs.
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What Is a Pizza Paddle Used for?
A pizza paddle is a tool to slide a pizza in and out of an oven. It is usually made of wood or metal and has a long handle to keep the user’s hand away from the heat.
The pizza paddle is used to transfer and help cook the pizza, clean and maintain the stone, and serve the finished product. A wooden or metal peel can scrape up a pie from a floured countertop, but it will not do a great job of getting a deep dish in and out of an oven. This is where the paddle shines.
It has a wide, flat surface area that makes transferring pizzas a breeze. Its sharp edge also allows for slicing pizzas into uniform slices for serving. If you have an unglazed ceramic stone in your oven, you’ll be using it to clean up all of that cheese stuck on there, making scraping up with a peel difficult or impossible.
What Are Pizza Paddles Made of?
Pizza paddles are usually made of wood or metal. If you like using wooden pizza peels but prefer a paddle shape over the traditional peel, you will probably want to go for a wooden paddle.
Wood is easy to work with and won’t need any special care, so it is perfect for home use. Wooden pizza paddles are available in various types of wood, such as maple or walnut. If you want a more durable option, then you can look into purchasing a metal pizza paddle. Metal pizza paddles are usually made from aluminum, an inexpensive material, but they are also very durable to last longer than their wooden counterparts.
Though they require some maintenance, they may rust or get damaged if left out in the rain too long without being properly cleaned off first! A good quality pizza paddle should be high-quality wood or metal regardless of its type (wooden vs. metal).
The best way to determine this is by checking how thick the blade on your chosen model is: it should be at least one inch wide and preferably thicker so that it doesn’t warp during use over time.
Make sure to check out our review about the best wood pellet pizza oven.
Is a Pizza Peel Necessary?
A pizza peel is not strictly necessary for making delicious pizza at home; it does make the task much more accessible. Using a peel can be especially useful in cooking with an outdoor pizza oven.
When using an oven, you’ll want to preheat the range and the peel before adding your pizza dough so that it doesn’t stick when transferring to and from the heat. You can then use your pastry brush or oil spray to lightly coat the surface of your peel with a little bit of oil.
This will keep your dough from sticking after shaping it on your floured surface. Once you place your dough on top of the slippery peel and begin assembling any toppings, you can use the handle to transfer the whole thing into or out of the oven without touching any part of it yourself.
If this seems too many steps, remember that some people prefer to cook their pizzas on a pan or baking sheet instead. Although this might not get you that perfect crispy-thin crust that many love about pizzas cooked in an oven, it’s certainly one way around the need for a peel if one isn’t easily accessible.
What Size Pizza Peel Do You Need?
When it comes to pizza peels, size does matter. You don’t want a peel that’s too small or too large for your pizza. The ideal size depends on the size of your pizza. A 10-inch pizza, for example, is best cooked on a 12-inch peel.
Selecting the right peel size will depend on a few things: the diameter of your pizza stone and the length of pizza you want to make.
For example, if you have a 15-inch round stone and want to make a 12-inch pie, you’ll want to get a peel at least 16 inches long to easily slide under your dough. If you regularly bake smaller pizzas (say, 10 inches or less), you may want to consider getting one 12 inches long because it’ll give you more control in moving the pies out of and into your oven.
A longer peel doesn’t just help with sliding pizzas in and out of the oven; it also helps when taking them off the peel for slicing. A little extra length will let you tilt them without allowing any toppings to fall off! But be careful not to choose one that’s too big—you don’t want your toppings sliding around or falling off onto the floor!
Is It Better to Use a Wooden or Metal Pizza Peel?
Some people believe that wooden pizza peels are better because they are more forgiving if you make a mistake. Others believe that metal pizza peels are better because they conduct heat better and slide under the pizza more easily.
You’ll be handling your pizza with it, so the peel must be comfortable in your hand. Think about the size and weight of what you’ll be using. A wooden peel tends to be heavier than a metal one, making the wooden one more challenging to handle if your dough is rich. In addition, if you have any issues with carpal tunnel or arthritis, a lighter metal peel might be more straightforward for you to lift and maneuver.
A variety of materials are available for both types of peels. Common materials include ash, maple, birch, and rubberwood for wood varieties. Metal peels are typically made from anodized aluminum or stainless steel. If you opt for a stainless steel paddle, make sure that it has a long enough handle so that the heat from your oven doesn’t burn your hands when transferring pizzas in and out of the oven.
How Do You Transfer a Pizza from Peel to Stone?
To transfer a pizza from the peel to the stone, you need to make sure that you have a well-floured surface on your peel. This helps prevent the dough from sticking. Next, slide the pizza off the peel and onto your stone in one motion.
In some cases, even if you have floured your peel enough, some dough can still stick or tear as you slide it on. In this case, you can use a few different tricks:
Shake the peel slightly to see if your dough will loosen from it. If not, tap it lightly against your oven rack a couple of times until it does (this trick works best for homemade pizza). Make sure that your oven is preheated before doing this!
Use a perforated peel instead of one without holes; these help pizzas move onto the stone easier because some air can flow through them while being slid across the stone (see image below).
Push on the edge of your wood or metal peel near where the pizza meets its surface (this is called “shoving”), which will cause more force behind the sliding motion and make it easier for pizzas stuck tightly against their peel off those surfaces faster than they would otherwise fall away naturally during regular sliding movements alone.
What Is the Advantage of a Perforated Pizza Peel?
The most obvious advantage is that it allows the toppings to contact the hot pizza stone directly, ensuring that all ingredients get cooked evenly. The holes also allow you to slide the pizza onto your stone without risking it falling through and breaking.
- A perforated pizza peel allows for better airflow to the pizza, which helps to prevent the pizza from sticking to the peel.
- It also allows for better heat transfer to the pizza, which helps cook the pizza more evenly.
- Finally, a perforated pizza peel is easier to clean than a solid pizza peel, as the holes allow any debris to fall through.
Conclusion
Pizza Peel vs. Pizza Paddle is a difficult question to answer. Both have their pros and cons, but in the end, it really depends on personal preference. If you like the traditional way of cooking pizza, then a pizza peel is the way to go. However, if you’re looking for a quicker and easier way to make pizza, a pizza paddle is your best bet.
If you are interested in the best kitchen products and accessories, be sure to visit my Recommended Products Page (click to see my page), Which includes all of my top picks by category.
