| There are many different styles of pizzas out there. | | | | In a bowl you want to combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, a |
| Thick, thin, stuffed crust and calzone style just to name | | | | tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of salt. Depending on |
| a few. In this article I will focus on one of the most | | | | what kind of yeast you use you could also add the |
| important factors, freshness. Homemade pizza crust is | | | | yeast with the other dry ingredients. If you're not using |
| fun and easy to make. If you have kids that enjoy | | | | instant yeast I would suggest mixing the yeast with a |
| helping in the kitchen this could be a fun family project. | | | | cup of warm water. The water temperature usually |
| I have been making pizza crust at home for many | | | | needs to be between 100 and 105°F. Any hotter and |
| years. The major ingredient of course is flour and if | | | | you could kill the yeast and any cooler the yeast will |
| there's one thing I've noticed is that there is a huge | | | | activate. If you're using dry instant yeast just add it to |
| difference between brands. Of course there are many | | | | your other dry ingredients. |
| types of flour, but I have found that bread flour or high | | | | I like to use a kitchen aid style mixer with a dough |
| gluten flour is the best for making pizzas. The taste | | | | hook, it just makes life easier. You can knead the |
| difference between brands is usually not noticeable, | | | | dough by hand and the results will be just as good. |
| until you try King Arthur flour. You'll pay a little more but | | | | Add all the ingredients into the mixer and I usually like to |
| you'll find a huge difference in taste. So my first secret | | | | add a tablespoon of olive oil. This is optional, but it does |
| tip is to start with King Arthur bread flour. If you have | | | | seem to add a little hint of flavor. Allow the ingredients |
| access to a restaurant supply company, or want to | | | | to mix for a good 10 minutes. Another trick you can |
| order online I would pick up King Arthur high gluten flour. | | | | experiment with is to add the flour and the water, or |
| It's called Sir Lancelot. | | | | actually most of the flour say 2 cups and let it sit for |
| The next major ingredient is yeast. There are many | | | | 15 minutes prior to adding the other ingredients and |
| different types of yeast out there for starters. The | | | | mixing. |
| most popular are the instant dry that you can find in | | | | While the dough was kneading in the machine, grab a |
| any store, usually in a single serving packet. Baker's | | | | small bowl and drop about a teaspoon of oil into the |
| yeast or commonly known as cake yeast is fresh and | | | | bowl rubbing it all around. Add a little oil to your hands |
| needs to be refrigerated. If you can find this type of | | | | and turn the mixer off. You will know when the dough |
| yeast I would suggest experimenting and adjusting | | | | is done kneading when the mixer is moving it around in |
| according to your taste buds. Nothing can change the | | | | one solid clump. The dough should be slightly sticky, not |
| flavor of your dough more than yeast. You can also | | | | too wet and not too dry. You may have to add a little |
| search online for pizza starters. It's amazing to me | | | | flour or a couple drops of water to get things right. |
| how much you can modify the flavor in any type of | | | | I like to take the dough out of the mixer and finish |
| bread with yeast. | | | | kneading by hand. I eventually get the dough in the |
| The other ingredients do not really effect the taste all | | | | shape of a ball and put it in my bowl. Place a piece of |
| that much. Salt, sugar, oil and water pretty much are | | | | Saran wrap tightly around the bowl and put it in the |
| the same anywhere. There are some experts out | | | | fridge for at least four hours. I usually like mine to sit |
| there that will argue water is the secret ingredient. | | | | overnight. |
| Most New York style pizzerias swear it's the water. I | | | | Well there you have it, a basic recipe with a couple of |
| would argue more so flour and yeast and how long | | | | secrets. Go ahead and give it a shot it is not hard. |
| you let the dough set. There are lots of other | | | | Soon you will have your own homemade pizza crust |
| substitutes for salt and sugar that I have seen. Some | | | | family recipe and your friends and family will beg you |
| folks use sea salt or honey but I have not found a | | | | to make them pizza. |
| noticeable difference. | | | | |