Techniques

Pizza dough: knead, proof and stretch

Judge yeasted dough by its progress, not just the clock. This catalogue pizza uses 500 g flour and 325 ml water.

Wheat flour
Veganbaking.net from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo resized and converted to WebP

Prepare the workspace

Weigh ingredients and follow your baker’s yeast instructions. Do not substitute baking powder. Choose a bowl with room for expansion and a suitable cover.

Perform the technique

Mix and knead as specified, then cover against drying. Observe expansion in a suitable place; cold kitchens may slow proofing. Drain mozzarella during this rest.

Check the result

Dough should stretch without immediately tearing. If it springs back, allow a brief relaxation instead of forcing it. Stretch gradually with a consistent centre thickness.

Correct mistakes

Check time, temperature and yeast if it has not risen; do not overheat. Excess bench flour changes the dough. Preheat the tray before baking.