My pizza isn’t crisp enough

December 15 2023 2:31pm • Est. Read Time: 2 MIN

Ooni ovens aren’t just for cooking puffy, Neapolitan pizza! If you want to get a thin and crispy crust, follow the tips below:

 

Tip 1. Use the ‘low and slow’ technique

  • Cooking your pizza at a lower temperature and for longer will make your crust crispier.

To do this, follow the steps below:

If using gas: 

If using solid fuel (hardwood, charcoal or pellets):

 If using the electrical Ooni Volt 12:
  1. Turn your control dial to maximum and preheat your oven and stone for 15 to 20 minutes.

     

  2. Once your oven and stone are preheated to 750ºF / 400ºC or higher, turn off the gas completely.

     

  3. Launch your pizza.

     

  4. Rotate your pizza as necessary and monitor closely (this will take longer than 60 seconds).

     

  5. Once the base of your pizza has some color on it, turn back on your flames to give the top of your pizza a final blast of heat.

  1. Load up your fuel and preheat your oven and stone for 15 to 20 minutes.

     

  2. Once your oven and stone are preheated to 750ºF / 400ºC or higher, let the flames die down naturally.

     

  3. Launch your pizza.

     

  4. Rotate your pizza as necessary and monitor closely (this will take longer than 60 seconds).

     

  5. Once the base of your pizza has some color on it, add in some wood to give the top of your pizza a final blast of heat.

 

  1. Select the temperature you want to cook at. Normally between 570°F / 300°C and 660°F / 350°C.

     

  2. Once your oven and stone are preheated between 570°F / 300°C and 660°F / 350°C, launch your pizza.

     

  3. Rotate your pizza as necessary and monitor closely (this will take longer than 60 seconds).

     

  4. Due to the dual-heating elements, the top of the pizza should be cooking low and slow, just like the base.

  5. If you need to give the top a blast of heat, you can turn the balance dial clockwise to put more heat into the top element.

You can see the low and slow technique in action here:

 

Tip 2. Add oil to your dough

  • Adding oil into your pizza dough will help make it crispier when cooked at lower temperatures.

Tip 3. Avoid using toppings with too much moisture

  • Toppings with a high moisture content will make your dough soggier.

Instead of using:

Use:

Regular mozzarella

Low-moisture mozzarella / fior di latte

 

or

 

Strain your mozzarella (Tear into pieces, place in a sieve over a bowl, and let drain for at least 2 hours in the fridge)

Watery tomato sauce

Thicker tomato sauce (follow our Classic Pizza Sauce recipe)

Oily toppings

Toppings you’ve patted dry

Tip 4. Make your dough thinner

  • Pizza with a thin base will become crispier than pizza with a thick base.

  • To form a thin base:

Tip 5. Add sugar to your dough 

  • This isn’t necessary in getting a crispy crust, but it does help to brown the crust and give it a nice golden color.

Follow our New York-style Pizza Dough recipe or our New York-style Cheese Pie recipe.

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