For most recipes, there is no replacement for the taste of a homemade meal. When it comes to pizza, this is more difficult than you might think, but it can be done. To make the perfect pizza you need a little skill, but when you have the dough and toppings ready, cooking it in a regular oven doesn’t always yield such impressive results. Still, there are ways you can make improvements so that when you are done, you can make restaurant-quality pizza every time.
Here are some of the reasons why homemade pizza is better than takeout:
It’s Always Hot
When you pull it out the oven, homemade pizza is piping hot and ready to eat. A lot of the time, a take pizza is far from steaming hot which can take a lot of the enjoyment from it.
Money Saver
Although a takeout pizza can seem like a good idea, the amount of money you save on making your own might make you think twice about ordering out again. A couple of takeouts can be the equivalent to a week’s worth of gas in your car or more than a month’s worth of homemade pizza nights.
You Can Be Healthy
Although it is not going to be the same for a lot of people, there are ways of making a pizza healthier such as a cauliflower pizza base of vegan-friendly toppings. Some takeout places are getting better at giving you more options but knowing exactly what is going on your pizza without additives or flavor enhancers can be a big plus.
Eat It At Any Time Of The Day
Local pizza takeaways are not always open when you want them to be so if you don’t feel like waiting for your local store to open, you can prep and cook your pizza and eat it as brunch if you feel the urge.
All-Weather, All Hours
There are no restrictions that might impact you receiving your pizza. Whether you have arrived home late at night and takeout isn’t a possibility or there is snow, making the roads tricky for a delivery guy, a homemade pizza does not know such restrictions.
No Mistakes
How many times have you ordered takeout only to receive someone else’s order or the wrong toppings? If you are a vegetarian then this can make it near impossible for you to eat the replacement. When making your own pizza, you are in control of quality.
Unlimited Toppings
This is where the price of a takeaway pizza can get out of hand but the number of toppings you choose at home will not be an issue. You can grab anything you like out of the fridge or from the store on the way home and stack them as high as you like.
Quality Ingredients
The bulk purchased ingredients that go into a takeaway pizza are often low quality, with tonnes of salt chucked in to mask the taste and make it seem better than it is. Because you are choosing the ingredients you can be responsible for the quality of what you are putting into your body.
It’s Fun
If you have young kids then pizza night can be an opportunity to spend some time together and get your hands a little mucky. From the kneading of the dough to the tossing of the toppings, pizza night is something to look forward to when you make your own together.
How To Make Homemade Pizza Crust
Your homemade pizza is only going to be good if you have a good recipe to follow. It is best to prepare the dough well in advance as this is going to take a while until it is ready. This will make two crusts for your next pizza night. You’ll need:
- A packet of instant yeast
- 1 1/3 cups of water
- 2 cups of all-purpose white flour
- A spoonful of Salt
- A spoonful of sugar
- A spoonful of Olive Oil
- Cornmeal (for dusting)
Now, to make your easy pizza crust:
- Start by combing all ingredients into a bowl and mixing well either with your fingers or a handheld mixer.
- Then, knead the dough thoroughly until it is ready to go into a greased bowl.
- Cover, and leave to rise for between. 70 – 90 minutes.
- When it is ready, make indents in the dough to get rid of any air bubbles and divide them into two.
- Roll it out until you make between 10 – 12-inch diameter.
- Add your toppings.
- Cook on a high temperature for 10 – 15 minutes, keeping an eye on the progress until it is ready.
Is A Pizza Oven Worth It?
If you are considering how to make your pizza night tastier, then there are certain ways you can make this happen. The first step is to use quality ingredients, and make sure you use your favorite toppings. For a quality crust that is perfect every time, use a pizza oven. They are fast becoming one of the most popular accessories for an outside social space.
A wood-fired home pizza oven can give your next homemade slice an authentic restaurant-quality taste that is just right but they are also available in more affordable options such as gas or electric home pizza ovens. Because they can reach high temperatures of around 450 degrees C, these home pizza ovens can cook a variety of pizzas in just a couple of minutes.
This is ideal if you are entertaining and trying to produce multiple pizzas that taste great and are hot when everyone is ready to eat. They aren’t difficult to assemble and can also be reasonably priced. Not only that, but they look great and can become a popular feature.
How Much Does A Wood Fired Home Pizza Oven Cost?
Although they can be sizeable units, a pizza oven doesn’t have to cost a lot for you to get high-quality. If your budget is modest then you can still get your hands on one for around $300. A standard price for these products tends to be between that and $1,000 although premium options can cost ten times that. These models have additional features that most people do not need to enjoy quality homemade pizza that is quick to cook and tastes great every time.
