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How to Make Perfectly Shaped Pizza Dough

Let gravity do the work.
By Published July 13, 2021

The debate has raged on for centuries: What makes a good pizza? Some say the cheese, some say the sauce, but what do all of those commodities sit on top of? The dough. Before you can tackle the rest, you need to learn how to stretch and shape your dough the right way.

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In this video, part of the “Kitchen Smarts” series on America’s Test Kitchen’s YouTube channel, America’s Test Kitchen books team test cook Joe Gitter demonstrates how to make the best shaped and stretched pizza dough. This method will guarantee a tender interior and a nice, crispy crust. Here are some of our findings:

  • Start a day early: Put the dough in the fridge for 24 hours before you start. By giving the gluten a chance to rest, the dough won't be tight or hard to work with. 
  • Use a light touch: Be nice and gentle with your pizza dough. If you are too aggressive in the handling of it, the dough will end up being tough and chewy. 
  • If the dough gets too tough, give it another break: When tossing the dough, there's a chance it'll stiffen up. If that happens, just put it back down and let the gluten rest for a few minutes. 

Watch the Video

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What toppings are you going to put on your perfect pizza? Let us know in the comments!