Cook pizza dough first or with toppings?

Question

I always have trouble when cooking pizza with the dough...it always seems to be way too undercooked by the time all of the cheese is melted...How do you cook pizza? Should I cook the dough for a few minutes first and then put toppings on? Thanks

Answer 1

If you are going to really load the pizza, give the dough a few minutes head start before adding the rest of the ingredients. Try this - Four cheese, four mushroom, Escargot Pizza. Cook the escargot till almost crunchy in garlic and butter. Cook the mushrooms in the snail butter. Grease the pizza pan with the snail butter. Spread the dough, top with pizza sauce, add grated cheeses (your choice) top with mushrooms, escargot and bake until perfect. Open some good red wine and enjoy.

Answer 2

Don't cook the dough first. Bake the pizza and toppings together. Since I don't have the recipe (homemade dough?, etc.), I'll try to troubleshoot the problem. The oven has to be very hot - about 500 deg. Use a pizza stone. Use a thin layer of sauce, and don't overload the pie. Pizza-making at home can be a little tricky. You may want to try an upside down pizza. I have the recipe somewhere, will try to post if I find it.

Answer 3

If you are cooking the pizza at 350 F that is your problem. My recipe calls for 400 F but I cook it at 425 F for 23 minutes. Make sure the oven rack is in center or just below center. If it is still not done, raise the temp another 25 degrees. (Pizza Hut cooks them at 500 + for 16 minutes.) If you precook the dough, it will dry out. Also, if your sauce is thin, be careful how much you use, that will prevent the dough from getting done. Try sprinkling parmesan cheese on the crust before adding toppings, this will keep the dough dry. Bake as soon as you assemble, pre heat oven before you add the toppings.

Answer 4

I always cook the dough before adding the toppings. But, you will have to watch that the temp. is not too high or the dough will shrink. I usually bake it at about 325 degrees just until the edge of the crust is starting to turn a golden colour. Then add the toppings and bake as usual. The crust is crispy and delicious.

Answer 5

I cook my dough for a few before I put the toppings on. It does help with the undercooking and also so you don't have soggy crust. Just put it on your pan like you normally would and i take my fork to it a few times, then bake it in the oven for about 5-10 minutes. Good Luck :-)

Answer 6

Best way to cook a pizza is to make the dough, add all the toppings, then put it through an oven, if your using a conventional oven, make sure you put it on a rack instead of a flat tray, as the middle will get soggy. also, the best tasting pizzas use small amounts of toppings spread over evenly, instead of just piling them on. if you are making the dough fresh, you need to give it some proofing time, like with all bread products, then it should cook better and more evenly

Answer 7

The problem is home ovens do not get as hot as restaurant pizza ovens. At home I always have better, dryer crust if I cook it for a few minutes before I put on the toppings.

Answer 8

Cook it on a pizza screen. It has holes in the bottom to help cook the crust. You can buy them at most grocery stores. Always bake with the toppings on.

Answer 9

cook the pizza dough for a few minutes then add toppings!

Answer 10

I bake my pizza crust for a few minutes before putting the toppings and cheese on it. This makes for a crisper crust.