How to Cook Pizza in an Outdoor Pizza Oven

You have your brand-new outdoor pizza oven, and nothing is stopping you from cooking a delicious pizza. Just think about the delicious smell and taste, and you’re probably ready to start right away—but what if you don’t know how to cook pizza in an outdoor pizza oven?

6 Steps for Cooking Pizza in an Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

These are the steps you need to follow to prepare a delicious pizza in your outdoor pizza oven!

1. Get the Ingredients

The first thing you need to do before cooking your pizza is gather the ingredients you’ll use. If you want a classic American pizza, you’ll need the ingredients to prepare the dough, the necessary toppings, plus your favorite cheese.

Here’s what you’ll need for the dough:

• 4 ½ cups of bread flour
• 2 ¼ teaspoons of quick rise yeast
• 3 teaspoons of salt
• 2 cups of water
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil

Here’s what you’ll need for the sauce:

• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon of dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

2. Heat the Oven

Once you have the necessary ingredients, you’ll need to light up your outdoor oven to the right temperature. For this type of pizza, a constant heat of around 450ºF should be more than enough.

Let the oven heat up while you move on to preparing the dough, sauce, and toppings for your pizza.

3. Start with the Pizza Dough

Here’s what you need to do to prepare the pizza dough:

1. Grab a medium-sized mixer bowl and combine two cups of flour, all the yeast, and salt.
2. In a pot, combine water and oil and heat at around 125ºF. After a couple of minutes, add the flour and yeast mixture.
3. Blend them at a low speed until every inch is moist. It should take no longer than three minutes.
4. As you stir the mix, gradually add the remaining flour until you've got a soft dough.
5. Now, spread flour on a large surface and begin kneading the dough. Shape it into a ball, and then cover it and allow it to rest for around 15 minutes.
6. Divide your dough into four or two parts, depending on the pizza size you want. Now, place each portion in a previously greased pizza pan or peel.

Now it’s time to add the pizza sauce and toppings!

4. Prepare the Pizza Sauce

You can prepare the sauce while the dough is resting during step five. Take advantage of those 15 minutes and grab a saucepan.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Put oil and garlic in the pan. Let them fry until the garlic becomes tender.
2. Then stir in the remaining sauce ingredients (crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, basil, salt, and red pepper flakes).
3. Stir for a couple of minutes on a low-fire setting. Then simmer the sauce for around 30 minutes.

Tip: The sauce can be refrigerated for about a week before it goes bad. You can prepare a lot of sauce and have it ready the day before preparing your pizza. You can even freeze it for later.

5. Get the Dough Ready

Now that you have the dough ready on the pizza peel, you must spread the pizza sauce over it. However, before you do that, you’ll need to sprinkle ¼ of shredded cheese on the dough. It can be any type of cheese you prefer, but we recommend using mozzarella or parmesan cheese.

After sprinkling the cheese, you can spread the sauce on top. You can choose the amount of sauce you want for your pizza, but we recommend around ¾ of a cup per pizza.

Now it’s time for the toppings! They can be anything, but you’ll definitely need some pepperoni to make a delicious American pizza. Sprinkle slices around the pizza until you’re happy with how it looks.

6. Place the Pizza Peel on the Oven Floor

It’s now time for the final step of preparing a delicious pizza. With your pizza oven at the right temperature, all that’s left to do is place the pizza pan inside. The pizza should be ready in around 30 minutes or less if the temperature is optimal.

Once you notice the edges are crispy and have a light golden brown color, you’ll know it’s time to remove the pizza from the oven. Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes before serving. Now, all you need to do is enjoy!

Tip: Depending on its size and overall internal space, you can place multiple pizza pans in your outdoor pizza oven.

Find the Right Outdoor Pizza Oven for Your Home with CAPO Building Specialties

Are you looking to update your old outdoor pizza oven with a new and modern option? Then look no further than CAPO Building Specialties. We have outdoor pizza ovens, equipment, and accessories for every need and situation.

If you want to learn more about our modern and high-quality outdoor pizza ovens, check out our complete catalog or contact us today!