The Science of Pizza: How Temperature Affects Texture

One of the key benefits of a pizza oven is the high temperatures they can effortlessly achieve, and the temperature at which a pizza is cooked plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect texture. We’ve all experienced a pizza that’s either too doughy because it’s not cooked enough or dried up and too crispy because it’s overcooked. It’s often a balancing act between perfectly cooked toppings and a perfectly cooked crust. Achieving that balance can be tricky, but a pizza oven makes it a whole lot easier. In this blog, we’ll dive into the science behind how temperature affects your pizza’s texture and how you can use it to elevate your homemade pizza game.

Understanding Pizza Dough

The foundation of any great pizza is the dough, and its texture is heavily influenced by temperature. When flour, water, yeast, and salt are mixed to form a dough, the right temperature is needed in order for it to prove properly. Warmer temperatures speed up the fermentation process, allowing the yeast to activate and produce gases, which help the dough rise and become aerated. If the dough is kept too warm, however, it can become overly sticky and tough. Cooler temperatures on the other hand slow fermentation, leading to a dough that is denser.

The Impact of Oven Temperature on Crust, Toppings & Sauce

The temperature of your pizza oven directly influences the texture of the crust and base of the pizza, making it one of the most critical factors in achieving the perfect cook. High heat is essential for creating that crispy, leopard-spotted crust with a slightly chewy texture. In modern pizza ovens like the ovens we retail from Gozney, Ooni, Igneus, Clementi and DeliVita, temperatures easily reach 500°C or more, which cooks the pizza quickly, resulting in a delicate, airy crust with a charred, crisp exterior. Neapolitan pizzas are traditionally cooked at these high temperatures, often in as little as 60-90 seconds. The high heat ensures that as soon as the pizza is launched, the dough immediately starts to rise, creating small air pockets and charred spots on the crust. 

These high temperatures also allow the toppings, especially cheeses like mozzarella to melt perfectly, becoming elastic in texture, whilst not drying out or burning. Toppings such as vegetables and meats caramelise beautifully and the sauce benefits from being cooked just enough to enhance the flavours without losing its freshness.

It’s also important to consider the stone floor of the pizza oven, as it absorbs and radiates heat, helping form that perfect base, offering a more even heat distribution, ensuring your crust cooks evenly and crisps up perfectly from beneath as well as directly from the flames. We always recommend people to invest in an Infrared Thermometer to accurately assess the temperature of the stone, which helps to prevent soggy bottoms! No one wants those!

Preheating the Oven

To achieve consistent results, preheating the oven is crucial, ensuring it reaches the desired temperature before launching the pizza. It’s also important to monitor cooking time. Too long in the oven and your pizza may become dry. Too short, and the dough may remain undercooked. Experimenting with temperatures will allow you to find your ideal texture, whether you prefer a crispy, thin crust or a soft, chewy base. As a rule of thumb however, we recommend an internal oven temperature window of between 400°C to 450°C, and a stone temperature of around 350°C.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the temperature at which you cook your pizza is key to achieving the perfect texture, from the initial dough fermentation to the crust and toppings. By understanding how temperature impacts pizza, you can fine-tune your cooking technique for the best results. So, experiment with different temperatures to find what works for you! 

Of course, as always, if you’d like any advice on choosing the perfect pizza oven and accessories from our expert team, they’re on hand to help every step of the way. You can get in touch on 01423 608648 or email in a question on sales@thepizzaovenshop.com.