Get Your Special Pizziaoli these Hand-Picked and Tested Tools to Create the Best Pizza Ever!
I created The Ultimate Gift Guide for the at Home Pizza Maker after testing hundreds and hundreds of pizza products over the course of a decade. When it comes to pizza making gifts, the best tools, ingredients, and equipment make the difference between a good pizza and a spectacular pizza. I’ve used a lot of great pizza products, but I’ve also wasted a ton of money on junk over the years. This comprehensive gift guide will save you time and money by recommending my top picks in each category.
With the rise of the portable pizza oven, baking steel, and premium ingredients and tools available to people at home, there is a pizza making revolution going on around the world! It doesn’t matter what style of pizza you make, what pizza knowledge you have, or if you have never made pizza before – the pizza products in this gift guide will have you making exceptional artisanal pizzas at home in no time!
To find the very best ingredients for making pizza at home, please check out my Guide to the Best Ingredients for Homemade Pizza.
Pizza Ovens
The pizza oven is usually what people are focused on investing in first as it’s typically the biggest investment a pizzaolo will make. There are so many portable pizza ovens on the market ranging from $100 to more than $2000. The key is to find the best oven for your budget that can bake the pizza how you like it. Decide what size and styles of pizza you want to make before making this investment! I have tested many portable pizza ovens, and these are my clear favorites.
Gozney Roccbox Pizza Oven
The Gozney Roccbox takes the #1 spot on my list of a dozen portable ovens that I have personally owned and tested. It is the best insulated, has the most commercial build, and really does what it’s designed to do (bake 12″ or smaller pizzas) without tradeoffs. Read my full review of the the Roccbox.
Gozney Dome Pizza Oven
The Gozney Dome is an even more impressive pizza oven that extremely versatile and is built to last for a very long time. It is an absolute pleasure to cook pizza, steak, chicken, bread, vegetables and much more. It only comes in at #2 on my list as it comes at a higher price point. The Dome comes in a wood only version as well as a gas/wood hybrid option. It also has features such as built in thermometer probes making it super high performing and easy to use. See everything I make in the dome here.
Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven
If you’re looking to make larger pizzas and have a bit more flexibility in what styles you can make, the Ooni Koda 16 is a close 2nd on my list of favorites. It accommodates up to a 16 inch pizza and it’s large opening can fit pan pizzas with ease. The L-shaped burner helps keep the stone hot and requires less turning of the pizza.
Cooking in Your Home Oven/Range
If you aren’t ready to invest in a pizza oven, aren’t able to use a propane/wood-fired oven where you live, or prefer the ease and simplicity of using your residential range to make pizzas, a pizza stone or pizza steel is an excellent choice. They help modulate and retain temperature in the oven as well as promote a crispy crust. Just remember to thoroughly preheat them for about an hour before using!
Baking Steel
The OG Baking Steel that changed the game! A baking steel is similar to a baking stone, but it gets hotter faster, stores heat differently, and transfers heat into the pizza quicker. This means results that look like they came straight from the local pizzeria! The baking steel comes pre-seasoned so there is virtually no maintenance and will last forever!
Pizzacraft Baking Stone
The easiest way to get started making crispy pizzas at home on a budget it by getting a baking stone. This Pizzacraft Baking Stone has been in my home oven for the better part of a decade and has produced some fantastic pizzas with crispy bottoms time and time again!
Thermometers
Knowing the surface temperature of the stone or steel in your pizza oven is absolutely critical to create consistently great pizza. Just because you set your flame to high or range to 550f degrees, does not mean that the cooking surface has reached the proper temperature to cook a pizza. The only way to know that it’s ready to bake is by measuring the surface temperature with an infrared thermometer.
Knowing the temperature of your pizza dough and the water that you put into the dough is also critical. When mixing dough, you should aim for a maximum final mixing temperature of 72f degrees for optimal yeast development and better dough. A probe thermometer will give you an accurate reading of what the internal temp of the dough and water is.
ERICKHILL Infrared Thermometer
The ERICKHILL Infrared Thermometer provides the best combination of performance and value that I have found on amazon. In testing 6 different thermometers in the last year, this one stands out as the clear best value. It also is easy to read even in sunlight and is very responsive.
Gozney Infrared Thermometer
The Gozney Infrared Thermometer has proven to be reliable and accurate time and time again in my kitchen. It features an easy to read screen, simple operation and sturdy, compact build. You can test accuracy of an infrared thermometer by reading the surface temp of ice or boiling water!
Kizen Meat Thermometer
The Kizen Meat Thermometer folds for compact storage, has a bright and large display that can be easily seen, and is built to last. It also comes in at a value price point and currently has more than 50,000 Five Star Reviews on Amazon!
Pizza Pans
If you want to make Detroit, Chicago, Sicilian, Grandma, Deep Dish or other pan style pizzas, you’ll need the right pan to get the job done. I have tested many pans, and have found Lloydpans to be the best time and time again. These are my favorite pans and sizes, but there are more sizes available beyond what’s listed in the pizza making gift guide.
Lloydpans 10″ x 14″ Detroit Pizza Pan
Lloydpans are made of non-stick hard anodized aluminum. Nothing sticks to these pans, even caramelized cheese pressed against the edge of the pan for a Detroit Style Pizza. I have personally purchased 20 of the Lloydpans 10×14 Detroit Pizza Pans and my collection continues to grow!
Lloydpans 10″ Deep Dish Pizza Pan
If you enjoy deep dish, Chicago Style, or want to recreate some old school Pizza Hut vibes, the Lloydpans 10″ Deep Dish Pizza Pan is for you! Like the Detroit pan above, the round deep dish pan comes in multiples sizes to meet your needs.
Lloydpans 14″x14″ Sicilian Pizza Pan
The Lloydpans 14″x14″ Sicilian Pan is very versatile and can make a variety of pizza styles. It’s 1.5″ tall sides allows you to make a thick, fluffy crust if that’s what you are looking for.
Pizza Dough Containers
When making pizza dough, you can always use whatever containers you have in the cupboard. However, when you make a bunch of dough these containers are the next step up!
Doughmate Artisan Dough Tray Kit
These Doughmate Artisan Dough Tray Kits are amazing! They are made from commercial grade materials that will last forever and fit comfortably in a standard size refrigerator. Each kit comes with 2 dough boxes that fit 6 250 gram dough balls, a lid, and a handy scraper. Trust me, the slightly premium price is worth it. I have invested in 6 sets and keep adding more! We also use them for marinating meats and storing Christmas cookies! Check out my full review of these Doughmate Containers!
Baking Scales
Baking scales are critical for making consistent dough, and one of the most important tools in the pizza making gift guide. Using cups and spoons to measure by volume is highly inaccurate. Ingredients such as flour can weigh differently depending on moisture content, type of flour, and density. Trust me, the sooner you scrap the cups and spoons and opt for a scale, the sooner you’ll be making awesome and consistent dough!
Ooni Dual Platform Digital Scale
I love the Ooni Dual Platform Digital Scale because it has a larger platform for weighing heavier ingredients like flour and water and a smaller platform for weighing things like yeast and salt. This scale is well built, has an easy to read screen and is easy to use. It’s also very consistent and steady with low variability when weighing ingredients.
KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Food Scale
My other favorite is the KitchenAid Dual Platform Scale which performs all of the same functions and has the same features as the Ooni scale, but with larger platforms. This makes weighing larger bowls easier. I do notice a bit more variability when weighing small amounts, but it’s a great scale that produces reliable results.
Pizza Cutters
Dexter-Russell Pizza Cutter
My all-time favorite pizza cutter happens to be the one that I used frequently when working in pizzerias. The Dexter Russell 4″ Pizza Cutter is sharp, sturdy, durable, and built to last. Its 4″ blade is perfect for slicing through the thinnest NY style pizza and the thickest Sicilian pie!
Gozney Pizza Rocker
The Gozney Pizza Rocker is an absolute beast. Built strong to last, razor sharp, and really cool looking. The advantage of a pizza rocker is that it doesn’t create a “trail” of cheese and toppings like a pizza wheel does. The rocker is perfect for Detroit and thicker pizzas with a lot of ingredients. It also works great on 12″ neapolitan pies.
Dalstrong Pizza Cutter
If you are looking for a one of a kind gift that makes a statement for the pizza lover in your life check out the Dalstrong Pizza Cutter. It features a bold and fierce looking pizza wheel with an awesome design. It’s also super heavy duty and built to last. I was really impressed with the quality from the first time I picked up this premium pizza cutter!
Want to make the best pizza sauce? Use my guide to the best tomatoes for making sauce. I taste tested a ton of tomatoes so you don’t have to!
Pizza Peels
There are several types of pizza peels made of various materials. For purposes of the pizza making gift guide, they can be broken down into 3 main categories: 1. Peels for Launching (putting into the oven); 2. Pizza Peels for Turning the Pizza; and 3. Peels for Retrieving the Pizza (out of the oven). The most popular materials are wood and metal. Wood is generally used for launching, but metal perforated peels are also great for launching. Turning peels have a small, rounded head to easily slide under the peel and spin it in confined spaces. Peels for retrieving are generally metal because they slide under the pizza to remove from the oven. The peels below are my favorite in each category.
Gozney Roccbox Turning Peel
Like all things Gozney makes, the Roccbox Turning Peel is built to last a lifetime. It’s the perfect size to maneuver inside small spaces in portable pizza ovens. It is comfortable in your hand and makes spinning a pizza without removing it from the oven a breeze!
Perforated Pizza Peel
This Perforated Pizza Peel is among the most highly rated on Amazon. I have been using it for several years. It’s well made, lightweight, and easy to use. The best part is that the perforation allows for excess flour to fall off before it goes into the oven. Extra flour burns and tastes nasty on your pizza! It can also be used as a retrieval peel to remove pizzas from the oven. It fits up to a 12″ pizza.
Wooden Pizza Peel
These Wooden New Star Pizza Peels come in a variety of sizes. The peels are also heavily used in commercial settings in many pizzerias. They are well built and relatively low in cost. You can find them via the amazon link or in your local restaurant supply warehouse. Find the right size for you and use this as a launching or retrieving peel!
Pizza Books
There are countless pizza recipe books available online, in stores, and at the library. I have read a ton of them over the years. The truth is that many aren’t all that useful or beneficial to learning to make pizzas. Of all the pizza books I have read, there are two that clearly stand out from the rest. I chose them for their high quality, tested, and thorough recipes. Further these books teach the HOW and WHY we need to do certain things when making pizza. In addition, the offer in-depth sharing of practical advice that the authors have learned over a lifetime. It is that knowledge, explained in plain language, that is truly game changing for pizza makers of all skill levels. These books are critical in the pizza making gift guide!
The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani
The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani totally changed the way I look at pizza. After making pizza professionally for 10 years, I picked up this book and it made me realize how little I actually knew about pizza. My pizza instantly improved by following the recipes, practical advice, and simple tips and tricks shared by the author. There are so many different dough recipes and regional style pizza recipes that come out perfect every single time! I love this book and recommend it to everyone I talk to about pizza!
The Joy of Pizza by Dan Richer
The Joy of Pizza by Dan Richer not only has fantastic and reliable pizza recipes, but it is also a very engaging and deeply personal read. Dan shares his process on his journey to make the perfect pizza and also tells the reader how they can create their own perfect pizza by using scoring rubrics, stating their intentions, evaluating results, and selecting the best ingredients. It’s a fascinating perspective jam-packed with practical and easy to apply tips and tricks. This book, along with The Pizza Bible are both must haves on the pizza making gift guide!
Gift Guide Final Thoughts
The world of pizza making is a lot lot many other hobbies like golf, skiing, or fishing. They all start with a basic interest, and over time that interest grows, skills improve, and higher quality equipment is necessary to get to the next level. All of these pizza tools have been personally purchased, tested, vetted and used on a regular basis in my own kitchen. They are my best of the best pics and I guarantee they will help you make better pizza!
I hope this pizza making gift guide was helpful to you! If you have any questions about anything in this gift guide, please reach out to me on social media or comment below!
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