Four Easy Tips to Make a Pizzeria-Tasting Pie

Like so many people, I love pizza; it’s a staple in my diet. When I think about pizza, my mind usually conjures images of Pizzology (Indy), Bazbeaux (Indy) or Gino’s East (Chicago). A recent episode of a show called “Pizza Wars: NYC v. Chicago” recently brought my obsession into perspective. I have been to the every featured pizzeria in the episode, though I’ve never lived in either city.

As much as I enjoy the Italian goodness, I’m not a huge fan of oven pizzas. But sometimes it’s just so easy and convenient to pop a frozen pie in the oven. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips to make oven pizza taste a little more like your favorite pizza joint. It may not exactly rival Pizzology or Bazbeaux, but with these simple tips, you can make a pizza in your kitchen that you’re proud of.

Tip #1: Get a pizza baking stone! For around $30, you can pick one up just about anywhere that sells kitchen gadgets. The stone will ensure the perfect combination of a crispy yet chewy crust. The more you use it, the better your pizzas will taste. After your first run with a pizza baking stone, I’m confident you’ll agree it was $30 well spent. Note: The stones aren’t meant to be washed. I keep mine on the bottom self of my oven. Crumbs and sauce overspill burn off.

Tip #2: Buy pizzas that are refrigerated, not frozen, with minimal toppings; add fresh toppings of your choice. My favorite at-home pizzas come from Whole Foods ($8-$10). The pies are always fresh. You can find them in the refrigerated food area. I pick up a simple cheese pizza then hit the produce department and deli for the rest of my ingredients. I buy fresh veggies and pepperoni that I add to the pizza when I get home. By adding fresh ingredients, it improves the texture and flavor of the pie.

Tip #3: Sprinkle the pizza with crushed red pepper. In my opinion, the sauces on take home pizzas leave much to be desired. I add a little crushed red pepper for an extra kick of flavor.

Tip #4: After slicing and plating the pizza, lightly drizzle it with a flavored olive oil. I prefer red pepper and chili infused olive oil- I discovered it about a year ago at a hole-in-the-wall NYC pizzeria. If you don’t like red pepper, you can get olive oils infused with numerous herbs and spices.

By following the four simple tips listed above, your oven pizzas will taste a little more like takeout.

Feel free to email us with any questions or comments! TheCutieCooks@gmail.com Happy Cooking!

XOXO,

The CutieTwins