Would you like to know a few of the secrets to making perfect artisanal crust?
It takes a little skill and know-how, but there’s a craft behind making either a deep, thick, and chewy pizza, or that spectacular crispy/thin version. In this post, we’ll show you a few ways to cook pizza with a wood-fire oven just like we do at Russo’s New York Pizzeria.
While the pizza cooking process itself doesn’t last for hours, it will take some time to heat and prepare the oven. Unlike a conventional oven, there isn’t an on/off switch or “preheat’ button for controlling a wood fire. This requires the user to build and kindle the fire for about two or three hours in order to generate enough heat for the cooking stone.
The fire source for cooking pizza is hardwood, like maple or oak, because it doesn’t introduce harsh toxins or chemicals into your pizza. Avoid using softer woods, like pine, which emit harmful substances into the pizza and the rest of your cooking area.
Using a laser thermometer, check the temperature before you begin cooking. There are many types of dough/crust, so you’ll want to select the correct corresponding temperature. This could vary from as low as 500 degrees to as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The last three tips involve a little cooking skill. There’s no hardline rule on how close to position the pizza to the flame, other than closer is better, short of burning it. This may take a few practice trials before achieving full mastery.
The other way to avoid burning your pizza is to turn it with a peel to get the crust brown all throughout. Remember to keep a close eye on this and turn it often because wood-fire ovens don’t have the heat distributed evenly like conventional ovens.
You can finish your pizza to perfection if you lift it close to the oven dome towards the end. Again, be careful not to burn it by getting it too close for too long.
Of course, you may not have your own wood-fire oven, meaning you won’t be able to try these methods in your kitchen yet. Thankfully, you can still enjoy premium, artisanal crust pizza whenever you visit Russo’s New York Pizzeria. We’re the home to authentic Italian foods ranging from cauliflower crust pizza to lentil pasta primavera, and much more.
If you have questions about our delicious pizza, please contact us anytime or fill out the form below.
It's the perfect time to franchise Russo's New York Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen and we know the pizza business and what it take to fire up your first restaurant. With 50+ locations and growing, our franchisees have created success built on our flexible design starting 1,500 sq ft. We produce a higher average store volume (AUV $1.134M) than industry average by serving authentic New York-style pizza and unique menu items. Ask about available territories!
