You have just gotten store-bought pizza dough and want to try making your favorite recipe. Still, you like your pizza with a crispy crust, but how can you guarantee each bite is crunchy?
Multiple pizza recipes promise a crispy crust from store-bought pizza dough. However, not all of them deliver what they promise. Of course, we have perfected our recipe on how to make store-bought pizza crust crispy for a delicious pizza every time.
Does Store Bought Pizza Dough Vary Across Stores?
Yes.
Not all store-bought pizza dough balls are the same. You won’t get one taste profile since every brand uses a different recipe to make the dough. As we all know, pizza is delicious if the preparation starts with the dough. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, the more moisture in the dough ball, the better for the taste.
Remember that there’s not much you can expect from store-bought pizza dough. Some might taste okay, while others might lack that yeasty taste we all know and love. It’s all in the dough ball you select.
Therefore we must emphasize how crucial it is to select the right dough ball. You might have to go through a trial and error phase, but once you select the right pizza dough, you should get a crispy crust. Additionally, you can use pizza dough to make things other than pizza.
How to Make Store-Bought Pizza Crust Crispy
When you buy store-bought pizza dough, it comes frozen. Therefore, it has to thaw out before you do or add anything to it. Essentially, you won’t have to add anything. However, we prefer following these steps for the best and most crispy crust.
1) Let the Dough Thaw Out
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Of course, as previously mentioned, the dough has to thaw out before using it. However, it has to thaw out at room temperature. After all, if you thaw the dough in a microwave or a preheated oven, it will be permanently ruined. Therefore, room temperature is the ideal setting.
This means you must prepare early to make a pizza for your next meal. Pizza doesn’t take long to make. However, the preparation could take you more than 2 hours.
2) Form a Dough Ball
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After the dough has thawed out, you can use it as it is. However, adhere to this step if you don’t want a soggy mess for pizza dough.
To begin with, sprinkle some flour on the dough ball to get rid of excess moisture. You can knead the dough, but don’t do it excessively. As a general rule of thumb, poke holes in the dough with the tips of your fingers to release air.
Moreover, you can add as much flour as you see fit, but be moderate. We advocate forming a dough ball into a round shape, dusting both sides, and kneading a little. Let it rest as you preheat the oven.
Finally, cover the pizza dough and let it rise for about 30 minutes. Thirty minutes is a decent time, but if you let the dough rest for longer, you will have a better crust.
3) Stretch the Dough
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Stretching is important to get an even base. No one wants a thicker crust in one area and a crispy crust in another. Therefore, take the dough out and knead gently after the dough has risen.
Try stretching the dough out and bringing the stretched piece back to the dough in this step. It doesn’t take long to stretch the dough, so you should be done in 10 minutes.
4) Roll the Dough
Using a rolling pin, lay the dough flat on your preferred surface and begin rolling it out to form a thin base. A thin pizza crust will become crispy since it’s easier to cook through. Before using the rolling pin, you can use your fingers and palms to spread the dough out first.
Hopefully, your dough isn’t too large. Otherwise, it will become harder to spread. As long as you have a thin base, baking becomes easier.
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The store-bought dough rolls the same as homemade pizza dough, as long as it is well-risen. You also don’t have to roll the door in a circular shape. Instead, you can pull and spread the dough to form a rectangular shape. It also depends on the shape of your baking container. Also, a baking stone generally accommodates any pizza shape.
5) Sauce and Toppings
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You can use your homemade pizza sauce for the base. However, store-bought pizza sauce works just as well. If you have a frozen pizza, it’s a matter of thawing it out and baking it until it’s done. On the other hand, with pizza dough, you have to go through the remainder of the pizza-making motions.
After spreading enough sauce (read as generously), add the toppings of your choice, and of course, never forget the cheese for added deliciousness. If you are unsure about your toppings, here are the best pizza combinations trending today.
A word of caution is to ensure your pizza sauce is not too watery. If you make it yourself, you can also ensure this. However, if you buy it from your nearest store, you can sieve out the excess water. A watery pizza sauce will cause the pizza dough to go soggy since it’s in contact with it before you turn on the heat.
6) Bake
It’s now time to bake your pizza. You need a pizza stone for this step, but any other baking container, pizza, or cast iron pan should work. There are also ways to cook pizza on a grill without a stone.
We prefer a baking stone because it doesn’t create a barrier between the bottom of the crust and the heat for a crispy crust. Therefore, place your pizza in the preheated oven rack and set the temperature to 450 degrees. This should also be the temperature at which you preheat the oven. Also, ensure to place the oven rack in the lower position.
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Before you start baking, sprinkle some olive oil on the pizza so it doesn’t dry up in the oven. Bake the pizza for 10 minutes until the base becomes golden brown. However, you can always stop the pizza baking at the 7th minute and guarantee the dough is cooked. If it isn’t, bake it more.
The golden brown crust indicates that the pizza dough is cooked, even for pre-made pizza crust. Finally, you can drizzle more cheese on the pizza to get that gooey goodness after it’s done.
7) Serve
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Of course, pizza straight from the oven is too hot. That’s why giving the pizza base a few minutes to cool off before eating is a good idea. Then, you can drizzle more olive oil and other desired toppings on the pizza. Next, cut the pizza and enjoy it with your favorite sauces or plain.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Store-Bought Pizza Dough
Of course, buying pre-made pizza dough from your nearest store is convenient. However, there are a few factors you need to go over before buying the dough. After all, the aim is to get the perfect pizza crust.
a) Expiry Dates
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The first item to look out for is old dough. The yeast might be dead, and it will not rise. Therefore, selecting the best and most recent dough will be better for your pizza crust. Additionally, if there are no recently made dough balls, you might have to make your dough or look elsewhere.
b) Avoid Bubbles in the Dough
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If the dough already has bubbles, it means it is over-proofed. If the dough is over-proofed, no air will come out of it, no matter how many times you knead and stretch it. Therefore, if the dough you want to purchase has bubbles, don’t buy it. Remember that small bubbles mean the dough is under-proofed and won’t rise well. That means you must add a pre-ferment to the dough to proof it.
c) Ball Shape
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The ball-shaped dough is the best for making pizza crust. However, it won’t be easy to work with if the dough isn’t ball-shaped. It also means the dough might be over-proofed and have too much water. The perfect dough that’s ready to use will hold a round shape. If it has too much moisture, it will flatten out gradually.
d) Sticky Dough
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If the dough sticks to the plastic wrapping, it might indicate that it contains too much water. Therefore, it isn’t going to make the perfect pizza crust. You can fix sticky pizza dough with flour and kneading. However, it negates the convenience of store-bought pizza dough. Additionally, it’s in your best interests to avoid sticky store-bought dough because it might not rise.
Additional Tips to Get a Crispy Crust
Of course, following the steps above will give you crispy and cooked pizza. However, there are other tips to ensure you get the crust crispy. These tips can also be used instead of the ones highlighted above.
a) Use a Perforated Pan
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If you don’t own a pizza stone, then a perforated pan will do just fine for a store-bought crust. Since you want a base that releases extra moisture, such a pan will do the job.
After the pizza is done, set it aside on a rack to cool off. This will facilitate more moisture being let out of the pizza. Placing the pizza on a solid surface will prevent the moisture from escaping and making the base soggy.
b) Don’t go Overboard With Toppings
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Of course, toppings produce added moisture. Therefore, be careful how many toppings you add to the fresh dough. The same applies to too much sauce, fresh cheese, tomatoes, and meat. Your pizza should not have more than 4 ingredients added to your thin pizza base if you want the perfect crispy pizza.
c) Preheat
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Preheat everything, be it your oven, pizza stone, or pizza pan. This will help to cook the dough better. You can also use some of your best oven pans for baking your favorite treats as long as they can stand the heat.
A hot pizza stone will absorb the excess moisture on your pizza. Keeping your preheated oven temperature between 375-450 degrees is ideal for that crispy crust. Furthermore, you can pre-bake your dough before putting any toppings on it. Just be sure not to burn yourself on any hot instruments.
d) Use the Right Cheese
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Fresh cheese is too watery. Hence it shouldn’t be your first choice for toppings. Additionally, some cheeses separate and become very oily. They can create a mess. The best combination of cheese will give you stretchy and gooey, which is what you want. Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar offer a unique taste and flavor. Even on their own, you can still get the perfect pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Make Store-Bought Pizza Crust Crispy
1) How do I make store-bought pizza crust crispy on the bottom?
Using a pizza stone or perforated pizza pan to prepare the pizza is one way to get even a crispy frozen pizza crust. The porous nature of the pizza stone will absorb excess moisture, and the perforated pan will let moisture out for a perfect crust.
2) How can you make store-bought pizza base taste better?
You can make store-bought dough taste better by adding toppings. However, cheese can also make your bland pizza dough have an improved pizza taste. Herbs and spices can also enhance the taste of the store-bought crust.
3) Should I put olive oil on my store-bought pizza base?
Yes. A thin layer of olive oil is a great way to prevent the pizza base from drying out. Additionally, it improves the crispy nature of the crust before preheating the oven. Olive oil also improves the flavor and taste of your dough.
The Bottom Line
Store-bought pizza dough can be a godsend when you don’t feel like making a pizza from scratch. After all, a few minutes later, you have a delicious pizza with the toppings of your choice. Plus, there’s nothing soggy to recover from. The store-bought crust is versatile, from making pizza to making a fresh batch of baguettes or pita bread.
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