As we all know, one of the most important components of a great pizza is the dough. While many people prefer to make their pizza dough from scratch, it can be time-consuming and requires a lot of effort.
A bread maker can be a great tool to use when making pizza dough, as it takes care of the mixing, kneading, and rising for you. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to making pizza dough in a bread maker.
How is pizza dough made?
Traditional pizza dough is made by adding water, yeast, salt, and finely ground wheat flour. Little amounts of yeast are used to enable a protracted cold fermentation process, which aids in the flavours’ development and complexity. As the dough is prepared, it is stretched, topped, and cooked in a scorching hot wood fire. The baking is allowed in the oven for 60 to 90 seconds to get the crispiest crust.
The short bake time prevents too much moisture from being wasted, resulting in a wonderfully crispy outside and a soft, chewy, and moist inside for the pizza. Pizza is a favourite among many due to its exquisite fusion of tastes, textures, and fragrances.
However, the concept behind the bread maker for making pizza dough is to be able to make a product that is similar in taste and texture.
Ingredients
Flour (4 cups all-purpose flour): Bread flour will provide the best results. However, even all-purpose flour will help you in making quality pre-made pizza dough.
Salt (1 1/2 teaspoons salt): Pizza dough gains flavour from the salt, which keeps the taste in check.
Warm Water (1 1/2 cups warm water) – The yeast will work more quickly in warmer water. To prevent killing the yeast and rendering it worthless, we recommend not exceeding a temperature of 100F. Room-temperature water will also work since most bread machines will heat the dough while it is being kneaded.
Granulated sugar – This will help flavour the pizza dough, aid in browning, and keep the crust wet. Additionally, you can also use honey as a natural substitute for sugar.
Yeast (2 teaspoons active dry yeast) – With this dough, you may use either active dry or quick dry yeast.
Oil (4 tablespoons olive oil): Pizza dough dipped in oil will remain soft during baking, preventing the crust from becoming too crisp. The recipe calls for 4 tablespoons, which will result in a highly soft crust. If you like your pizza a little chewy, add just 2 tablespoons and swap out the other 2 for warm water.
Instructions
- Add each ingredient to the bread machine in the sequence specified.
- Choose the cycle for leavened dough and then close the lid. A normal dough cycle lasts for around 90 minutes.
- Check the pizza dough’s texture after 20 minutes of the dough cycle. You will want a ball of dough that is soft and smooth. All the flour should be mixed in.
- While adding flour, add one or two tablespoons at a time if it seems to be too runny. On the other hand, if it seems too thick, we recommend adding a tablespoon at a time.
- Pre-heat the oven to 500°F and place the baking rack in the upper third. This should be done 30 minutes before the bread machine’s dough cycle is finished. If you have a pizza stone or steel, add it so they can heat up together.
- Once the dough cycle is complete, take the ball out of the machine and place it on a surface that has been gently dusted with flour. Cut it into four equal pieces.
- Each of the four portions should be flattened into a patty. Then fold it in half repeatedly until you can no longer do so. This will create a tight ball out of each section.
- Next, gather the ends together to shape the homemade pizza dough into a ball.
- Let the dough rest on a surface that has been dusted with flour or in an oiled baking dish. This will give it plenty of room to expand. The dough should be covered with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap.
- The gluten will relax once the dough has rested, making stretching the dough into a pizza simpler.
- Next, thoroughly add flour to the work surface. With the dough ball in the centre, flatten and stretch the pizza with your flat fingers.
- Work your way outward while avoiding touching the outside of the pizza.
- Next, roll it out into a 12-inch pizza pie by stretching it over your hands’ knuckles.
- Roll out the pizza dough from the bread maker on wax paper.
- Top it with cheese and other kinds of toppings.
- Bake for approximately 7 minutes in a preheated oven or until the sides are well browned and the cheese is bubbling in the centre.
- Take the food straight out of the oven, and let it cool.
- You can now slice the pizza and serve it.
Tips for making pizza dough in a bread maker
Here are our tips that you can follow if you want to make delicious pizza dough in a bread maker:
It’s important to use warm water in this recipe as it helps activate the yeast.
Adding olive oil to the dough will give it a softer texture and add flavour.
Be sure to measure your flour accurately to ensure the proper dough consistency.
We recommend that you let the dough rest before rolling it out. This will allow it to relax and make it easier to shape.
You can preheat your pizza stone in the oven, which will help you get the ideal crispiness of the crust.
You can experiment with different toppings to find your favourite pizza recipe.
Stretch the dough out thinner and shorten the cooking time to get a thin crust. If you want a thicker crust, you can reduce the size of the pizza and increase the baking time by a few minutes.
Conclusion
Making pizza dough in a bread maker is a simple and convenient way to enjoy homemade pizza. By following these easy steps and tips, you’ll have delicious and fresh pizza dough ready to go in no time.
Enjoy easy-to-make, delicious handmade pizza from the comfort of your own home!
