If you bought a pizza oven for yourself over Black Friday, whether it was for yourself or for as a gift for someone for the holidays, you'll want to make sure that you can use it to the best of its abilities.
As someone who's tested a number of the best pizza ovens, I've found five accessories that are essential for making the best pizzas possible, from making dough all the way through serving it to your friends. With one exception, they all cost less than $50, too, so you won't have to spend too much more than you already have.
Digital scale
Making good pizza dough requires precise measurements, and using regular measuring cups just won't do. Like any good baker, you're going to need to measure by weight, down to the gram. For this, you'll need a kitchen scale that's precise, easy to read, and one that can stand up to the occasional spill.
Stand mixer
If you're new to pizza making — or if you're in a hurry — then using store-bought dough is understandable, but if you really want to make awesome pizzas, you'll need to make your own dough. The process is easy, but it can take several days, especially if you want to develop some amazing flavors in your dough.
And, while you can mix everything by hand, one of the best stand mixers is going to save you a lot of time.
Laser thermometer
If you want your pizzas to have a perfectly charred bottom, you need to ensure that your pizza oven has heated up properly.
While some pizza ovens have built-in thermometers, they can't directly measure the temperature of the pizza stone itself. For that, you're going to need a laser or infrared thermometer that can measure temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (538º C) — yes, pizza ovens can get that hot. As a bonus, they're also great for playing with your cats.
Pizza peel
To get the pies in and out of the oven, a spatula just won't cut it. You're going to need what's called a pizza peel, the big paddle-like things you see at pizzerias the world over.
You can get either a wooden peel or a metal peel; the metal ones are a bit easier to use and are more durable, but the wooden ones look nicer.
As you step up your game, you might also want to pick up a turning peel; these are smaller and circular, and are used specifically to help you rotate the pizza while it's still in the oven.
Pizza cutter
When it comes time to actually slicing your pizza, a knife just won't do. You're going to need a pizza cutter that's strong enough to cut through everything from a bar pie to a Sicilian, and that's easy to clean up afterwards.
More from Tom's Guide
- How to use a pizza oven safely: What you need to know
- Making pizza at home vs. delivery: I put it to the test
- Pizza Hut just unveiled a 3D-printed ‘Pizza Warmer’ that uses a PS5 to keep your slices hot
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