Mastering Pizza Dough for the Perfect Bake in Your Alfa Oven
Great pizza starts with great dough. Your Alfa Forni oven provides the heat and performance, but the base of every pizza comes from well prepared dough. Mastering dough is the secret to achieving soft, airy crusts with just the right crispness. Here is how to make dough that bakes perfectly in your Alfa oven.
🍞 1. Use the Right Flour
Authentic Italian pizza dough is made with “00” flour. This finely milled flour produces a soft, elastic dough that rises beautifully in high heat.
Tip: Look for Italian “00” flour in supermarkets or specialist shops for the best results.
💧 2. Get the Hydration Right
Hydration is the ratio of water to flour. A typical Neapolitan style dough has around 65–70% hydration. This makes the dough moist and airy once baked.
Good dough takes time. A slow fermentation of at least 24 hours develops flavour and improves texture. Cold fermenting in the fridge overnight is a reliable method.
✋ 4. Shaping by Hand
Avoid rolling pins as they flatten the air pockets in your dough. Instead, press and stretch by hand, pushing air to the crust to create the signature leopard spotting when baked in your Alfa oven.
🍅 5. Keep It Simple
Classic toppings like tomato, mozzarella and basil let the dough shine. Heavy toppings can weigh it down and prevent proper rise.
🔥 6. Bake at the Right Temperature
Preheat your Alfa oven floor to around 450 °C. Bake pizzas directly on the hot surface for 90 seconds, rotating once for an even cook.
✨ Bringing It All Together
Pizza dough is the foundation of authentic Italian cooking. By using the right flour, practising patience and baking at high heat in your Alfa oven, you can master dough that rivals the best pizzerias in Naples.
Speed vs Tradition 30 Minute Heat Up Compared Across Alfa Models One of the most impressive features of Alfa Forni ovens is how quickly they heat up. In just 30 minutes, they reach the perfect temperature for authentic Italian cooking. But what does this mean in practice, and how does it compare across different models? [...]
How to Get the Best Results from Your Alfa Forni Pizza Oven Owning an Alfa Forni pizza oven is an investment in authentic Italian cooking. Handmade in Italy and designed for efficiency, style and performance, these ovens can transform a simple gathering into an unforgettable experience. To help you make the most of your oven, [...]
Slow Cooking vs High Heat Mastering Different Styles in Your Alfa Oven One of the greatest strengths of an Alfa Forni oven is its versatility. With the ability to reach extreme temperatures quickly and retain heat for hours, you can master both slow cooking and high heat cooking in one oven. Here is how to [...]
The Secret to Crispy Pizza Bases with Alfa Forni Fire Bricks One of the hallmarks of authentic Italian pizza is the base: crisp on the outside, soft and airy inside. Achieving this balance at home can be difficult unless you have the right oven. Alfa Forni pizza ovens use high density fire bricks that make [...]
Mastering Pizza Dough for the Perfect Bake in Your Alfa Oven
Mastering Pizza Dough for the Perfect Bake in Your Alfa Oven
Great pizza starts with great dough. Your Alfa Forni oven provides the heat and performance, but the base of every pizza comes from well prepared dough. Mastering dough is the secret to achieving soft, airy crusts with just the right crispness. Here is how to make dough that bakes perfectly in your Alfa oven.
🍞 1. Use the Right Flour
Authentic Italian pizza dough is made with “00” flour. This finely milled flour produces a soft, elastic dough that rises beautifully in high heat.
Tip: Look for Italian “00” flour in supermarkets or specialist shops for the best results.
💧 2. Get the Hydration Right
Hydration is the ratio of water to flour. A typical Neapolitan style dough has around 65–70% hydration. This makes the dough moist and airy once baked.
Simple formula: 1kg flour, 650–700ml water, 25g salt, 3g fresh yeast.
🕒 3. Fermentation and Patience
Good dough takes time. A slow fermentation of at least 24 hours develops flavour and improves texture. Cold fermenting in the fridge overnight is a reliable method.
✋ 4. Shaping by Hand
Avoid rolling pins as they flatten the air pockets in your dough. Instead, press and stretch by hand, pushing air to the crust to create the signature leopard spotting when baked in your Alfa oven.
🍅 5. Keep It Simple
Classic toppings like tomato, mozzarella and basil let the dough shine. Heavy toppings can weigh it down and prevent proper rise.
🔥 6. Bake at the Right Temperature
Preheat your Alfa oven floor to around 450 °C. Bake pizzas directly on the hot surface for 90 seconds, rotating once for an even cook.
✨ Bringing It All Together
Pizza dough is the foundation of authentic Italian cooking. By using the right flour, practising patience and baking at high heat in your Alfa oven, you can master dough that rivals the best pizzerias in Naples.
👉 Explore the full Alfa Forni range here: Alfa Forni Pizza Ovens
Related Posts
Speed vs Tradition 30 Minute Heat Up Compared Across Alfa Models
How to Get the Best Results from Your Alfa Forni Pizza Oven
Slow Cooking vs High Heat Mastering Different Styles in Your Alfa Oven
The Secret to Crispy Pizza Bases with Alfa Forni Fire Bricks