What is The Best Flour for Pizza Dough? The Perfect Flour for Delicious Pizza

There's no doubt about it - pizza is a universal favorite. Found all over the world, from authentic Italian restaurants to street food in New York City, you'll always be able to get your hands on a warm, cheesy pizza.

But what if you want to make pizza at home? What's the best flour for pizza dough? If you're asking yourself those questions, you've come to the right place. We'll give you the full rundown on which flour is best for getting that perfect pizza crust at home.

Flour: The Star of the Show

Pizza is only made from a few super simple ingredients that you can find in your pantry: flour, salt, water, yeast, and olive oil. However, it's flour that is the shining star of any great homemade pizza dough recipe.

If you don't use the right flour, your pizza dough might not turn out the way you want it to. This is because flour provides that well-known pizza structure, taste, and texture, meaning it affects everything from the crust to getting that perfect rise.

Using the wrong flour might make your pizza bland, and it may not have the delicious, crispy crust you crave. In fact, different flours will bring out different tastes – from the rustic flavor of whole wheat flour to the delicate flavor notes of finely ground Italian flour.

Why is Using the Right Flour So Important?

As we said, the flour you choose to use in your pizza dough can impact everything. Every single type of flour will contain different amounts of protein, which can affect the development of gluten within the dough. Gluten content is so important for achieving the elasticity you need to stretch and shape your pizza base.

The Different Types of Flour for Pizza Dough

As you've probably worked out by now, the flour you use can make or break your homemade pizza dough recipe. However, using different flours will give you different tastes and textures that you might actually prefer. Here's the lowdown on pizza flour.

00 Flour

00 flour, also known as double zero flour, is the gold standard of pizza flour. It's the type of flour that all Italian restaurants choose to use for their pizza. It conjures up images of cobbled streets and alleyways and the absolutely delicious, mouth-watering scents of fresh garlic and tomato. Chances are, if you've ever visited an authentic Italian restaurant and sampled a delicious Neapolitan pizza, you've likely already experienced the magic that comes with this type of soft wheat flour.

And if you left that authentic Italian restaurant and thought, "God, I wish I could make homemade pizza like that," you're in luck - using this flour means you can.

One characteristic of this flour is its finely milled texture, giving it the power to create a silky, elastic dough that makes beautiful pizza. That's why it's called "00" flour - this refers to its ultra-fine grind, which is smoother than all-purpose or bread flour, meaning your dough stays lump-free and your rise is even.

With a protein content between 8-12%, this flour provides you the elasticity needed to shape your pizza but a strength that gives you a soft and chewy crust.

Furthermore, 00 flour is designed to absorb water better than other types of flour, which is what makes it perfect for baking in high-temperature wood-fired ovens, giving you that classic, slightly charred pizza crust.

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A pizza dough recipe is only as good as its ingredients. If you want to experience the heavenly taste of restaurant-quality pizza, our kits have everything you need to make the best pizza dough ever - even if you're a complete beginner.

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All-Purpose Flour

Many at-home bakers choose all-purpose flour to make their pizza dough. This is because, as the name suggests, all-purpose flour is great for a whole range of uses, from being a thickening agent for sauces and gravies to making biscuits and breads.

Although it's not specifically designed for pizza like the 00 flour, this flour is still great when it comes to making your own pizza dough. Furthermore, this flour has a medium grind, which makes for a softer dough that's great for beginners trying to master the basics.

This flour has a protein content of 9-11%, which may be lower than other types of flour but is still enough to make a great base for your pizza dough.

It’s perfect for thin-crust pizza or pan pizzas that you bake in standard home ovens.

Bread Flour

Unlike all-purpose flour and 00 flour, bread flour will give you a pizza with a chewier crust on the inside but a satisfying crunch on the outside. This is all because it's more of a high-protein flour, which makes it a favorite flour among pizza enthusiasts who love New York-style and Sicilian pizzas.

With a protein content of 12-14%, bread flour gives the dough an elastic structure that makes a great base for all your favorite toppings. Because of how elastic the dough is, it's much easier to stretch into a thinner crust without tearing it.

Whole Grain Flour

Whole-grain flour makes a beautiful, golden brown, whole-wheat pizza crust. This type of pizza has more nutritional value than other types, meaning it’s a great option if you're a pizza lover looking for a healthier choice. Furthermore, the flavor profile of this pizza is bound to be slightly different, as this type of flour is made from the entire wheat kernel, giving it a nuttier and more Earthy taste.

The protein content is 12-14%, which means it’s similar to bread flour, but because this type of flour still contains the bran and germ, you're likely to get a denser dough.

If you enjoy a more rustic and hearty dough, this is the flour for you. It's perfect for making artisanal-style pizzas or flatbreads and works deliciously well with roasted vegetables, goat cheese, or cured meats, as these all complement the Earthier flavor of the dough.

Gluten-Free Flour

If you have gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, this doesn't mean you have to miss out on sampling delicious pizza. Making pizza dough with gluten-free flour will still provide a delicious pizza you can smother in all your favorite pizza toppings.

This type of flour doesn't contain any of the vital wheat gluten needed to make pizza dough. Instead, when making pizza dough with gluten-free flour, many bakers will add binders like xanthan gum or psyllium husk, as these mimic the elasticity of gluten, making for a more familiar pizza base. Many gluten-free recipes will recommend options such as rice or almond flour.

Because of this, the texture of gluten-free pizza dough can vary. The important thing is finding a recipe you that will give you a familiar crispy pizza crust – and sticking to it.

How to Choose the Right Flour for Your Pizza

Making pizza dough isn't a difficult task when you have the right ingredients. So far, we've given you a run-down of all the different types of flour you can use for your pizza dough recipe. It's up to you to choose the best one for your pizza base. If you're not sure, here are a few things to consider that might help you make up your mind.

Consider the Style of Pizza

Think about what type of pizza you want. If you're looking for a crisp, light Neapolitan pizza, then finely milled white flour like 00 flour is the best option for you, whereas a rustic whole-grain crust will need whole-grain flour to produce the results you've been craving.

How Are You Baking Your Pizza?

Planning to cook your pizza at a high temperature or within a pizza oven? Then, we recommend flour with high-protein content, such as bread flour or 00 flour. Alternatively, all-purpose flour is the best choice for baking your pizza in a home oven.

Think About Skill Level

If you're a complete beginner, then all-purpose flour or bread flour might be your best bet, whereas skilled bakers might prefer to experiment with 00 or whole-grain flour.

Alternatively, you could always try our Pizza Prepa kits. Designed to save you time and tools, our kits are perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

Dietary Needs

Hosting a pizza party? If you or your guests are gluten-sensitive, you might have to go for gluten-free flour blends. Whole wheat flour is also great for health-conscious pizza lovers.

Our Top Tips for Achieving Perfect Pizza Dough Every Time

• Be Accurate With Your Measurements: To ensure great accuracy every time, we recommend weighing your flour with a kitchen scale. You may be tempted to use cups (and we know a lot of pizza dough recipes measure this way), but one cup of flour can vary in weight depending on how you scoop it.

• Knead For 15-45 Minutes: Kneading your dough properly develops the gluten, giving your dough strength to hold its shape and rise.

• Give Your Dough Time to Rest: Letting your dough rest allows the flour to hydrate fully and the gluten to relax, making it easier to stretch and shape and giving your pizza a more developed flavor. Specific pizza recipes, like Neapolitan pizza dough, might need a longer fermentation process to achieve the crispier crust it's so famous for.

• Don't Be Afraid to Experiment: Try different flours to see which textures and flavors you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Flour for Pizza Dough

What Flour do Italians Use for Pizza?

Italians traditionally use 00 flour for pizza dough, especially when they're baking authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. This type of finely milled flour makes the perfect pizza base, offering a soft texture, high elasticity, and a light, airy crust, which are all staples of Italian pizza.

It's perfect for wood-fired ovens, delivering the classic blistered and bubbly crust that Italian pizzas are famous for. However, if you don't have a pizza oven, heat your oven to the highest temperature it can go, and preheat a pizza stone or a pizza pan for your base. This will achieve a similar effect when making homemade pizza.

What is the Best Flour for High-Temperature Pizza?

The best flour for high-temperature pizza is 00 flour. It has unique properties that make it ideal for baking at temperatures above 800°F, which are commonly used in wood-fired ovens, without becoming dry or tough to eat. Instead, you get an airy and slightly crispy pizza crust.

What Flour Shouldn't I Use to Make Pizza Dough?

As we've shown, you can use many different types of flour to achieve that famous crisp, chewy crust. However, not all flours are created equal, and here are some we recommend avoiding:

• Cake flour

• Pastry flour

• Self-rising Flour

Can You Freeze Homemade Pizza Dough?

Yes! You can absolutely freeze homemade pizza dough, no matter what type of flour you use - whether that's bread flour or all-purpose flour. The taste and texture of the dough won't be affected. In fact, freezing your pizza dough is a great way to save time and ensure you always have pizza dough on hand for a last-minute pizza night or party.

All you have to do is prepare the dough as usual, letting it go through the first rise. After that, you can shape the dough and split it into portions ready for freezing. Place them in freezer-proof bags or a freezer-proof container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.

When you're ready to use them again, transfer the portions or dough balls into the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Make sure to bring them to room temperature before using them, and bake as usual.

Make Delicious Pizza Dough at Home With Prepa Pizza Kits

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Prepa Pizza Dough Kit

815g - $29.97 - 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 3178 reviews

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As we've already said, the flour is the shining star of any pizza dough recipe. We use 00 Piza flour in all our pizza dough kits. This flour is directly imported from Italy, bringing the Authentic taste of Italian pizza right into your kitchen - wherever you are. However, it's not just the flour that makes our kits stand out.

• Perfect For All Skill Levels - Whether you're a pizza pro or you've never picked up a wooden spoon before, our pizza kits are designed to help you make delicious pizza, no matter your skill level.

• Great For All Pizza Types - Whether you're aiming for traditional Neapolitan pizza dough or you want to make some garlic knots for a pizza party, our kits can do it all and more.

• No Need for a Pizza Stone - That's right; you don't need a pizza pan, steel, or stone to make restaurant-style pizza every single time.

• Just a Few Authentic Ingredients - Make delicious pizza dough with Piza flour, salt, malt powder, honey, olive oil, and semolina.

• A Great Option For Health-Conscious Pizza Lovers - Get a great-tasting pizza that doesn't come with additives or preservatives like store-bought or take-out pizza. Just high-quality ingredients and perfect pizza every time.

Try our Prepa Pizza Kits today.

Getting that Perfect Crust: Our Final Thoughts

Flour is so much more than just an ingredient - it's the foundation of any great pizza you've ever tried, whether that's from a cozy little Italian restaurant nestled within a cobbled street or your favorite takeout place with the best cheese pull you've ever experienced. Once you know which flour to use, you can create the ultimate pizza dough recipe.

And if you want perfect pizza every single time, don't forget to check out Prepa Pizza Dough kits.