How To Clean A Pizza Peel: A Pizza Peel Cleaning Guide
If you are one of the people who have one of these pizza peels then you have experienced using it and enjoyed the convenience it brings. As through time, however, you would notice some problems while making the pizza. One problem could be that the dough of your pizza sticks into your pizza peel and sometimes it gets irritating to remove. Another problem would be not knowing how to clean a pizza peel. With that, you will be learning more about these problems as we tackle all these issues and learn more about the different types of pizza peel for use. Without further ado, let us know the different types of pizza peel for your kitchen.
What Are the Different Types of Pizza Peels That Are Usually Used?
In this section, before you know how to clean a pizza peel first you must know more about what a pizza peel is. A pizza peel is a kitchen tool that is made for taking out and putting in the pizza in the oven. It could be categorized by its based on its size, shape, and materials.
In terms of materials, you would usually see pizza peel consisting of wood, metal, or aluminum. The wooden pizza peel does not generally last long, and it is cumbersome to clean. The steel peels are constructed with stainless steel and are more durable, sturdier, and smoother than the wooden pizza. However, they are also heavy to use. The aluminum peel is a lighter choice for a pizza peel and has a lower abrasion between the dough and the peel which is why it can get pizza quickly.
In terms of shape, you would usually see two main shapes. The first one is the round peel which is more common because it is commonly used as a serving tool on the table for a stylish way of presentation. There is also the second one which is the rectangular peel which is great to use for getting the pizza out of the oven quickly. The design of the rectangular peel is more effective in getting the pizza out, but the round peel could do the same only that it lacks the edges for a secure looking hold.
In terms of sizes, you would be able to classify pizza peels in two sizes. The first one is the standard pizza peel size which usually has a measurement of 33 and 36 in diameter. This is great to use for smaller ovens which could not accommodate larger-sized peel. There is also the second size which is the maxi pizza peel which is measured around 45-50 centimeters. Longer handles other than the size of the pizza should also be considered because the longer the handle the closer it is to be a special type of pizza peel that is commonly used by artisans and professionals.
How to Prepare the Different Types of Pizza Peel When Making Pizza
Now that you are aware of the different types of pizza peel it is only proper that you learn about the preparation of this tool first before knowing how to clean a pizza peel. For the preparation of your pizza peel you would be needing the following items: a basting brush or paper towel, cooking oil, non-stick cooking spray, and cornmeal. The use of these items would depend on the type of peel you would be preparing.
For the wooden pizza peel, you need to properly prep this peel when you are using it for making your pizza. It is known that out of all the peels, the wooden pizza peel is less durable and more susceptible to degradation. With that, the only preparation you needed for this product is to put cornmeal in the pan and spread it out nicely so that the dough will not stick to it.
For the stainless-steel pizza, you just would need to prep it less because it is much smoother and less susceptible to the dough sticking to it. It also does not require any lubrication to prevent the dough from sticking to it. You just proceed with properly wiping this tool and then you are ready to go which is why the stainless-steel is the best choice for a more convenient way of making pizza.
For the aluminum pizza peel, you need to take some prep tips because of its slight difference of use as compared to the stainless-steel peel. The aluminum pizza peel has a high specific heat capacity and once it heats up it becomes very hot, so using it would be for people who have great knowledge in making pizzas. If you are using a perforated aluminum pizza peel, then for prep you should first place a paper towel on the pan. Then, spray a non-stick cooking spray to evenly coat the surface and finally, sprinkle cornmeal to make sure you avoid having dough stuck to it.
How to Clean a Pizza Peel the Right Way
Since you now know about the things you need to know about pizza peel, it is now time to learn how to clean a pizza peel. For the wood pizza peel, you should begin with wiping it several times with mineral oil so that the water will not enter the wood during washing. Then dip the peel into the soapy water and gently scrub to remove debris and other food items left. After scrubbing, you should now proceed with sanitizing the peel by wiping it with the sanitizing liquid and finishing up by applying oil to reseal any open pores. For the stainless-steel peel, cleaning is much simpler. You could just proceed with scraping off the debris because it is easily removed but for thorough cleaning start with dipping the peel in water especially when it is hot. After this, gently scrub it with a scrubber and soap and you are practically done. For the aluminum peel, you would need to just dip it into the water and for every quarter of the water used, you would need to add two tablespoons of tartar cream and a half cup of vinegar. You will be boiling the water for about 10 minutes and after boiling remove the peel from the hot water and pour the cleaner. You should allow for the peel to cool before scrubbing it so that you do not miss a spot and after this, you are done. Here's how to learn more about pizza peel.
Conclusion
Learning how to clean a pizza peel is not that easy to know especially if there are specific cleaning methods for each type of pizza peel. You need to be careful about using the methods because while some methods may not affect your pizza peel, others might cause damage and cause the decline of the quality your product has. It is also worth noting that the wooden pizza peel is the peel that is most susceptible to bacterial growth and degradation, so if you have one in your home be careful in following the steps and make sure that you clean it thoroughly.
