Baking pizza using the Big Green Egg is a simple dish that turns into a memorable one. The Egg is more than a grill but with the right pizza stone accessories for the green egg, This open outdoor oven can be used as a powerful grill to produce the right kind of crust and the delicious smokiness-basted every time. With the guidance of The SmokingRills this technique makes you deliver a juicy and restaurant-like pizza in case you want to feed the family or host friends at home.
Why Choose the Big Green Egg for Pizza
Big Green Egg is of superior ceramic making. This implies that it retains heat very well and it is able to attain high temperatures as the ones found in the traditional wood-fired pizza ovens. A major requirement to have a clear crust and melted cheese comes with this arrangement.
There is flexibility when you use the Big Green Egg. Cooking: You may cook it in a thin crust, deep dish and even a stuffed crust. With the help of a temperature control system, you have the freedom of baking pizza in a very controlled manner. That is a great benefit compared to the vast majority of backyard grills. You can up your outdoor pizza game by having the right accessories to your green egg.
Getting the Right Pizza Stone for Your Big Green Egg
The pizza stone is one of the most important tools. This is placed in the Big Green Egg and aids in cooking your dough evenly. You have to select a stone which fits correctly into your Egg. The big green egg pizza stone large is ideal when you wish to use a large Egg model.
The accessory of the pizza stone is the big green egg which holds and absorbs the heat. This forms a foundation to the pizza which forms an imitation of the edge of a wood fired oven. The stone is required in order not to burn your crust in some parts, or cook unevenly.
The stone, either thick ceramic or cordierite, should be chosen. When these materials are used in a high heating environment, there is no crack. Always avoid using a cold glass plate over a hot Egg. Have the stone warm gradually on the grill.
In the big green egg, pizza stone gives you even cooking and almost zero chances of a soggy crust. That is especially desirable when you enjoy more toppings or cheese.
Prepping Your Egg and Accessories for Pizza Night
First of all, clean your Egg. Take away any residue ash and clean your grates. You would like to ensure that air is able to circulate in full. This assists the grill to attain high temperatures so fast and at the same time, it sustains it evenly.
Then, make preparations with the big green egg and accessories. These ought to be your pizza stone, metal pizza peel, heat deflector and the infrared thermometer should you have one. Never forget to use the best lump charcoal. It burns hot and clean.
Firebox should be filled with lump charcoal to light the fire. Light it with a natural fire maker. When you get the ashes lit, put the lid on and open the top and bottom holes wide. Heat it up to 15 to 20 minutes.
Set the stone on the grate or a convEGGtor should you use the indirect heat. Seal the lid and conclude to heat the stone another 25 to 30 minutes. A well heated stone can mean all the difference with your pizza texture.
Making the Perfect Pizza Dough
Pizza is made of good dough. Bread flour or pizza flour should be used which have high gluten content. This makes the dough strong and stretchy. Combine flour and water, salt, and yeast. Leave to rise for at least one hour. To improve the flavor, leave it in the fridge overnight.
After your dough is prepared, separate it in equal portions. Once warmed in a room, it can be stretched. pat it to shape with your hands. Do not use a pin to roll it out unless it is to make an ultra thin crust.
After its formation, set it onto a counter that is covered with flour. Add lightly your sauce, cheese and toppings. Take care not to overfill it. On a hot stone, there should be too much topping that would soak into the crust.
Baking Pizza in the Big Green Egg
Here is the exciting part. Open the egg and take the temperature. The optimum temperature to bake pizza should be 500 degrees F. It is critical to ensure that the pizza stone big green egg has been heated properly. Test The stone surface by using alligator clips to clip onto the stone surface directly using an infrared thermometer.
Put the pizza directly on the hot rock. Put the lid on to seal in the heat. After 6 to 8 minutes allow it to bake. Never give up. Observe the crust color and boiling cheese. Rotate the pizza half way through the baking process, where this is necessary.
When you use Big Green Egg to cook pizza, you acquire a smoky taste on your food. Baking the crust is also made very crispy, without burning the sides. Using the appropriate accessories to rock the green egg would allow regulating the circulation of air and prevent flare-ups. As soon as the pizza is cooked through and it has turned golden brown, pull it out with the help of your pizza peel. Wait one minute. Then cut up and serve.
Managing Heat and Airflow
Controlling airflow is one of the crucial ones when it comes to mastering the ways of using the Egg with pizza. Oxygen intake is performed through the bottom vent. The heat can escape through the top vent and its amount is regulated. Keep the grill at a consistent temperature by using the two vents.
Should the grill prove too hot shut or open the vents a little. Should it be too much cooled, open them farther. One has to learn to manoeuvre airflow but after some time it becomes automatic.
Remember that some accessories such as a heat deflector can minimize the occurrence of flare- ups. It aids in the provision of indirect heat on the stone so the crust can be baked but the toppings are not burnt.
Cleaning After Cooking
When cooking is over, cooling down the grill should be gradual. Under no circumstance should water be splashed on a hot pizza stone. The rapid change in temperature may lead to it cracking. When all things are cooled, brush them out with a grill brush removing any burned cheese or crust on the stone.
Prevent the use of soap. Pizza stones are very porous and take up fluid. All you have to do is remove the debris and keep your stone somewhere dry. Other cleaning on your Egg will include the emptying of ash in the firebox. Having it clean will enhance air flow and enable your grill to cook faster the next time you use it.
Final Thoughts
When you know how to make pizza in the Big Green Egg, you open the gate to the highest levels of homemade pizza. And using a good pizza stone, fresh dough and necessary tools, you will be able to comply with restaurant standards in your backyard. Due to advice in TheSmokingRills, you have discovered how to get the Egg lit up, how to prepare your equipment and how to bake a professional one. Remain calm, believe in the process and enjoy the process. The next time somebody comes and asks you where their pizza was cooked, you will proudly state the following, it was right here and this is my Big Green Egg.
