Learning To Stretch Pizza

Stretching pizza is mostly about being gentle and not forcing the dough.

If the dough keeps snapping back, it usually needs more rest. If it tears easily, it may be overproofed, too warm, or stretched too thin.

My basic method

1. Dust the bench with semola.
2. Press from the centre outward.
3. Leave the crust edge alone.
4. Lift and gently stretch with your knuckles.
5. Stop before the centre becomes see-through.

What not to do

Do not push all the gas out of the crust. That gas is what gives you the airy rim.

Also, do not keep handling the dough forever. The warmer and stickier it gets, the harder it becomes to launch.

Best beginner tip

Make smaller pizzas first. A 220g ball is much easier to control than a huge dough ball.

Watch: Peddling Pizza’s Slap Method

The slap method is useful once the basic finger press feels comfortable. Start slowly and focus on keeping the centre even rather than moving quickly.