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If you’re a pizza lover, then you know that the key to a perfect pie is an evenly cooked crust. If your oven can’t produce those crispy edges and chewy centers, then it might be time for a new tool: the pizza screen!
A pizza screen is an essential tool for any pizzeria, and when you’re in the market to buy one, it can be hard to know which one will work best for your needs. When it comes to pizza, there are a few things that people enjoy more. The problem is that making a good pie can be difficult if you don’t have the right tools!
This blog post will break down what a pizza screen is and how to find the right product for your business. We’ll also go over some of our favorite screens so that you can make an informed decision about what type of screen might work best in your kitchen!
What is a Pizza Screen?
Pizza screens are a great tool to have in your pizza-making arsenal because they will give you that crispy crust without the hassle of using a stone.
A pizza screen is basically what it sounds like – a metal mesh disk that acts as an alternative vessel for baking pizzas. It’s thinner than traditional stones, so it gets much hotter and it’s easier to store. It also lets the air circulate around the pizza to ensure the crust is cooked properly all over.
A pizza screen is a great addition for any kitchen, whether you are just starting out or have been making pizzas from scratch for years.
How Do Pizza Screens Work?
Pizza screens work by allowing heat to circulate around the pizza so that it cooks evenly on both sides. This means that the crust will cook through without getting soggy in the center.
What Are the Different Types of Pizza Screens?
There are several different types of pizza screens to choose from. The best type for you will depend on your personal preference, the type of pizza you want to cook, and how much you are willing to spend.
A stainless steel screen is the most basic option, but it’s also one of the strongest, so if the sturdy build quality is what you need then this may be a good choice for you.
A perforated pizza screen is another popular option because it allows for better air circulation, which means that your crust will get crispier without burning the toppings. There are also screens with handles so you can easily move them in and out of an oven or grill while wearing oven mitts without the risk of getting burned by heat.
Here are some of the most popular types of pizza screens:
Mesh Pizza Screens
Mesh pizza screens are the most commonly used type of pizza screen. This is because they are very easy to use and can be found in different sizes, so you don’t need multiple ones for different recipes.
These aren’t as heavy-duty as some other types, but if you want a durable option that won’t break the bank, this could work well since it’s usually affordable.
Stainless Steel Pizza Screens
These are very durable and sturdy, which makes them a popular choice for professional kitchens because they can stand up to heavy use without breaking down.
They also come in several different sizes, so you don’t have to buy multiple ones if you plan on cooking large pizzas at once.
Perforated Pizza Screens
These are specifically designed for cooking thin-crust pizzas because the perforations allow heat to circulate around the crust, so it cooks evenly on both sides without burning or getting soggy in the center.
They also have handles, so you can easily move them out of an oven with your hands. This is a popular choice for those with large outdoor grills as well because they can fit an entire pizza on the screen.
Aluminum Pizza Screens
These are also perforated, but they tend to be much thinner than other options. This makes them a great choice if you want an affordable option or plan on cooking multiple pizzas in your oven at once because the thinness helps heat circulate around each pizza for even cooking.
This is also another popular type of screen for grilling pizzas because it can handle the heat of a grill.
Bordered Pizza Screens
These have a solid border around the edge, which holds heat in and helps crisp up your crust.
This is such a great option for those who want an affordable screen that can handle larger pizzas because it won’t bend or break under pressure like mesh screens sometimes do.
Square Pizza Screens
These are (obviously) great for cooking square-shaped pizzas, but they can also be used to cook round pizzas by placing the pizza in the middle of the screen and ensuring that it is small enough so that it doesn’t flop over the edge.
If you plan on making multiple pizzas at once or know you will be cooking both round and square pizzas, these are another great option. These also tend to have a border around the edge, but they also have raised handles so you can easily place them in your oven or grill without getting burned by heat.
Pizza Screen Sets
These are a great option if you want multiple screens but don’t want to buy them individually. They typically come with two or three different types of screens so that you can cook food in more than one way without having to go out and buy additional equipment.
All-in-one sets even have some nonstick qualities, which makes them great for baking things like cookies or rolls that require you to transfer the food onto a wire rack.
This is another popular option if you don’t want to spend money buying multiple screens separately because it comes with different types at once, so cooking becomes much easier.
Pizza screen sets are usually affordable and make it easy to cook a variety of foods without having to buy multiple screens.
They usually come with one mesh screen, one perforated screen, and sometimes even aluminum or solid border option, so you can choose between several different types depending on your needs.
Commercial Pizza Screens
These are the best option if you plan on cooking pizza in bulk because they have a grid-style design that separates each circle so pizzas can cook without touching the other ones. This is another great choice for commercial kitchens and those who like to host large parties or get-togethers where everyone wants something different, such as meat lovers and vegetarians.
These are also great for those who have smaller ovens because you can cook up to four pizzas at once with this screen. This means they’ll finish cooking much faster than if you had used one big pizza pan instead of individual ones.
Commercial pizza screens are typically larger, more durable, and are made out of sturdier metals or thicker mesh screens so they can handle more heat, which means you’ll get a crisper crust on all your pizzas every time.
What Should You Look for in a Pizza Screen?
When you are picking out your pizza screens, there are three main important things to keep in mind: material, size, and thickness. Of course, there is plenty more to think about, but those are the main points. Material is obviously an extremely important choice when you’re buying anything for cooking because different materials will affect the quality of your food and the durability of your product.
Suppose you have a very expensive oven, for example. In that case, it may be recommended that you choose an aluminum screen over other metals because aluminum transfers heat better and helps cook things more evenly throughout while also being sturdier than something like copper or stainless steel.
The same goes for mesh screens. Stainless steel mesh screens are great for commercial kitchens because they can handle high heat and don’t warp, but if you have a cheaper oven that doesn’t get as hot, you might want to go with something like aluminum or nylon instead.
Size is also important when it comes to cooking anything in an oven, so make sure the size of your screens fits the size of whatever you’re cooking. When choosing a mesh screen, thickness is another important thing to keep in mind because thicker, sturdier screens are typically better for commercial kitchens or at-home pizzerias alike.
Thinner screens are good if you just want something small enough to fit in an oven so you can cook smaller items like cookies or rolls, but they can be flimsy, which isn’t good if you want to keep your pizza flat.
Pizza screens are relatively inexpensive and usually come in sets of three, so you always have enough to cook whatever number of pizzas you need. These are some of the most important things to look out for when shopping for a pizza screen:
Size
The size of your pizza screen should fit the size of your pizza sheet so you can easily transfer your food onto it. This is one of the most important things you should think about before purchasing one because you want to avoid having food spill over the sides when you put it in.
Material
The material your pizza screen is made out of will affect how well your crust turns out, so if you have a cheaper screen or aren’t making very many pizzas, aluminum might be a better choice than stainless steel because it transfers heat more efficiently.
Plus, different materials will affect how well and evenly something cooks in an oven, so be sure to pick out a material that fits with whatever kind of cooking appliance you have.
Thickness
A thicker screen is typically better for commercial kitchens or pizzerias because they can handle higher temperatures and don’t warp. However, if you have a cheaper oven that doesn’t get as hot, then thinner screens might be a better choice, so your food cooks evenly throughout.
Ease of Cleaning
When it comes to the best pizza screen, the ease of cleaning is a very important factor to look out for. Having your pizza stick to your screen can be both incredibly frustrating and sometimes even mean that dinner is ruined, depending on how much it has stuck.
Because you’re going to be putting it in your oven and cooking with grease on it often, you want something that can quickly and easily be cleaned off, so no food particles get stuck or burnt onto the surface. Some screens are even dishwasher safe, which means as long as they don’t warp or melt then you can just pop them into the dishwasher and let it do all of the work for you.
Does it Have Sharp Edges?
This is particularly the case with mesh screens, but make sure you check the sides to make sure it doesn’t have any rough edges that might cut your hands if they catch them.
This is because even though mesh screens are usually made out of metal, there can be some jagged or sharp parts along one edge, so always double-check before starting to cook with it.
Shape
Will you be cooking square pizzas or round pizzas? The shape of your pizza screen will affect whether or not it can cook your pizzas evenly all the way through, so think about what shape you’re cooking most often before picking one out.
If you want to make round pizzas, then a round mesh screen is the best option because they fit right over baking pans and distribute heat equally throughout.
Design and Style
Another important factor to consider when buying a pizza screen is its design and style. Some screens come with handles, some are round or square-shaped, and some have perforated edges for easy draining, etc.
Be sure to look at what kind of pizzas you typically make most often before choosing one so your food cooks properly every time without any issues.
For instance, if you make square pizzas, a square-shaped mesh is a good choice that will allow your food to cook evenly every time.
However, if round pizzas are more common in your restaurant or kitchen, then look for something with perforated edges so liquids can drip out easily without spilling over onto the oven floor and making it messy.
Does it Have Handles?
Another important thing to look out for is whether or not it has handles, so you can easily lift your screen up and transfer the food onto a cutting board without burning yourself on the hot metal in the oven.
Price
Last but not least, price is another factor to consider when buying a pizza screen.
Cheaper screens are typically made out of cheaper materials; this can often effectively mean much worse quality than if you paid a little bit more. Particularly in a professional setting, the quality of the pizza screen is incredibly important, but if you run a busy pizzeria, it’s also important to make sure your equipment doesn’t break the bank to buy.
The price of your pizza screen will depend on what materials have been used to create it as well as how big they are in general, so look at the sizes available before making a purchase.
The Major Differences Between Commercial Pizza Screens and Household Pizza Screens
There are several main differences between commercial pizza screens and household ones.
The first is that commercial pizza screens are typically made of stainless steel, while residential ones might be either aluminum or even screen mesh with no frame around them.
Stainless steel has the highest heat tolerance, so it’s usually used for more expensive restaurant equipment, but if you want to cook something on the stovetop, then aluminum might be a better choice because it heats up faster and is more affordable.
Pizza screens made out of mesh don’t work as well for cooking pizzas in ovens or on stoves because they aren’t flat, which means you won’t get an even distribution of heat, but they’re great for household snacks like frozen pizzas because you can cook them in the oven or on a skillet without worrying about anything getting stuck to the screen mesh.
The other differences between residential pizza screens are that commercial ones have perforated edges, so liquids can drip off easily, while household versions don’t.
Commercial screens are also typically square or round, while residential ones might be either one shape or the other depending on what you’re looking for in a product. They are also usually larger, come in larger sets, and are much more expensive.
Finally, commercial pizza screens often have handles so they can easily lift up and transfer food to a cutting board without burning your hands, whereas home versions don’t have this feature.
Best Pizza Screen Options
New Star Foodservice Pizza Screen
New Star Foodservice’s Seamless Aluminum Pizza Screen is made of heavy-duty aluminum to provide exceptional outcomes and is designed to satisfy the demands of both commercial and residential kitchens. It has a fine mesh and seamless rims to guarantee an evenly cooked crust. It encourages better ventilation for the hot air circulation to prevent overcooking.
It’s one of the most versatile and useful products on the market. It may be used to make frozen and fresh pizza doughs as well as crunchy, delicious toast, bread, brownies, and cakes. Plus, it’s very simple to maintain, since all you have to do is wash it with your hands and use a non-corrosive cleaner to keep it looking new.
The pan comes in seven various sizes to fit your specific need. It will also make moving the pizza easy because you won’t have to dust it.
Pros
- Heavy-duty aluminum construction
- Seamless rims to guarantee an even cooking crust
- Fine mesh for better ventilation
Cons
- It needs to be pre-heated before you can use it
- The pizza sometimes sticks to it
Hubert Rectangular Pizza Screen
Whether you’re planning to serve the best thin-crust pizza in town or simply looking for a way to make the perfect homemade pizza, this Hubert Rectangular Pizza Screen will be the perfect kitchen accessory. You’ll certainly want to have this kind of inventory in your commercial kitchen.
In fact, this rectangular pizza pan with holes is an excellent option for both home and commercial usage. Whether you’re searching for the finest-quality perforated pan for restaurant needs, this one will do the trick. In fact, a crisp, evenly baked crust is possible thanks to this 24 “L x 16 “W pizza screen.
Hubert is a well-known brand that produces a variety of go-to kitchen items specifically designed for harsh commercial usage. The perforated pattern allows for quicker cooking time and prevents the crust from becoming soft and sticky once the baking process is finished.
Pros
- It’s very easy to clean.
- Professional standard and very durably built.
- It creates even baking.
Cons
- Not good for a softer, deep-dish pizza
Winco APZS-16 Winware 16-Inch Aluminum Pizza Screen
For your house-kitchen pizza experiences, this high-quality pan with gaps works wonderfully with a pizza stone. The pan enables you to produce a highly professional pizza at home with a wonderfully crisp crust. Just don’t forget to measure your oven to make sure this particular pizza screen fits in terms of size.
The Winco screen created the ideal crust – perfectly crisp and golden on the outside, slides off neatly and effortlessly — all ready to be sliced and served. Simply season the pan before the first use to ensure that your pizza does not stick.
For the perfect thin and crispy crust, brush both sides with oil and place in a 500F-degree oven for about ten minutes before you place your pizza on top. The results are simply delicious!
The Winco aluminum pizza screen also prevents soggy and dripping cheese from ruining your oven by keeping frozen pizzas crispy. Instead of a nearly edible, soggy mess, you’ll get a truly delicious restaurant-style pizza, as well as a spotless oven. If you want to produce a delicious pizza, the Winco aluminum pizza screen is the finest option.
Pros
- Large size, perfect for a large pizza
- Durable and well-made
- It prevents soggy crusts, even on frozen pizza
Cons
- Not as easy to clean as some of the others
DingSheng 6’’- 20’’ Pizza Screen Set
This set of tools is exactly what you need if you’re looking for the greatest pizza pan with holes for your commercial kitchen. This set includes pizza screens with diameters of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 20 inches; this will help you to use your time more efficiently and considerably enhance your creativity.
Plus, the circular shape of the screens allows them to be cost-effective and simple to clean. In fact, there are several benefits to using this perforated pizza screen set. They allow your pizza dough to breathe, speeding up the cooking process and producing an out-of-this-world crispy golden crust.
After cooking, remember to transfer your screen(s) onto a serving tray. This way, no cheese or other ingredients will fall through the gaps between the pizza disks and onto your clean table.
Pros
- Great value
- Durable and well-made
- Speeds up the cooking process by allowing your pizza to breathe
- Perfect for restaurant use, diner, or pizzeria
Cons
- You may not need this many screens for home use
FAQs
Question: Are Pizza Screens Good?
Answer: Using a pizza screen is an excellent way to cook your pizzas. They allow for even cooking so that you don’t have one spot of the crust burning while another area remains too soft and soggy from excess moisture.
You can also use them to make focaccia, calzones, or any other baked goods with a similar dough-like texture. Using a perforated pan allows air to circulate more freely around the food as it cooks, which helps create those crispy golden brown results we all love!
Question: What Size Pizza Screen Do I Need?
Answer: The first thing you should do when you start looking for some new baking trays is measure how big your oven is to ensure that whatever tools you buy will fit. If you’re not sure, most ovens are around 44 cm wide, equivalent to about 17 inches in diameter – so that’s what we used as our starting point when narrowing down the options for this article!
Question: Do I Need a Pizza Screen With Holes?
Answer: Having some small ventilation holes allows more airflow and speeds up cooking time, producing crispy crusts on your pizzas without any excess moisture inside.
This will also help prevent soggy bottoms or undercooked spots if you decide to try out a frozen take-and-bake option from the grocery store instead of making something fresh at home. It can be a great way to switch things up, but it tends to have much less crispiness overall than a product made fresh.
Question: How Do You Keep Pizza from Sticking to the Screen?
Answer: There are a few things you can do to prevent sticking, depending on what type of dough or other ingredients you’re using. First off, always try to start with a clean screen without any oil or excess flour on it.
If there is excess flour on the dough after you shape it, brush off as much of it as possible before baking – this will help prevent sticking and make your crust come out nice and crispy!
Secondly, if you want to use some sort of liquid like olive oil, brush it onto the screen itself before you put any pizza toppings down;. this will help prevent sticking and keep your crust light and fluffy instead of chewy or doughy!
Question: Which Pizza Tray is Best?
Answer: This is a tough question without knowing more about your specific kitchen and needs! However, our top pick for the best overall pizza screen would be this option from Winco.
Question: What Do You Use a Pizza Screen For?
Answer: Pizza screens are used for cooking pizzas and other baked goods with a similar dough-like texture. They allow for even cooking so that you don’t have one spot burning while another area remains too soft and soggy.
Question: Can You Cut Pizza on a Pizza Screen?
Answer: Of course, you can cut pizzas on a pizza screen! However, if your pizza screen is made of metal, it will be much easier to transfer the finished product onto a cutting board without breaking or spilling anything. This will make cutting it much easier to ensure that you don’t damage your pizza screen.
Question: What are the Benefits of Using a Pizza Screen?
Answer: There are lots of different types of baking tray options available, but if you want something that’s easy, durable, and great for making crispy crusts on your homemade pizzas, then this is definitely the option for you!
Question: How Long Does it Take To Pre-heat a Pizza Screen?
Answer: On average, about fifteen minutes should be enough time for your oven to heat up fully and the metal of the pan itself will typically reach its peak temperature within five or ten minutes. You can always check with an oven thermometer if you’re unsure – but this is a good ballpark estimate to follow.
Question: Do You Grease a Pizza Screen?
Answer: If you’re using a perforated metal pan, then it’s often best to grease the screen itself before placing any food on top. This will help prevent sticking and provide better results overall in terms of crispy crusts, golden-brown coloration, etc.
Question: Can You Use a Pizza Screen in a Wood-fired Oven?
Answer: You should never try to use a metal pan in this type of oven. Pizza screens are specifically designed for home kitchens and gas ovens – you could potentially ruin the pizza screen or damage the structural integrity of your wood-fired pizza oven if you tried using it with one!
Question: How Much Does a Pizza Screen Cost?
Answer: Pizza screens are very affordable, especially when you consider how much they can help to improve your home cooking experience! You can find options ranging in price from about $15 for a simple aluminum pizza screen all the way up to around $60 or more if you want one with extra features like handles and nonstick coatings.
Question: What is the Life Expectancy of a Pizza Screen?
Answer: Most pizza screens are designed to last for years or even decades when used with common sense and appropriate care. Of course, accidents do happen, but if you treat your pizza screen right, it should be able to provide many many years of use in your busy kitchen.
What Criteria Did We Use to Come Up With These Selections?
We used a lot of different criteria to come up with these suggestions, including some that were based on personal experience. We looked at price, durability, and ease of use as the most important factors to consider when you’re shopping for the best pizza screens.
First, we tried to find some products that are priced fairly, so you won’t have to break the bank in order to get a good set of tools for your home or business kitchen. Next, we wanted something made with durable materials and able to handle years worth of high-volume usage without wearing out too quickly.
Finally, we looked at ease of use as one more factor because nobody wants complicated equipment when they’re cooking up pizzas! The last thing anyone needs is another frustrating step during their busy day where they could be making money instead – wouldn’t you agree? That’s why all these suggestions come from very reputable brands and should serve you well.
Overall, pizza screens are an essential tool for any pizzeria owner or home cook who wants to make delicious pizzas! They help you ensure your pizza crust turns out crispy and golden brown while also allowing the dough to breathe, so it doesn’t get too soggy in the oven.
However, picking a pizza screen is not always an easy task. There are many factors to consider – from your budget, the size of the pan you need, and what features it should have for optimal use in your kitchen. If you want a good set of tools for making great pizzas at home, check out our suggestions above today!
Bottom Line
While all of the above are great suggestions, our personal preference is the Winco APZS-16 Winware 16-Inch Aluminum Pizza Screen because it has a longer life expectancy, is affordable for most budgets, and isn’t prone to damage or warping.
It’s also very lightweight, so it can be washed easily in the dishwasher. There are lots of different options available – but we think this one is a great place to start.
We hope our guide has been helpful and you’ve found some great options for the best pizza screens you can buy today!