Can I use store bought pizza dough in my Ooni?

When making pizza at home, choosing the right dough is essential. It forms the foundation of any great pizza, and getting it right can be challenging. While many pizza enthusiasts prefer homemade dough, it requires time and effort. But what if you’re short on time or prefer a more convenient option? Store-bought pizza dough can be a viable alternative. You might wonder whether it works well in your Ooni pizza oven. Let’s explore this question in detail.

Why Choose Store-Bought Dough?

Store-bought pizza dough offers a convenient solution when you’re short on time. It’s available in most grocery stores, often in the refrigerated or frozen section. This dough is pre-mixed and partially fermented, eliminating the need for long preparation. If you don’t have the time to knead and let the dough rise, store-bought dough is a practical option.

The Ooni Pizza Oven: A Unique Experience

The Ooni pizza oven is a game-changer for home pizza making. It reaches higher temperatures than a typical home oven and mimics the conditions of a traditional wood-fired pizza oven. Your pizza cooks rapidly—often in just 60 to 90 seconds. This quick cooking process results in a crispy yet chewy crust with beautiful blistering.

However, the Ooni’s high temperatures demand a dough that can handle rapid cooking. Not all store-bought doughs are ideal for this. Let’s examine whether using store-bought pizza dough in your Ooni is a good choice and how it compares to homemade dough.

Types of Store-Bought Pizza Dough

Store-bought pizza dough comes in different varieties, and the type you choose impacts the result. Here are the most common types:

• Refrigerated Dough: Often found in the bakery section, this dough is sold in plastic bags and ready to roll. Refrigerated dough tends to be fresher but may be sticky or firm, making it tricky to handle.
• Frozen Dough: Found in the frozen foods section, this dough can be stored for longer periods. You’ll need to thaw it before use, but it performs similarly to refrigerated dough once defrosted.
• Pre-Baked Crusts: Though not technically dough, pre-baked crusts provide an easy option. These are already cooked, and you just need to add toppings and heat them through. Pre-baked crusts don’t work well in the Ooni because they lack the flexibility of raw dough.
• Artisan Dough: Some stores carry artisanal dough, often made by small producers. These doughs offer better texture and flavor, closely resembling homemade dough.

Preparing Store-Bought Dough for the Ooni

If you decide to use store-bought dough in your Ooni, proper preparation is key:

1. Let the Dough Warm Up: Cold dough is stiff and difficult to stretch. Allow it to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before working with it.
2. Use Flour: Store-bought dough tends to be sticky, so flour your hands and surface generously. This will help you handle and shape it more easily.
3. Stretch by Hand: Avoid rolling out the dough with a pin. Stretching the dough preserves the air bubbles, which helps create a light, airy crust.
4. Pre-Cook if Needed: If the dough is dense and doesn’t cook well in the Ooni’s high heat, try partially cooking the dough before adding toppings. This ensures the crust is fully cooked without burning the toppings.
5. Watch the Temperature: The Ooni cooks pizzas quickly. Keep an eye on the oven temperature to avoid burning the outside of the pizza before the inside is cooked. Aim for a temperature of 750-850°F when using store-bought dough.

Store-Bought Dough vs. Homemade Dough

Pizza purists might argue that homemade dough is superior. However, store-bought dough can perform well in the Ooni if handled correctly.

Texture and Flavor

Homemade dough usually offers better texture and flavor. Fermentation time enhances the flavor of the dough, as natural sugars and acids develop. Homemade dough also has a superior structure, contributing to a crispier exterior and chewier interior.

Still, many store-bought doughs are formulated to emulate these qualities. High-end, artisanal brands offer longer fermentation times, resulting in more flavorful dough. While refrigerated dough quality can vary, it can still produce good pizza with the right handling.

Cooking Performance

Store-bought dough tends to work better at lower temperatures than homemade dough. The added ingredients, such as sugar or oil, can cause it to brown or burn more quickly at higher temperatures. Reducing the heat slightly helps avoid this while still achieving a crispy crust.

Convenience

The biggest advantage of store-bought dough is convenience. Making homemade dough requires advance planning and time for fermentation and rising. Store-bought dough eliminates this step, allowing you to have pizza ready much faster. For many, this is a worthwhile trade-off, particularly for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings.

Tips to Improve Store-Bought Dough

You can enhance store-bought dough to bring it closer to the quality of homemade dough:

• Allow a Second Rise: After shaping, let the dough rest for 30 minutes to an hour before baking. This helps it rise further, resulting in a lighter crust.
• Brush with Olive Oil: Adding olive oil and seasonings like garlic powder, dried oregano, or sea salt boosts flavor.
• Par-Bake the Dough: If the dough is undercooked in the middle, try par-baking the crust for a couple of minutes before adding toppings. This ensures a fully cooked pizza.

Conclusion

So, can you use store-bought pizza dough in your Ooni? Absolutely. With proper preparation and a few adjustments, store-bought dough can deliver delicious results similar to homemade dough. While homemade dough offers more control over flavor and texture, store-bought dough provides a convenient and accessible option, especially when time is short.

FAQ

1. Should I let store-bought dough rise before using it in the Ooni?

Yes, letting the dough rise at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes helps make it more pliable. Cold dough is difficult to stretch, so allowing it to rest gives better results, especially in a high-heat oven like the Ooni.

2. What temperature should the Ooni be when using store-bought dough?

For store-bought dough, set your Ooni to around 750-850°F. This range helps prevent the dough from burning too quickly while ensuring an evenly cooked pizza.

3. How do I prevent store-bought dough from sticking to the pizza peel?

Generously flour both the dough and peel to prevent sticking. A blend of flour and semolina can also help the dough slide off the peel more smoothly.

4. Can I freeze store-bought pizza dough?

Yes, most store-bought pizza dough can be frozen. If you don’t plan to use the dough right away, freezing it will extend its shelf life. Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it reach room temperature before baking.