The Pizza Heaven

The best way to stretch pizza dough for every style

Articles / stretching pizza / By / April 30, 2023

The perfect pizza crust is just a stretch away. Do you want to know the best way to stretch pizza dough for a truly unforgettable pizza experience?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the best way to stretch pizza dough so you can make amazing pizza every time. We’ll explore factors to consider when selecting a stretching technique, a brief overview of various stretching methods, and the best technique for different types of pizza, so you can avoid mistakes and make the perfect crust.

By the end of this guide, you will have the knowledge and confidence to create mouthwatering pizzas that will impress your friends and family. Let’s get started and learn the secret to stretching pizza dough like a pro!

What is the best way to stretch pizza dough? 

The short answer is that the best way to stretch pizza depends on the pizza you want to stretch and your personal skill level. The most important factor is the type of pizza or dough you want to stretch, the size of the pizza, and how relaxed your dough is.

Stretching a thick pizza al Taglio, compared to a 12-inch Neapolitan with a puffy edge or 20-inch New York-style pizza is very different.

The size of the pizza matters

Some stretching techniques are very efficient for stretching smaller doughs but are hard to use when your pizza reaches a certain size. While other methods may be slower and less convenient, they work great for large pizzas.

Long vs. short fermentation dough

The longer you leave your dough to ferment, the more relaxed the gluten will get. And stretching a very relaxed dough is a different game from stretching a tighter dough that springs back much more easily. 

If you’re making Neapolitan pizza, and let the dough balls rest for 6-12 hours, you need to use gentle stretching techniques to avoid stretching the soft dough too thin.

Experience

It’s no secret that experience plays an important role in pizza baking. Some pizza stretching methods require more practice to master. So even if an advanced pizza stretching technique is better suited for the style of pizza you want to make, it’s important not to get ahead of yourself. Start with a simpler method. Jumping straight into an advanced technique can lead to frustration and ultimately failure. While using a technique that you can execute with success will help you build the skills to move on to more advanced techniques.

The most common stretching techniques

Let’s have a look at the most common pizza stretching techniques and some of their benefits and drawbacks.

The Neapolitan slap (Stretch and slap)

The Neapolitan slap (Lo Schiaffo in Italian), also called The stretch and slap method is the traditional way to stretch Neapolitan pizza dough. 

It’s a pizza stretching technique that involves holding the dough in place with one hand while gently pulling it outwards with the other, followed by folding the dough over the forearm and slapping it down on the working surface to rotate it.

Benefits:

  • Extremely fast method: Probably the fastest way to stretch pizza dough, when executed by a skilled pizzaiolo
  • Retains air bubbles in the crust: The method preserves air bubbles in the rim, creating a light and airy texture.
  • Removes excess flour effectively: Slapping the dough helps to remove excess flour naturally, which can prevent burnt flavors from baking the pizza.

Drawbacks:

  • Advanced technique: The Neapolitan slap is an advanced technique that can be difficult for beginner pizza makers to master.
  • Requires a well-relaxed dough: The technique requires relaxed dough balls.
  • Less suitable for larger pizzas: The Neapolitan slap is harder to use for stretching pizzas over 14-15 inches (35-40cm).

Press and stretch

The press and stretch method involves using your fingertips and the heels of your hands to gently press and stretch the dough into a round disc while rotating to ensure an even thickness and shape.

Benefits:

  • Easy to learn: The press and stretch method is beginner-friendly and most people can pick it up easily.
  • Good control over dough stretching: This technique gives you good control over the thickness and shape of the dough.
  • Works for any size pizza: You can use the press and stretch method to stretch pizza dough of any size.

Drawbacks:

  • Less air retention in the crust: Compared to some other methods, the press and stretch technique doesn’t retain air bubbles in the crust as well. The result is less oven spring and a slightly denser texture.
  • Requires a lot of flour: This method requires a lot of flour to avoid sticking when you stretch, and it’s important to get rid of this excess flour before baking to avoid bad flavors. 
  • Slow process: This method is not as fast as some other techniques, making it less suitable for making many pizzas quickly.

Knuckle stretch

The knuckle stretch is a technique where you stretch the dough by lifting up the dough and gently pulling it using your knuckles.

Benefits:

  • Ideal for large, thin-crust pizzas: The Knuckle Stretch method works well for creating large, thin-crust.
  • Works with various dough types: The knuckle stretch technique is versatile and you can use it for different dough types and levels of hydration. This makes it suitable for a wide range of pizza styles.
  • Good control: The knuckle stretch method offers a good level of control over the stretching process. This help to create a consistent pizza base.

Drawbacks:

  • Risk of stretching too thin and tearing: Incorrect execution of the knuckle stretch technique can result in a center that is too thin and prone to tearing.
  • Advanced technique: The knuckle stretch technique takes some practice to master and may be challenging for beginners.
  • Slower than some methods: This method is slower than other techniques like the Neapolitan slap, making it less ideal for making multiple pizzas quickly.


Rolling pin

Using a rolling pin doesn’t need much explanation. It’s a technique that simply involves flattening your pizza dough using a rolling pin to give an even thickness. 

Benefits:

  • Beginner-friendly: Using a rolling pin is straightforward and easy to learn for new pizza makers.
  • Uniform thickness: This method makes it easy to create an even crust thickness across the entire pizza.

Drawbacks:

  • Removes bubbles: Using a rolling pin will remove most of the air bubbles from the dough. This will result in a denser and less airy crust.
  • Not ideal for pizzas with a rim: The press and stretch method is not ideal for pizza styles that require a distinct rim, such as Neapolitan pizza, since it can flatten the entire surface of the dough.
  • Hard to make round pizza: It’s difficult to achieve a perfect round shape when using a rolling pin.

How to find the best stretching technique

The first factor to consider is the size of the pizza. For smaller personal-sized pizzas, pressing and stretching techniques (such as press and stretch or Neapolitan slap) are easier and more efficient, while for larger pizzas methods that involve using gravity (such as knuckle stretch) are easier.

The type of dough, and how relaxed it is affects how gentle or aggressive methods you can use. For example, an extensible, relaxed dough, or a soft, high-hydration dough requires more gentle stretching than an elastic, less relaxed, or low-hydration dough.

The type of crust you want to make is another factor to consider. For pizza with a lighter and taller crust, you need to use a method that preserves the air bubble inside. The reason is that it allows it to puff up in the oven. For a thin-crust or cracker pizza, a rolling pin may be more effective, while for a light and airy Neapolitan-style crust, a gentle stretching technique that preserves air pockets may be necessary.

Some stretching techniques require more skill and practice than others, so it’s important to consider your own skill level and comfort with different techniques. Beginners may want to start with simpler techniques, such as the knuckle stretch, and work their way up to more advanced techniques, such as the Neapolitan slap or gravity stretch.

The best way to stretch pizza dough for beginners

Stretching pizza dough is intimidating. It can seem like an impossible task, but there is one method that is easier than all the others.

The best way to stretch pizza dough for beginners is the Press and stretch method.

Press and stretch is the easiest pizza stretching technique to learn for round pizza. So I highly recommend learning this method if you’re new. It gives you more control as a beginner than other methods, which makes it easy to make a round, even pizza. It also works from any size pizza from small personal-size pizzas to large family-size pizzas.

The press and stretch method might not be the fastest way to stretch pizza, and it doesn’t give the tallest and lightest crust, but it’s beginner-friendly, and works for a wide range of pizza styles, from Neapolitan to New York pizza.

Head over to How to stretch pizza dough for beginners for a step-by-step guide to using the press and stretch method.

The best way to stretch pizza dough for Neapolitan pizza

The best way to stretch Neapolitan pizza is the Neapolitan slap (Lo Schiaffo).

When performed correctly, you can stretch a perfectly round pizza in a matter of seconds using the Neapolitan slap method. The Neapolitan slap is probably the fastest way to stretch pizza when you master the technique. It also naturally creates a flat even base and preserves air bubbles in the rim. The result is that the crust will puff up in the oven and make a light and airy crust to make the perfect Neapolitan pizza. When slapping the dough, you also remove excess flour that can burn in the hot oven and create bad flavors.

The Neapolitan slap is an advanced pizza stretching technique that takes some practice to master. While the Neapolitan slap method has its drawbacks, such as being challenging for beginners, requiring a well-relaxed dough, and not ideal for larger pizzas, the drawbacks can be overcome with practice and proper dough preparation. The Neapolitan slap is therefore the best choice if you want to make true Neapolitan pizza!

Head over to The complete guide to stretching Neapolitan pizza for detailed instructions on mastering the Neapolitan slap.

The best way to stretch pizza dough for New York-style pizza

The best technique to stretch New York-style pizza is the knuckle stretch method. New York-style pizzas are known for their thin crusts and large size, which makes the Knuckle Stretch the ideal choice.

Using the knuckle stretch method, you can efficiently create a thin, even crust that is perfect for New York-style pizzas. As you lift the dough and gently pull it using your knuckles, you have great control size, shape, and thickness of the pizza.

While it does require some practice to master, the knuckle stretch method offers a balance of control and efficiency needed to create New York-style pizza. Once you’ve mastered this technique, you’ll be able to create the perfect slices that New York-style pizza is famous for.

Andreas
Latest posts by Andreas (see all)