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Baking Problems

Burnt bottom, raw top

Reviewed by Marco Rivera · Updated

How to know this is your problem

  • Bottom is black before toppings cook
  • Charred underside with raw cheese
  • Smoke from the bottom

Why it happens

  • Stone/steel too hot relative to air temp
  • Pizza sat too long without rotating
  • Flour on peel burning on the stone

How to fix it

  1. 1

    Lower stone temperature — in a home oven, try a lower rack position

  2. 2

    Use semolina instead of flour on the peel (higher burn point)

  3. 3

    In a pizza oven, rotate every 20-30 seconds

  4. 4

    For home ovens, move to a higher rack for the last 2 min to finish top

Gear that helps

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Original Baking Steel

Steel's even heat distribution reduces hot spots

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Aluminum Pizza Peel (14")

Quick launch prevents sticking and burning

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