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I have a Bertello oven and pretty new to these Neopolitan pizzas. Everyone loves them but after proofing my dough balls they seem to flatten out instead of rise.

Any help appreciated.

I’m using Vito’s single fermentation recipe. I mostly use all-purpose flour. Tried 00 once and everyone thought the AP was better.
How are you handling the dough? I have found that to be a key factor in next level pizza. Oven temp? On top and on the stone?
 

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I had to change his recipe a little and of course added seasonings like Fennel, Italian blend, etc... I was toasting my fennel but think it pulls to much of the fennel flavor away from it. I'm not using salt or honey for the poolish ferment. I am using Molasses and lots of it. :)
 
I normally roll out my pizza crust because I suck at shaping (mostly getting a consistent thickness) but I do feel like it negatively impacts the texture of the crust, so I tried just rolling a bit to get a rough circle, then shaped by hand and I have to say the texture is so much better. But I still didn't get a consistent thickness (too thin in the center and a little too thick around the edges). But I feel like the texture is almost where I want it - chewy, but too chewy and still soft.

PXL_20210920_222512981.PORTRAIT.jpg

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I normally roll out my pizza crust because I suck at shaping (mostly getting a consistent thickness) but I do feel like it negatively impacts the texture of the crust, so I tried just rolling a bit to get a rough circle, then shaped by hand and I have to say the texture is so much better. But I still didn't get a consistent thickness (too thin in the center and a little too thick around the edges). But I feel like the texture is almost where I want it - chewy, but too chewy and still soft.

View attachment 743064
View attachment 743063
looks absolutely delish! How long are you resting your dough balls before shaping and tossing?

Cheers
Jay
 
looks absolutely delish! How long are you resting your dough balls before shaping and tossing?

Cheers
Jay
Thank you!! I made the dough yesterday, then put in the fridge overnight. I took it out of the fridge and shaped into a ball and covered with plastic wrap for about two hours before shaping and cooking. Would you recommend another process? I'm open to experimenting :)
 
It does look delicious. Rolling will definitely affect the tenderness of the crust, as you are pushing some to most of the air you developed out if it. Especially at the Cornicione. I would just continue to practice shaping it by hand. Handling it as little as possible.
 
Thank you!! I made the dough yesterday, then put in the fridge overnight. I took it out of the fridge and shaped into a ball and covered with plastic wrap for about two hours before shaping and cooking. Would you recommend another process? I'm open to experimenting :)
Nope. 2 hours I think is PERFECT! Can you "TOSS" the dough? Have you tried that? I love to go outside on the deck and TOSS the dough. I get flour all over me and the deck and I do think there is some magic in that. Also handling the dough very softly and as little as you can. Just my thoughts. At the end of the day if the dough doesn't taste or have the consistency of bread... You're winning!

Cheers
Jay
 
Nope. 2 hours I think is PERFECT! Can you "TOSS" the dough? Have you tried that? I love to go outside on the deck and TOSS the dough. I get flour all over me and the deck and I do think there is some magic in that. Also handling the dough very softly and as little as you can. Just my thoughts. At the end of the day if the dough doesn't taste or have the consistency of bread... You're winning!

Cheers
Jay
I have tried tossing the dough, but definitely haven't mastered it.
 
I normally roll out my pizza crust because I suck at shaping (mostly getting a consistent thickness) but I do feel like it negatively impacts the texture of the crust, so I tried just rolling a bit to get a rough circle, then shaped by hand and I have to say the texture is so much better. But I still didn't get a consistent thickness (too thin in the center and a little too thick around the edges). But I feel like the texture is almost where I want it - chewy, but too chewy and still soft.

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View attachment 743063
A lot of trial and error but, this is my favorite dough...

Ingredients

Double Batch, Single Batch

1.5 tablespoon sugar (.75 Tbsp)
2 active dry yeast or 2 teaspoons (1 tsp)
4.5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing (2.25 Tbsp)
5.5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (2.75 cups)
1.0 tablespoon garlic salt (.5 tbsp)

1.5 tablespoon basil paste (.75 tbsp)

.75 teaspoon rosemary and garlic seasoning (.375 tsp)

.75 teaspoon Italian seasoning (.375)



Directions

  1. Whisk 1 1/3 (2/3) cups warm water (105 degrees F) and the sugar in a bowl; sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the olive oil.
  2. Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl, add garlic salt, rosemary and garlic season, and Italian seasoning. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Add basil paste.
  3. Gradually stir with a wooden spoon to make a rough dough.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, dusting with more flour if necessary. Form into 2 balls. Brush 2 (1) large bowls with olive oil, add a ball of dough to each and turn to coat with the oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Roll out and top as desired, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month.
 
I usually make Detroit style squares but I was inspired by that video a page back or whatever about kicking it up to the next level. I even went so far as to watch the whole video and write a recipe up (this was before I found out you could click on the written recipe).
I'm using bread flour instead of 00. It might show what a bad idea it is to do that. Minimal waste of time and money if it goes badly.
I'm going to use my usual sauce and cheese blend (3/2 brick/jack) but also the soft mozzarella on some of them. I'll also be using pizza screens and a standard oven with a pizza stone versus a pizza oven. Like I said, I might find out how bad of an idea it all is.
Should have pictures by Saturday. Be warned: having cooked in a pizzeria for six years, I can still make something that is aesthetically pleasing without tasting good.
Still letting me edit so here's a poolish after almost 24 hours.
poolish.jpeg
 
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Using a poolish and the extra time involved in making this recipe was definitely worth it. I ordered 6# of 00 from a place called Nuts.com for the next run. Pizza's a before and after with ham and mushroom. Also, I think running the cheese through the grinder tastes better than just shredding.
ham uncooked.jpeg

ham cooked.jpg
 
I usually make Detroit style squares but I was inspired by that video a page back or whatever about kicking it up to the next level. I even went so far as to watch the whole video and write a recipe up (this was before I found out you could click on the written recipe).
I'm using bread flour instead of 00. It might show what a bad idea it is to do that. Minimal waste of time and money if it goes badly.
I'm going to use my usual sauce and cheese blend (3/2 brick/jack) but also the soft mozzarella on some of them. I'll also be using pizza screens and a standard oven with a pizza stone versus a pizza oven. Like I said, I might find out how bad of an idea it all is.
Should have pictures by Saturday. Be warned: having cooked in a pizzeria for six years, I can still make something that is aesthetically pleasing without tasting good.
Still letting me edit so here's a poolish after almost 24 hours.
View attachment 743399
That is awesome! I personally use local bread flour as well. 00 seems like a PITA to find and use and I love our local flour. Nice job on the Poolish! Its IMHO is a total GAME changer!
Cheers
Jay
 

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