Best Store Bought Pizza Dough?

johnl350

I did a search and didn't see any recent threads on this and I am cooking some pizzas tonight so wanted to get some recommendations.  I haven't had great success with the Publix pizza dough.  Do you have any other recommendations?  I have a Kroger and a Publix relatively close to me.  I tried to buy dough from Mellow Mushroom last night but they said they cannot sell me any food raw.  Any of the frozen ones good?  Or the Pilsbury one in a can?

Lo_Gear

Wal Mart has dough in a bag where they keep the market fresh pizzas. It's OK. I go to my local pizzeria and get dough from them

tonyled

trader joes is pretty great

Lo_Gear

NPHuskerFL

Go to a pizza restaurant and buy a few dough balls that have already been cold fermented. (Mellow may have their own policies or maybe I just know the right people  ).  A lot of places will sell their dough. Most big box warehouse style places sell premade dough balls....Sam's Club, Costco, BJs etc. Why not just make it yourself?  If you're in a time crunch I get it. But, just a thought....make a few dough balls and freeze for the next time. 

Legume

Trader Joe's regular is good, but not a fan of their whole wheat or herb dough.

Agree with recommendations to try a pizza place 

Eggaroo

 Trader Joe's is decent. I'm not a fan of the Pillsbury dough in a can though.

DeltaNu1142

I've had good luck with Trader Joe's. Both times I've used it, it went well. I used dough from a local pizza joint that cost me 4-5 times what TJ's did, and I ended up screwing up the pies. So I'll stick with TJ's.

busmania

Because I am lazy, I buy the store bought dough. King supers (Kroger) had a great dough but they stopped selling it. Now I go to safeway and it is pretty good. The key, imo, to using store bought dough is cooking it in the cast iron. I wont do it any other way anymore. Even my wife, who doesn't "like" pizza will now occasionally request pizza for dinner.

SmokeyPitt

If you get a chance you might call around to some pizza places.  I agree the Trader Joes is good. 

FWIW Publix isn't bad if you just let it sit out for a while.  I have found it needs to sit at room temp much longer than what it says on the bag.  Leave it on the counter for an hour or so.  Also don't cook over 500 degrees with Publix dough. 

Ladeback69

Trader Joe's is good and if you have a Papa Murphy's near you they I have been told will sell just their dough as well.

Jeremiah

Publix is pretty good too.

johnl350

Thanks for all the replies.  I am going to try another local pizza place (Fellini's) on the way home and if they won't sell me dough, I'll go to the store and try Publix dough again.  Thanks again for all the help!

Carolina Q

I have one store here (a local chain) that makes pretty good dough so when I don't feel like making my own, or it's a last minute thing, I shop there. They always have the date it was made on the label so I try to get a ball that's at least 2-3 days old. Not always possible though. If all they had was made today, ideally, I'd take it home and throw it in the fridge for a day or two. If that's not possible, I just suck it up and use it as is.

If I were buying from a local pizza joint, and wanted to use it today, I'd just ask for some that was made 1-3 days ago.

bigdaddydivo

I make my own and it's very easy. This recipe is for a half sheet pan like you'd have at home.
3 3/4 cups AP flour
1 1/2 cups luke warm water (not warm enough to be uncomfortable on the  back of your hand but not cold)
1 1/2 packages yeast (I like Fleischmann pizza yeast but any will do)
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp. vegetable oil

I use a stand mixer with a dough hook but that is not mandatory. You can use your hands, I don't know that I would try this with a hand mixer though.

Mix the flour with the salt in a large mixing bowl

Dissolve the yeast and sugar into the warm water and stir well with a fork or small whisk

Combine the flour and yeast-sugar water and mix well

Add the vegetable oil and mix it well into the dough

Knead the dough until it's just a touch sticky

Form it into a ball and rub it with a little extra oil so it wont stick

Place it into the mixing bowl or a clean bowl cover with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot.

Walk away...

In two hours or so you should have a nicely risen dough ball.

Knead it again and make two small thin pies or one big Sicilian style pie (my fam loves that style)

Just remember * the water cannot be too hot (it will kill the yeast)
                        * Mix in the oil after the water has been mixed into the flour

You can make this in the morning and let it sit til dinner time if you like and this recipe would easily make four or five personal size pizzas for kids or appetizers

I make this usually weekly in the winter time

Good luck!!!

clemsontyger97

Noticed the comment above not to go above 500 with Publix.   Generally speaking, is there any concerns or things to be aware of with store-bought vs made at home dough?   Cook time, etc?     I've seen the bagged at Wal Mart but wasn't sure how good that would be.   I called around to a few local pizza places and most of them charge almost as much as an actual pizza, which seems a bit high to me.

milesvdustin

Sams club. One ball makes two egg stone size pizzas. 

ChokeOnSmoke

clemsontyger97 said:

Noticed the comment above not to go above 500 with Publix.   Generally speaking, is there any concerns or things to be aware of with store-bought vs made at home dough?   Cook time, etc?     

I've never had great luck with store bought, I've found the bottom always burns too easily compared to the top getting properly done.  I started making my own a few years ago and wouldn't have it any other way now.  And it so easy if you have a KitchenAid or similar mixer.  I make really wet doughs so I can crank it up to 700 F. +   I like the finished product better that way.

chrisc133

The guys and gals over at the pizza making forum are pretty high on the Whole Foods dough balls.  I've used it and it's very good.

Captainjimpark

milesvdustin said:

Sams club. One ball makes two egg stone size pizzas. 

@milesvdustin  does SAMs sell frozen or fresh from where they do there pizzas?

northGAcock

SmokeyPitt said:

If you get a chance you might call around to some pizza places.  I agree the Trader Joes is good. 

FWIW Publix isn't bad if you just let it sit out for a while.  I have found it needs to sit at room temp much longer than what it says on the bag.  Leave it on the counter for an hour or so.  Also don't cook over 500 degrees with Publix dough. 

Adding to this, publix (for me) is solid for oven cooks, ok for egg cooked pizza. Is solid for both when doin calzones.

tonyled

clemsontyger97 said:

Noticed the comment above not to go above 500 with Publix.   Generally speaking, is there any concerns or things to be aware of with store-bought vs made at home dough?   Cook time, etc?     I've seen the bagged at Wal Mart but wasn't sure how good that would be.   I called around to a few local pizza places and most of them charge almost as much as an actual pizza, which seems a bit high to me.

i once read that higher temps arent favorable with some of the store bought ones due to higher sugar content but i cant for the life of me remember where i read it.  i tend to keep mine in the 500 range

NPHuskerFL

@bigdaddydivo What's the hydration ratio on your recipe?  And could you explain what the difference is between pizza yeast vs regular bread yeast from Fleischmann's.  I've always either used regular bread yeast or a starter. 

blind99

Same as above. I like trader joes dough, but I need it at the last minute when I haven't made my own and it's cold. It needs to warm up. 

In the time it takes to get the egg heated up and toppings ready it's not much of a stretch to make some dough. The forno bravo recipe is a good starting point and if it's a little sticky for your liking you can add a little extra flour. 

Jcl5150

Anyone ever try Tiseo's dough?  I bought it frozen at Meijer's and have yet to try it.

blasting

You were not asking about home made, but I'm a non conformist.

I make a no-knead pizza dough, and I can make it quicker than you could go through the check out with your store bought.  It should be made the day before, but it is really ridiculously easy.  Takes well under 5 minutes, and that includes getting the ingredients out.

RRog17

blasting said:

You were not asking about home made, but I'm a non conformist.

I make a no-knead pizza dough, and I can make it quicker than you could go through the check out with your store bought.  It should be made the day before, but it is really ridiculously easy.  Takes well under 5 minutes, and that includes getting the ingredients out.

Please share. 

McStew

Wholefoods has some good pre-made dough balls 

johnl350

Ended up being able to get the dough from a local pizza joint(fellinis). Turned out fantastic!! Pics are out of order because I'm posting from my iPhone but thanks again for everyone's advice!!  

beteez

teeter has oo dough balls along with std & whole wheat

MSUladyegghead

Wholefoods. $3. Will make two pizzas