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Pizza - direct or indirect?

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martinhd28
martinhd28 Posts: 38
in EggHead Forum
Happy Sunday !

Are folks cooking pizza using the plate setter for indirect (i.e. PS, grid, pizza stone), or just putting the pizza stone on the grid with no PS?

Also - what temperature should I be going for?

Thanks!
Toronto, ON
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  • Eggdam
    Eggdam Posts: 223
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    Indirect for sure.  I do platesetter legs down with a ceramic pie plate as a spacer (with out spacer the heat will deflect into your gasket and will be very hard on it) then the pizza stone.  I assume you are using fresh dough.  I cook around 575-600ish.  Be sure to let the pizza stone preheat about 20 mins or so before sliding pizza on.  I usually use parchment paper to slide the pizza on stone and then pull it out after a min or two.  Be sure if you use parchment to keep it trimmed close to the size of the pizza or it will light up.
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  • hapster
    hapster Posts: 7,503
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    Go indirect... Plate setter, grid, and then stone... if possible raise the stone a little higher in the dome.

    Let the stone heat up for about 45min before you put the pies on... I usually do my pizzas around 500-600... Don't see the need to go much higher than that

    Have fun... take pictures
    MSV Chill Spot
    Chester County, PA

    http://egginwithedward.blogspot.com/

    http://edwardhardingphotography.zenfolio.com/
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,471
    edited April 2014
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    Most do indirect, but you can do a pizza direct, on the grate, without a stone at all.  That's how I used to do pizzas on my gasser.  You'd toss the dough onto the grate without toppings, get it just starting to brown on the bottom, then flip it onto a peel, browned side up, add toppings (lightly!) and slide back on the grate to finish.
    This doesn't work for heavier pies with a lot of sauce and/or cheese, but for lighter summer-style pizzas (sliced raw tomato, arugula, artichoke heart slices, etc) it works great; a bit fussier to make, however.   
     
    EDIT:  Come to think of it, I've not done a pie on the Egg this way yet, and the flat side of my CI grate would work perfectly for this.  Next weekend's menu!  
    _____________

    Remember when teachers used to say 'You won't have a calculator everywhere you go'?  Well, we showed them.


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  • smokesniffer
    smokesniffer Posts: 2,016
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    +1 with Eggdam and Hapster. The egg makes wonderful za. Enjoy.
    Large, small, and a mini
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  • martinhd28
    martinhd28 Posts: 38
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    hapster said:
    Go indirect... Plate setter, grid, and then stone... if possible raise the stone a little higher in the dome.

    Let the stone heat up for about 45min before you put the pies on... I usually do my pizzas around 500-600... Don't see the need to go much higher than that

    Have fun... take pictures
    Thanks - how long should the pizza take at 500-600?  I'm going light on toppings (sauce, light cheese, and a bit of leftover smoked back rib meat)
    Toronto, ON
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  • ElCapitan
    ElCapitan Posts: 154
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    It doesn't take long, 5-8 minutes.  I usually watch it through the top vent to make sure it is not burning.
    XL Owner
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  • martinhd28
    martinhd28 Posts: 38
    edited April 2014
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    Update - I tried two pizzas.   One was a great success, the other was a miserable failure.  

    Per the above advice I went indirect and got the egg to 550 - it didn't want to go higher than that.  Put on the first pizza, and it cooked in about 10 minutes. 

    I then opened the lid and put the second pizza on the stone.  Temp dropped to about 400 and simply wouldn't go any higher.  I think my problem was (a) not enough lump and (b) I didn't do a good enough job brushing out the airholes.   Anyway the second pizza went straight into the bin.   Burned crust on bottom, doughly crust on top, and barely cooked toppings.   

    My other CRITICAL error was not using parchment paper to get the pizza on to the stone (reason being I was too lazy to buy it).   The first one went on the stone cleanly, but the second was disastrously only got about 3/4 on, with some hanging over the side, which I had to try to salvage, leading to folds in the crust.  So stupid.  Lesson learned.    

    Anyway I'm still very encouraged by the success of the first pizza and will try again soon!


    Toronto, ON
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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    Buck the trend. Grill it directly.

     

     image

     

     

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    More info here

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • martinhd28
    martinhd28 Posts: 38
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    Griffin said:
    More info here
    Wow - very cool.  I'll try that.  I guess I have nothing to lose other than a $1 ball of dough!  
    Toronto, ON
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  • SenorHuevo
    SenorHuevo Posts: 40
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    Yesterday did very well with the legs up place setter, grate, ceramic spacers, and baking steel. 

    Big +1 on the parchment -- cut it close to size and you're golden. 
    I will never cook inside again.
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  • SenorHuevo
    SenorHuevo Posts: 40
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    I liked it.
    I will never cook inside again.
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    Pie looks good, sorry to hear the second was not up to par. 
    I like the setter legs up, find I have better temp stabilization to cook three or four pies. Parchment make the whole process idiot proof, speaking as a complete idiot. I also wipe the stone with a damp cloth between pies, I like a cooler stone. 
    Most store bought dough likes cooler temps, in the 500º range - made to cook in the household oven. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
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    Botch said:
    EDIT:  Come to think of it, I've not done a pie on the Egg this way yet, and the flat side of my CI grate would work perfectly for this.  Next weekend's menu!  
    Botch, I've used that method on the old Weber a few times, but it's been years. Istr having to place the coals around the perimeter of the fire grate, not directly under the pie. Weber's version of indirect. I've never tried it on the egg either, but I would imagine a platesetter with the pie right on the grid would accomplish the same thing. Be interesting to see how it works for you.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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