Preheating for Pizza (quick answer needed)

ColoradoCook

I'm getting ready to do a pizza. The last time I did one I preheated the egg for 45 minutes with the pizza stone. I stablized the egg at 500 degrees. I ended up burning the crust underneath, the pizza looked fine but it was quite burnt. Is it a better idea to not preheat the stone so much, maybe preheat the egg for a while and preheat the stone for 10 minutes. I hate my crust burnt. Thank you ahead of time for any quick suggestions.[p]CC

disabledDK

ColoradoCook, Do you have a plate setter or fire bricks?
This will help keep the heat away from the crust. As you stated, only pre-heat the stone for 5-10 minutes. A pizza should take 12-15 min. at 500-550. Hope this helps in you time of need. DK

ColoradoCook

ColoradoCook,[p]Whiz's site had some good answers.[p]Thanks all,[p]CC

nikkig

ColoradoCook,
My guess is your stone was way too hot.I'd try only heating the stone for about 5 minutes. How long were you cooking your pizza? We do ours for about 8 minutes at 550.
[ul][li]Pizza page[/ul]

sdbelt

ColoradoCook,[p]I've found it's a delicate balance between burnt crust and melted cheese in a pizza cook. I prefer a bit hotter temps. I found my best luck at 650. For my dough recipe, that's the temp that perfectly cooks the crust, just as the toppings are perfect. Everything gels together. At 700, the crust burns, before the toppings are done. And at 600, the cheese shows signs of burning.[p]As for pre-heating, you are definitely not pre-heating too long, as that doesn't seem possible to me. You want a nicely pre-heated Egg.[p]I would try cooking at a higher temp (like 600) for less time (mine cook in about 6 minutes). See if this new cooking range does the trick for you. The added bonus, is that your crusts may come out a big crispier, which I personally like.[p]Good luck,[p]--sdb

Shelby

nikkig,
Hey!
Glad to see you back home and posting!

The Naked Whiz

ColoradoCook,
Here is a link to my pizza page. You didn't tell us if you used a plate setter or fire bricks under the stone. I use a place setter under the stone, preheat about 30 minutes to 550 and cook for 6-7 minutes. Also you didn't tell us if you are using home made dough or what?[p]TNW
[ul][li]The Naked Whiz's Page of Pizza Info[/ul]

nikkig

Shelby,
Yep, back home now, and posting, and cooking, and cleaning. We have those jars of pickled watermelon rind to cook up. May do some of those before we do Smashed Chicken tomorrow night.[p]Did you see the finished egg home? It looks alot better with doors on it. Rick even put a little spot light out there so we can see better at night when we are cooking.[p]Saw your post about the small eggs. If they aren't going to change the band, I may just put it on my Christmas list. I better start being good so Santa will bring me one![p]~nikki[p]
[ul][li]Our egg[/ul]