Pizza Question and the Walmart Grill Topper

Steve-B

I have had my eggs for less than a week now and have used them everyday (sometimes twice). I am getting ready to make pizza on Thursday and had a thought. Could the disposable mesh/wire grill topper be used like a pizza cooking rack on top of the pizza stone. When I say cooking rack I mean the things that the BIG pizza places use to send the pizzas through the oven. Are these things really needed on the egg anyway?

Steve-B

I found the correct term for what I was refering to as a cooking rack. I guess it is called a pizza screen. Sorry

ToyCollector

Steve-B,[p]I did some pizzas 2 Fridays ago using my new pizza screens. I put them on without the screens from the peal 1st. I let them crust up, then used the screen to control the bottom crust to match the toppings. Worked really well. In the past, when just using the stone, the crust got a little TOO crispy for my tastes by the time the toppings were done. I use a plate setter, pizza stone on top and 550*F temp.

Smokin Joe

Steve-B, Probably yes... I ventured into doing pizza on the BGE this past Sunday (first time) and burnt the bottom before the top was cooked enough. I worked in a pizza joint on the boardwalk in NJ when I was in college and believe a screen should never be used when cooking pizza, but... I am still learning to do stuff on my egg and have now formed an opinion that a screen is needed to create an air barrier between the egg pizza stone and the pizza crust. Also learned that the egg is no pizza oven - which cooks pizza's from 650* to 750*. I had my egg too hot when I burned the inaugural BGE pizza. Live, learn, adjust & drive on! Joe

QBabe

Steve-B,[p]We use pizza screens all the time and really love the results we get. You'll still need some kind of ceramic mass as well, a platesetter or firebricks works well.[p]Here's a pic of a cheese pizza we did using that setup....[p][p]Here's what the setup looks like in the cooker....[p][p]And, here's the pizza that was on the cooker served up....[p][p]Enjoy,
Tonia
:~)

JSlot

Tonia, did you put the pizza on the Egg with the screen from the start or did you add the screen after the pizza had cooked awhile?[p]Jim

QBabe

Hi Jim,[p]We use the screen right from the start....as it's nearing the end, Larry usually checks on it, and if he wants a little more browning of the crust he might use the peel to lift the pizza up, then pull the screen out and set the pie directly on the stone for the last minute. But, it's not always necessary.[p]Tonia
:~)

JSlot

That sounds a lot easier than trying to put the screen under the pizza while cooking. I've been doing the Atkins thing, but Tyler Florence made some calzones that looked killer the other day and the dough recipe was super simple. I think I'm gonna have to give it a go.[p]Jim