Different Types of Pizza Pans

Pizza Pan with Holes vs No Holes

Not only does the type of pan and the thickness impact the style of the crust, but the pan surface also plays a big part in what the pizza crust will be like. Whether or not the pizza pan is solid or has holes will affect the airflow and heat distribution given to the pizza dough as it cooks. Read on to learn more about the different pizza pan surface styles to decide which is best for the crust you want to cook.

• Solid Pizza Pan - These pans have no holes or nibs and are the most common type of pizza pan. Because of this, it takes longer for the heat to transfer through the solid pan, resulting in a doughy crust.
• Nibbed Pizza Pan - A pizza pan with nibs has small bumps on the surface of the pizza pan, which helps with the overall airflow underneath the crust. A nibbed pizza pan also speeds up the baking time for pizza dough and makes the crust crispier than a standard solid pan.
• Perforated Pizza Pan - A perforated pizza pan has holes that allow air and heat to hit the crust directly for a crispier crust. This pan style also makes baking times much shorter.
• Super Perforated Pizza Pan - A super perforated pizza pan is just like a perforated pizza pan but with bigger holes to allow more air to hit the crust. It makes baking times even shorter and the crust much crispier than other pans.

Different Types of Pizza Pan Coatings

Coatings can assist with ease of cleaning but also impact how your pizza cooks. Below is a breakdown of standard pizza pan coatings.

Dark Coated Pizza Pans vs Light Coated Pizza Pans

If you purchase dark coated pans, it's necessary to understand that darker finishes retain more heat and accelerate baking time. Lighter silver pans will reflect heat instead of absorbing it, which slows down the baking process.

Anodized Hard Coated Pizza Pans

These pizza pans have a corrosion-resistant anodic oxide finish that will not flake. You can also expect the cook time for your pizza to decrease with anodized hard coated pans because of their dark finish.

Silicone Glazed Pizza Pans

Silicone glaze pans are special because the glaze is applied to the pan in addition to the anodized hard coating. The silicone helps to reduce sticking, which cuts down the amount of pizza pan oil needed to coat the pan by almost 50%. Because of the coating, silicone glaze pizza pans do not require seasoning before first use.

Uncoated Pizza Pans

Uncoated pizza pans are the lightest in color and will require your pizza to cook longer in the oven due to their reflective properties. Uncoated pans will need to be seasoned before being used first.

How to Season a Pizza Pan

Most pizza pans need to be seasoned before they are first used. Seasoning a pizza pan isn't as hard as it seems, as long as you follow these 10 easy steps. After you first season your pan, it is necessary to periodically reseason it to prolong its life.

1. Preheat your oven to a normal baking temperature for pizza (somewhere between 450 and 500 degrees).

2. Hand wash your pan in warm soapy water.

3. Immediately pat the pizza pan dry.

4. Put the pan in the oven. Let it dry completely and warm up.

5. Remove your pan from the oven and cover both sides of the pan with a thin layer of shortening oil.

6. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place it on the bottom rack of the oven.

7. Place your pan back in the oven on the rack above the sheet pan.

8. Bake for 15 minutes.

9. Remove the pan from the oven and wipe off excess oil with a cloth.

10. Don't wash the pan. Allow the extra oil on the pan's surface to prevent the pizza crust from sticking.