What began as a quick lunch for Neapolitan peasants thousands of years ago has today become a dish that’s conquered the world. Pizza.
You’ll find a version of the pie in practically every corner of the world, from chilli-laden Indo-Italian versions to glorious deep dish styles that put Chicago on the foodie map.
According to Statista, pizza is among the top three takeaways in Britain in 2023. Whether you're ordering from the menu of a well-known giant or supporting your local parlour, the winning combination of a crisp base, rich and herby tomato sauce and a blanket of hot, oozing cheese is a hard one to beat.
The problem is those takeaway slices are laden with calories and preservatives, relegating them to guilty pleasure status. Still, those determined to enjoy pizza on the regular know that homemade is often best. And we’re a nation of pizza lovers if figures on pizza oven sales are to be believed.
Making pizza from scratch starts with arguably the most vital element: the base. A good pizza dough forms the foundation for greatness and few know that better than Francesco Morlando, a pizzaiolo at Rudy’s Pizza - the chain that dominates the Midlands, and increasingly, the capital too.
We spoke to the expert on all things pizza and pizza dough.
How easy is it to make pizza dough from scratch?
“Making pizza dough is a tricky art to master, but like most things with experience, it becomes easier. The secret is sticking to some key rules which we instil in each of our pizzaioli who all train at our dedicated Pizza Academy before setting foot in a Rudy’s Pizza kitchen”, Morlando says. “To make an original Neapolitan dough you need salt, water, yeast and flour.
“First, you need to use good quality flour, and understand the quality of your flour in order to manage the dough as best as possible. Another important factor is the temperature the dough rests at, and knowing your dough machine. If the machine heats the dough too much during operation, it can ruin the dough.”
What's the secret to making restaurant-quality dough?
“This is our speciality and a secret that all Pizzaioli who come through our Pizza Academy before joining our in-pizzeria teams are meticulously trained to live by. It’s all about finding the perfect balance between toughness and flexibility in the dough. Let it ferment for the right amount of time and always cook the pizza at room temperature. Never work with cold dough.”
Is freezing dough frowned upon?
“Freezing does not benefit the dough. After thawing, the structure of the dough worsens with a loss of resistance at a structural level and also of nutritional values, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Can pizza dough be used for anything else?
“Pizza dough can also be used to make bread, croutons, fried pizza, panzerotti or savoury dishes called "Rustici" such as salted croissants, girelle and scugnizzi. Some people also use old dough to make new dough. This is called "Pasta di riporto" (carryover dough) and in this case, the piece of old dough is used as a leavening agent.”
In an ideal world, we would all be merrily kneading away at a fresh ball of dough in our Nonna’s kitchen, but with busy schedules, some shortcuts are welcome - especially when you’ve got hungry mouths to feed.
If that sounds like you, we’ve rounded up the best ready-made pizza dough to use when you’re in a pinch.
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Pizza Express Ready to Roll Pizza Dough 400g
Love and trust the taste of Pizza Express but don't want to bother with the queues? We hear ya. Supermarket chiller aisles have stocked the restaurant's bake-at-home pies for years, but if you want a personalised pie, pick up the ready-to-roll pizza dough instead. There's enough dough here to make two pizzas, although you could make more mini versions for parties or kids' dinners.
Buy now £2.40, Sainsbury’s
M&S Sourdough Pizza Dough
Fancy home-baked pizza tonight? Stop by M&S's Foodhall and add this ready-to-roll pizza dough to your basket. The sourdough mix has been kissed with extra virgin olive oil and can make two pizzas in your oven in as little as 12 minutes - much faster than any takeout place will deliver.
Buy now £2.75, Ocado
Ooni Classic Dough Balls (25 x 250g)
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Already a market leader in pizza ovens, perhaps it was an inevitability that Ooni would branch out into ingredients too. Call all your mates around for a pizza party once you've ordered this bundle of 25 pizza dough balls, made with 00 Caputo Pizzeria flour.
The balls, which have won a great taste award, arrive at your door in a semi-frozen state and can be kept in the freezer to eke out when the mood takes you or used right away once they've reached room temperature. Each one will make a 12-inch pie. All the fun of pizza making with less mess.
Buy now £45.00, Ooni
Woody Oven Pizza Dough Balls - Sourdough 12 x 250g
Throwing a pizza party? You can order this bundle of part-frozen dough balls from Amazon, ensuring everything arrives at your door in the nick of time.
By Woody Oven, the company says that the sourdough has been made by professionals using only essential ingredients. Each one makes a 12-inch pizza in a pizza oven or a conventional oven. As with other doughs, factor in the time it takes to reach room temperature before attempting to work it.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Gozney essential pizza-making kit with dough balls
If you've ordered a Gozney pizza oven, add this pizza-making kit to your basket too - it means the machine will have no time to gather dust as you'll have something to use right away.
Containing a dozen pre-made part-frozen dough balls, sauce, cheese and cured salami, family pizza night gets a serious upgrade with this bundle.
Buy now £55.95, Gozney
Pizza Pilgrims Napoli Pizza at Home Kit
Happy with a Margherita? Pizza Pilgrims makes it easy to cook your own restaurant-style version at home. This kit has enough ingredients to make a pair of pizzas in classic Neapoli̇tan style. The dough can be kept in the fridge until an hour before you plan to cook and it can be baked in a frying pan or a pizza oven to get that famously crisp base.
Buy now £10.00, Ocado
Northern Dough Co. Pizza Dough Original 2 X 220G
The joy of biting into a fresh slice of pizza - is there anything like it? Turn your kitchen into a personal pizzeria with a little help from The Northern Dough Co's premade pizza dough. Made with all-natural ingredients, there's enough in the box to make two 12-inch pizzas - just add sauce mozzarella and your favourite toppings.
Buy now £2.50, Tesco
ASDA Ready Rolled Pizza Dough
Though London's vegan food offering has come on leaps and bounds, it can still be a challenge to find a pizza that hits the spot. Take matters into your own hands with ASDA's pizza dough, approved by The Vegan Society.
There's no stretching or kneading required here; simply unfurl the pre-rolled dough onto baking paper and finish with sauce, vegan cheese and toppings before sliding it into a hot oven for 15 - 25 minutes.
Buy now £1.30, ASDA
Napolina 2 Large Pizza Bases
Weeknights are busy times. Get dinner on the table faster by using pre-made pizza bases from Napolina. Already rolled and stretched, the perfectly round base is primed for adding pizza sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you fancy. Add torn basil leaves for fragrance and flavour or dot with nduja paste to recreate diavola vibes.
Buy now £2.35, Waitrose
Morrisons Pizza Dough
Another supermarket option that promises light and crispy results. This ready-made pizza dough comes from Morrisons with a three-day shelf life when kept chilled in the fridge. When you're ready to bake your homemade pizza, simply remove it from the packaging and allow it to come to room temperature before getting started. Vegan-friendly.
Buy now £1.30, Morrisons
