Making your own pizza at home is a great idea! Not only is it healthier for you and cheaper than ordering a takeaway, but it’s fun, too. Choosing your toppings and creating delicious pizza together, then sitting down and eating is a lovely activity to do with little ones as well.
To create a perfect pizza at home, you need the right accessories. This includes a quality pizza peel. It’s no good making a superb pizza, only to have it stick to the peel (or even worse, fall on the floor – as as happened to me too many times).
Here are the ones we shortlisted when looking for a decent pizza peel in the UK:
Covered in this Article:
Best for Pizza Ovens: Argon Tableware Aluminium Pizza Peel
This 12×14 inch Aluminium Pizza Peel by Argon Tableware is square in shape, so it’s suitable for pizzas of all sizes. The smooth aluminium blade features a sleek design that makes it easy to slide it underneath pizzas, so you don’t have to worry about struggling to lift it.
It features a long wooden handle that is naturally heat resistant, which keeps your hands and fingers away from the heat and any potential burns. If you’re not used to handling a peel, this is a big plus. One reviewer said that they thought the peel was well made and it worked very well. They also confirmed that it keeps your hands well away from the heat!
The peel is lightweight and stable, so there’s no risk of dropping your meal due to an unbalanced peel. However, ensure that you have sufficient space to store this pizza peel as it’s unlikely to fit in a kitchen cupboard, which could lead to clutter in your kitchen…
Pros:
- Square shape
- Large size
- Sleek, stable design
- Heat resistant
- Long wooden handle
Cons:
- Difficult to store due to size
- Not suitable for gas ovens as it doesn’t heat evenly
Best Wooden Peel: GA Homefavor Wooden Pizza Peel
This wooden pizza peel from GA Homefavor comes in a pack of 2 and is an eco-friendly and sustainable option if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s made from natural birchwood, which offers extra durability so you don’t have to worry about it not lasting a long time, further adding to its sustainability.
The edges of this pizza peel are bevelled, which helps to keep your pizza intact and is beneficial for those who have unsteady hands. I’m rather clumsy myself, so the bevelled edges really help to keep the pizza on the peel when moving to and from the oven.
There’s nothing worse than spending time creating your masterpiece only for it to drop on the floor before you’ve even cooked it!
The handle on this pizza peel is shorter, which helps to steady your hands when moving the pizza but can also increase your risk of burns, so make sure to wear your oven gloves. However, the appearance of the shorter handle and the rustic wood also allows you to serve pizza on the peel which is sure to impress your guests.
Pros:
- Bevelled edges
- Eco-friendly
- 2 wood peels
- Durable
Cons:
- Shorter handle, increasing the risk of burns
- Unsuitable for dishwashers
Best Compact Peel: Honey-Can-Do Folding Pizza Peel
One of the most annoying things about owning a pizza peel is finding a suitable place to store it because they’re pretty big, however with this folding pizza peel by Honey-Can-Do, that’s not a worry! The wooden handle folds in to make it easy to store in your kitchen cupboards.
The pizza peel is made from heavy-duty, long-lasting aluminium that has a large carrying surface at 14 x 16 inches wide. This will fit all sizes and types of pizza. I know that when you start making your own they somehow never turn out all the same size, so knowing the carry handle will carry them all is a relief!
Reviewers have raved about this peel, they love how sturdy the handle is and how it’s so easy to store by turning the handle. They’ve also said that the pizza slides on and off nicely when using flour underneath and it’s really easy to manoeuvre. Everything that you could want in a pizza peel!
Pros:
- Folding handle for easy storage
- Heavy-duty aluminium
- Large carrying surface at 14 x 16”
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Some reviewers have had to file the edges to make them sharper
- Not dishwasher safe
Best for Home Ovens: Ooni Perforated Pizza Peel
Ooni is a well-known manufacturer of pizza ovens, so you can be confident that they know what they’re doing when it comes to pizza peels. This perforated peel is available in two sizes, 12 inches and 14 inches, so there’s an option for you no matter what size you love your pizzas.
Unlike the other peels mentioned, this pizza peel has perforations within the carry surface. This allows any excess flour to fall away from the pizza base, ensuring you have crisp and evenly cooked bases every time.
For those who don’t have much arm strength, this peel may be an option for you. The perforated peel is made from lightweight aluminium that is easy to balance, making it easy to transfer your pizzas to and from the oven.
It also has a hard anodised coating that increases resistance to corrosion, so you can rest assured that this peel will last a long time.
The handle is made from glass-reinforced nylon, ensuring that it is more resistant to heat. This means you don’t have to worry about the handle getting too close to the hot oven and heating up, burning your hands in the process.
Pros:
- Available in two sizes
- Perforated surface
- Lightweight aluminium
- Anodised coating
- Heat resistant handle
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Perforations mean you have to flour the bottom of the pizza well instead of the peel
Best for All Sizes: Q’s Inn Detachable Handle Pizza Peel
Available in 4 different sizes, this pizza peel by Q’s Inn gives you the option to have 3 different handle lengths! This means you can choose which handle you are most comfortable with and even have a professional length handle for use with real pizza ovens!
You can place your pizza as far back in the oven as you’d like and there’s no risk of burns with these handle options.
It has many different sizes of rounded carry surface made from non-stick aluminium so there’s no worry of your pizza sticking to the peel. Non-stick also makes cleaning the peel that little bit easier, no melted cheese stuck on this!
The handles are also removable for easy storage. A top tip from me, if you’re running low on kitchen supplies, the shortest handle could even double up as a rolling pin!
Pros:
- Choose between 3 handle lengths suitable for home and professional ovens
- Easy storage
- Available in 4 sizes
- Keeps hands away from ovens
- Non-stick
Cons:
- Some reviewers have said the screws for handles are very small
Best Looking: TOSCANA Picnic Time Acacia Wood Pizza Peel
This acacia wood pizza peel is shaped like a large paddle. It has a smooth surface without grains, which prevents the dough from getting stuck. It features a lovely wooden design, that means you could double up the peel as a serving plate for your pizza!
Though it may be an idea to use a separate chopping board to cut the pizza, to avoid damaging the appearance of the peel.
The peel is around 14 inches and has a bevelled edge to slip underneath the pizza with ease. Many reviewers have commented that this peel is one they reach for due to how non-stick the surface is.
The handle is tapered for a comfortable grip when transferring pizzas. It also has a hole at the end of the handle, so you can hang it up when finished. This particular peel has a lifetime guarantee, if there’s any faults then you know that you’re covered.
Pros:
- Doubles up as a serving plate
- Non-grained, smooth surface
- Bevelled edges
- 14” surface
- Tapered handle with hanging hole
Cons:
- Thicker than the other peels mentioned
- Hand wash only
Tips On How To Use A Pizza Peel
I’d be lying if I said that using a pizza peel doesn’t take some getting used to. It certainly takes some practice before you get the hang of it. Hopefully, these tips will make it slightly easier to master.
- Before use, ensure that your pizza peel is clean and completely dry. Any moisture on the pizza peel can make your dough stick.
- Stretch your raw pizza dough out on your worktop to the size you want it. Dust the pizza peel with plenty of flour or semolina and place the dough on top. Then, add your sauce and toppings. Make sure not to get any sauce on the peel as the moisture will make the dough stick!
- As you’re adding your toppings, give the peel a shake every now and then to make sure that the dough hasn’t stuck. Add extra flour and semolina if needed.
- Open your oven and pull out the rack that holds your pizza stone. Drop your pizza on the stone. Don’t shake or tilt the peel as this will catch the edge of the dough on the pizza stone and lead to an uneven pizza crust. Use a confident quick back and forth movement with your wrist for the best results. This is the hardest part to master so don’t panic if you don’t get it right straight away!
- To retrieve your pizza, firmly slide the peel underneath and make sure to keep it flat. Transfer your pizza to your worktop.
The best tip I can give is to be confident when using a pizza peel. If you overthink it too much, you’re likely to get unsteady hands and mess it up. It definitely takes some practice to master, but that means more pizza!
How To Stop A Pizza Sticking To A Pizza Peel
The easiest way to ensure your uncooked pizza dough doesn’t stick to the peel is to make sure that the peel or base of the pizza is dusted with plenty of flour, semolina or cornmeal. This will absorb any moisture from the dough and make it easier to slide on and off.
If you’re gluten-free, the dough you use can be stickier due to the different flour used. To combat this, you can opt for baking or parchment paper underneath the dough instead. This is fine to go into the pizza oven until the base has crisped up, then slide it out before the pizza finishes cooking entirely.
Some places recommend oiling your wooden pizza peel to prevent warping. I don’t recommend this, it’s often seen as an unnecessary step and can actually increase the risk of the uncooked dough sticking if it is not cleaned off properly.
Instead, ensure you don’t get your wooden peel overly wet. Wash it with warm soapy water and ensure that it dries completely before storing it away.
Discover this video on how to use your metal pizza peel without your dough sticking!
Buying a pizza peel as a beginner can be a difficult task, with so many options it can be hard to know where to look.
After reading this guide, I hope I’ve made it easier for you to choose one that works for you and to send you on your homemade pizza journey. Good luck!