Put simply, Artisan pizzas are traditional-style handmade pizzas. Unlike pizzas made from machines, Artisan pizzas are the ones that are made fresh by hand, taking into account a fair amount of care blended with creativity and innovation. In the old times, the word “Artisan” was used for someone who had extensive and in-depth knowledge of a certain art or skill.
Artisan pizzas are no different from this. The name is such because of the level of expertise required to make them.
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Dough Choice
Artisan pizzas are extremely specific sorts of pizzas. Choosing random dough would be injustice to Artisan pizzas. Not any sort of dough can be used for Artisan pizzas.
Italian flour is the go-to option for most pizzerias. Even in Italian flour, many chefs recommend using Grade 00 flour. Although it is expensive, it is of the highest quality and the taste is unparalleled (the same flour is also used for making pasta). Manitoba flour should be your choice for flour.
For some context, flour type depends on how finely the flour has been grounded and how much bacteria and germs have been removed.
Kneading Dough
You could either knead the dough the old-fashioned way, or you could take the help of machines. Although machines make the job easier and knead dough quite effectively, I would not recommend you do so.
Kneading dough by hand not only truly makes the pizza Artisan but also gives it a better taste than if you were to simply use a food processor.
Keep on adding water and flour to achieve the perfect consistency. If you’re making Artisan pizzas commercially, you can get the consistency according to the requirements of the customer. Customization is a great benefit that you’ll get with Artisan pizzas.
Toppings
Though there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to this, I would recommend you stick with the traditional toppings. You could add in a topping or two to give your pizza a creative touch.
Here are some of the toppings you should add to your Artisan pizza:
- Tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Onion
Don’t restrict yourself to just these toppings, though. Artisan pizza does not mean you cannot experiment with the toppings. The main thing is the dough, kneading and cooking.
Just please don’t use pineapple xD
Technology and Artisan Pizzas
Though Artisan pizzas are meant to be cooked on fire, you can also cook those using electric ovens. But then again, that would defeat the meaning of Artisan pizzas (fresh handmade pizzas).
That being said, a little innovation isn’t bad. Dough kneaded by hand produces great pizzas even if cooked in an electric oven.
If you want to cook your pizzas on fire, you can do one of two things. One is that you can either make a DIY wood-powered outdoor pizza oven by yourself or buy a pre-made wood-powered outdoor pizza oven. If you’re going to be using the oven every now and then, I would suggest you go with the latter option.
3 of the Best Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Ovens
One of the most important aspects of getting an Artisan pizza right is the oven. Without a proper oven, you can’t make a good Artisan pizza.
You can use electric ovens as well, but those ruin the flavor of the pizza. You’re better off with wood-powered pizza ovens.
Ooni has some of the best pizza ovens. Here are three of the best outdoor pizza ovens for making Artisan pizzas. Do keep in mind that some of these ovens are multi-fuel. You can use gas and wood to cook pizzas
The Ooni Fyra 12
The Ooni Fyra 12 is, in my opinion, the best wood-powered outdoor pizza oven. It is one of the lightest pizza ovens in the market.
Special hardwood pellets are sold by Ooni which are meant to be used as fuel. You can also use regular wood as fuel. However, I would recommend you use the hardwood pellets because of their efficiency and how little material they leave behind.
One drawback with the Ooni Fyra 12 is that it is a single-fuel source. You cannot use gas to cook pizzas. The other side of the coin is the cost. Because the oven offers only one fuel source, it is one of the most affordable wood-powered outdoor pizza ovens.
You can read a complete review of the Ooni Fyra 12 here.
The Ooni Karu 12
The Ooni Karu 12 is like an upgraded version of the Ooni Fyra 12. This oven is a multi-fuel one. So, if you feel like experimenting with different fuel sources, this is a great choice.
The oven isn’t exactly too large and accommodates up to 12” pizzas. Because of the multi-fuel option, the oven does get a little heavy on the pocket.
The Ooni Karu 12 is even lighter than the Ooni Fyra 12 is. On top of that, it gives you the option to choose your fuel source from. If your budget isn’t too tight, I would suggest you go for this.
You can read a complete review of the Ooni Karu 12 here.
The Ooni Pro 16
The Ooni Pro 16 is a serious outdoor pizza oven. It is definitely not for casual use. If you’re buying a pizza oven to cook pizzas every now and then, this isn’t a great choice for you.
However, if you’re going to be making pizzas regularly, this is a good option. Being large in size, the oven can accommodate 16” pizzas.
The Ooni Pro 16 is a multi-fuel pizza oven, so you can switch between fuel sources whenever you feel like doing so. However, the oven is, by no means, affordable. It bears quite the price tag. If your budget allows you, go for this – provided you’re going to be using it regularly.
You can read a complete review of the Ooni Pro 16 here.
Pricing
One of the two major differences between a fast-food styled pizza and an Artisan pizza is the level of customization. Artisan pizzas have to be made separately. One can’t just go ahead and make 10 orders at one time.
Because of the time taken to make Artisan pizzas, their pricing is also higher as compared to normal pizzas. On top of that, the level of customization proves to be a cherry on top.
These two factors are responsible for the high pricing of Artisan pizzas. That is why you won’t find places to get Artisan pizza easily from. They’re simply not in demand.
The Future of Artisan Pizzas
As technology advances, Artisan pizzas will continue to ponder in danger. Better technology means better pizzas at low cost in low times.
However, Artisan pizzas will never go extinct because of their traditional and artistic style. People will always continue to value art.
In short, Artisan pizzerias will never go out of business, but their businesses will definitely be affected by the advancement of technology.
Artisan Pizzas vs. Other Pizzas
What separates Artisan pizzas from other pizzas is the level of customization and the authentic flavor. Small things like the type of flour used, how it is kneaded, the type of toppings used, and how the pizza is cooked matter a lot.
ATISAN PIZZA
OTHER PIZZA
In the end, it is the small things like these that add up to make a difference. The end product is unique. One bite of an Artisan pizza is enough for one to tell the amount of effort put in the making of these pizzas.
Bottom Line
Artisan pizzas are traditional handmade pizzas cooked the old fashioned way. Though technology has advanced, Artisan pizzas are still in demand – though not a lot.
If you want to more about some ovens that might be a great fit for your Artisan pizzas, click here to read more.
For the perfect Artisan pizza, use Grade 00 flavor, knead it by hand, add the “traditional” toppings, and cook it in either a wood-powered or multi-fuel pizza oven.
