How to bake homemade pizza on the baking sheet or pizza bread

SHAPE AND SIZE

Pizza pans and baking sheets come in all different shapes and sizes. If you like your pizzas on the smaller size, go for a 12-inch round pan or a small rectangular quarter sheet pan. Or, if you're like me and make pizzas that vary from 12 to 14 inches in diameter, look for a pan that can accommodate the largest size pizza you plan to make, preferably with space to spare. The crust will be crispier if there's a little space between the dough and the edge of the pan for air flow.

MATERIAL AND COLOR

Since you'll be baking your pizza at 500°F (more on that below), you'll want a pizza pan that can handle the heat without warping. Make sure you look at the full description before you purchase a new pan or baking sheet. If it is made of steel, carbon steel, or aluminized steel, then it's likely a great investment. Bonus points if you see the words "heavy gauge" or "heavy duty."

BAKE HOMEMADE PIZZA ON ANY BAKING SHEET OR STEEL PAN:

* Preheat the oven to 500°F for at least 1 hour. While the oven heats up, prep your topping ingredients.

* Stretch or roll out the dough, place it on the pan, and add the toppings. If your pan is not nonstick, rub it with a little extra-virgin olive oil or line it with parchment paper before you add the dough.

* Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until the crust is golden brown around the edges and evenly browned on the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes. (If your pan is light in color, you might need to add another 5 minutes to the baking time.)

* Enjoy! Remove the pizza from the oven. Let it cool for a few minutes, then transfer it to a cutting board, slice, and serve.