How we pick our products
Welcome to our big pizza tray test 2023. Here we present all the pizza trays we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the right pizza tray for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy a pizza tray.
Contents
- 1 Summary
- 2 The Best Pizza Tray in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
- 3 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a pizza tray
- 4 Decision: What types of pizza trays are there and which one is right for you?
- 5 Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate pizza trays
- 6 Facts worth knowing about pizza trays
Summary
- A pizza tray allows you to bake a pizza at home, just like at the Italian restaurant around the corner
- Pizza trays are available in many different sizes and made of many different materials
- Perforated trays allow air to circulate better and guarantee a crispy base
The Best Pizza Tray in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a pizza tray
What is a pizza tray?
A pizza tray is a special baking tray that is suitable for making pizza. It is designed to help you make homemade pizza the way you get it at the Italian restaurant. There are a lot of different versions of the tray, which differ mainly in shape and material. That’s why we’ve put together the following article to give you a better overview.
When is a pizza tray useful?
A pizza tray makes sense for you if you love eating pizza and prepare it at home. Of course, you can also bake pizza on a normal baking tray, but the pizza tray helps you a lot to make it crispy and delicious. With the pizza tray, you become a real pizza professional – at home. What’s more, a pizza tray doesn’t take up much space, so you can’t go wrong with this purchase.
In addition to baking with the pizza tray, it also makes sense to bake the pizza briefly at high heat. This preserves the flavours of the topping and makes the base crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
What materials can a pizza tray be made of?
Since pizza trays can be made of many different materials, we have put together a clear table that also shows how the material affects the baking of the pizza.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Blue plate | Blue plate is heat-resistant, but should be coated with Teflon so that the pizza does not stick to the tray. |
| Aluminium | Since the effect of aluminium on health is a concern, you should make sure that the sheet is coated. The sheet is usually perforated so that the heat insulation of the aluminium is reduced. |
| Enamel | enamel is particularly robust, heat-resistant, easy to clean and has a non-stick effect. These sheets also usually have holes so that the heat can circulate better. |
| Stainless steel | Stainless steel is very robust and also very heat-resistant. The material is particularly free of impurities. |
What can a pizza tray be used for?
When buying a tray, you should always pay attention to what it is suitable for. Do you want to put it on the grill or would you rather cook the pizza in the oven? When is a tray suitable for the microwave and what about the stone oven? Sometimes there are special trays for the right cooking method.
But if you can’t find them, then you should simply pay attention to how much heat the tray has to withstand in order to be suitable for your preparation. Enamel, aluminium and stainless steel are particularly good when it gets very hot. And yes, we can also confirm for microwave enthusiasts: There are many trays that are also microwaveable.
How much does a pizza tray cost?
On average, pizza trays cost between 5 and 20 euros. The prices of the trays vary depending on the type of material. The following is an overview.
| Material of the trays | price per tray (28cm) |
|---|---|
| blue plate | 5€ |
| aluminium | 5-7€ |
| enamel | 15€ |
| stainless steel | 8-10€ |
Are there alternatives for a pizza tray?
An alternative method of preparing a pizza would be to use a pizza stone. This stone is made of fireclay, cordierite and ceramic. It is intended to replace the stone oven. You can also use a pizza stone in the oven or on the grill to bake a delicious, crispy pizza. Even the price is comparable to that of trays.
Decision: What types of pizza trays are there and which one is right for you?
If you have decided to buy a pizza tray, there are two alternatives to choose from:
- Pizza tray with holes
- Pizza baking tray
We would like to help you with the following section to make your decision easier so that you buy the tray that suits you best.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a pizza tray with holes?
This type of pizza tray has holes in the bottom. But why? Pizza trays with holes in the base guarantee a circulation of heat, which makes the base crispier. This is particularly important with materials such as aluminium, which have their own thermal insulation. The holes also ensure that your pizza bakes more evenly, because the heat is distributed evenly rather than being applied to the dough at specific points.
What are the characteristics of a pizza baking tray and what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Pizza baking trays are very similar to the well-known baking trays from the oven, but these trays are specially made for preparing pizza. The slightly higher edge means that many products can also be used to prepare quiches or tartes in the trays. Here, too, the base becomes nice and crispy, but the pizza cannot burn as easily.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate pizza trays
In the following, we will show you which criteria you can use to decide between the many pizza trays on offer. The criteria you can use to distinguish between the variety of trays include:
- Material
- Compatibility
- Size
- Shape
- Scope of the set
In the following paragraphs, we will explain to you what is important in each of the criteria.
Material
We have already introduced you to the different materials of a pizza tray above: Blue plate, aluminium, enamel or stainless steel. You should choose the material according to your needs.
Pay attention to whether your tray is coated or not. This influences the preparation and cleaning.
Compatibility
Before buying a tray, you should ask yourself how you will use it. Do you want to prepare your pizza in the oven, on the grill, in the microwave, or classically in the stone oven? It is important to clarify this before buying in order to choose the right tray.
Size
Size is important when it comes to how many people you want to make pizza for. You should also ask yourself whether you want to bake one large pizza or several small ones. In the trivia section of this article, you will find a table that tells you about the different sizes.
Shape
Round or square? Which do you prefer? There are even crazy pizza trays that have more creative shapes. How about a pizza heart? In principle, the shape does not determine how the pizza tastes later. Nevertheless, you should think about what you like best, because after all, the eye eats with you.
Facts worth knowing about pizza trays
Do you have to grease a pizza tray?
With coated trays, it is perfectly sufficient to roll out your dough on a floured work surface and then place it on the tray. The non-stick coating and the flour on the dough prevent it from sticking to the tray during baking. If your pizza tray is uncoated, you should spread some oil evenly on it. This way, the dough has no chance of sticking.
What size is suitable for how many people?
The size of a pizza depends on your hunger, of course. It’s hard to generalise because it varies from individual to individual. However, you can use the following guidelines:
| diameter | number of people |
|---|---|
| 10-20cm | A pizza with a diameter in this range is often called a children’s pizza. |
| 25cm | This diameter is slightly smaller than usual. So it is enough for small appetites. |
| 28cm | This diameter is probably the most common size and is more than enough for one person |
| 30-33cm | Often referred to as a large pizza and is for the very hungry |
| Larger than 33cm | Any diameter of pizza larger than 33cm is often referred to as a family pizza and is therefore suitable for several people. |
How hot can a pizza tray get?
A proper pizza oven or pizzarette can get up to 400°C hot. Only uncoated trays can withstand these temperatures. You should never use coated trays there. When you buy a tray, it often says how many degrees the tray can be heated to. You should then coordinate this with your preparation method.
Are there special pizza dough recipes for the pizza tray?
No, you can use any pizza dough, but it should be yeast-based. Also make sure that the dough is not too liquid. This can’t really happen with pizza dough, but if something does go wrong – it’s better to make a new one. There are many recipes for pizza dough on the internet and in many cookery books. Just have a look around.
How do I clean a pizza tray?
Cleaning a pizza tray is also very important, especially coated ones. You should always make sure that you don’t scratch the coating. Then you can throw the tray away. Enamel trays in particular are dishwasher-safe. If your trays are not, simply clean them with a little washing-up liquid and a sponge.
When cleaning, always look for cracks or chips. If your tray has these, you should get a new one.
Image source: Pixabay.com / Sinepax
Why you can trust me?
Most popular
Related posts
