How to Avoid Soggy Pizza Dough

There is something about homemade pizza that smacks of self-sufficiency and the ability to provide for your family. Loading it with your favorite toppings makes it a culinary delight tailored to your family's specifications. When all goes well, you are likely to get rave reviews. But when things go wrong and the crust turns soggy, you may feel like all your hard work was for nothing. Solve problems with soggy pizza dough by following a few simple guidelines.

Hands using a rolling pin to prepare pizza dough. (Image: martiapunts/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2

Place the pizza pan or stone on an oven tray while you preheat the oven. Remove the pan or stone from the oven and place the pizza dough onto the hot pan before adding toppings. This will set the dough and prevent it from absorbing moisture from your toppings.

Step 3

Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on the dough. You should be able to see the dough through the pizza sauce. Use about 1/4 cup of pizza sauce to make a 10- to 12-inch pizza; too much sauce makes pizza dough soggy.

Step 4

Saute veggies that contain a lot of moisture, such as zucchini and mushrooms, in a little oil in a pan over medium heat to remove excess moisture. This prevents the moisture from the veggies from seeping down to the pizza dough and making it soggy. Set the veggies aside.

Step 5

Brown fatty meats, such as ground beef or sausage, in a pan over medium heat. Drain the fat from the meat to remove moisture and set the meat aside.

Step 6

Place fresh cheeses, such as mozzarella, in a colander and press lightly with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

Step 7

Arrange the veggies and meats over the pizza sauce and top with cheese. If your family prefers a loaded pizza, go ahead and add a little of everything, but cut back on the amount you use. Pizzas piled high with toppings may not cook fully in the center, creating a soggy or doughy crust.

Step 8

Bake the pizza until the edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to set for five minutes before slicing.

Things You'll Need

• Pizza pan or stone

• Pizza sauce

• Toppings

• Saute pan

• Colander

• Paper towels

• Pot holders

Warning

Use caution when removing pizza from the oven. Use pot holders or mittens to prevent injuries.