Peels & Spinners

The next decision after the oven was which pizza peel or peels. My brother Dean said always wood fire over all others. I liked the controllability of gas but want the char of wood. Some pizza guys on Reddit said that the pizza is not in the oven long enough to benefit flavor-wise from the wood. It was between the 16” gas and 12” wood. I have a metal peel, but it is 14” and too big. Still good for the oven. I ordered a bamboo wood (environmentally friendly) peel that will not arrive until tomorrow. The Internet says have 2 peels to build and launch pizzas. So today I am off to World Market for a 12” peel so I can make pizzas this weekend. I find it difficult launch from metal and hope that the articles are correct that launching from wood is better. I do like the concept of the perforated metal peels that dump less flour and corn meal on the brick. Supposedly you launch with wood and turn and remove with metal. I order a set of spinners. A pizza spinner (pizza hook or turning fork turns pizzas in the pizza oven and for lifts the pizza to check for bottom of the pie.  Pizzas do not cook  evenly in the oven and have to be turned. Since the Ooni Frya is wood, there is a single heat source. The oven is hotter closer to the fire, and cooler further away. Also, where the pizza is cooking, the brick will cool down. That is why purchased a gun thermometer.  “When you see that the pizza is starting to crisp up, and one side is more baked than the other, it’s time to turn the pizza. To do that, position the pizza spinner with the teeth facing down over your pizza the teeth right inside the edge (cornicione) of the pizza. Be careful not to puncture the crust, or to make holes. You don’t need to penetrate the pizza with the teeth. Simply place it on top, and turn the pizza, so the undercooked part is facing the heat” (Pizza Heaven spinners).

I now have two wood peels. My favorite is the Zulay (Medium 12″) Authentic Bamboo Pizza Peel. I did get an Ooni perforated peel 12″ and it worked wonderfully for taking the pizza from the oven. I imagine also it is good for launching. I also have spinners. What an amazing invention! Love them. I have the Cuisinart CPS-022 Alfrescamore Pizza Spinners. I also got a spoodle which seemed silly but works well. I am glad I got it.