Top 10 Mistakes that will Ruin a Homemade Pizza

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© Getty Images / MARHARYTA MARKO

1) Stretching your dough out incorrectly

Forget about being like those talented pizzaiolos who can toss pizza dough in the air and twirl it on their fingers like nobody's business. Getting your pizza dough just right can be a challenge: too thick and it'll be more chewy than crispy, but too thin and it won't be able to support the toppings.

To find that perfect balance, aim for a dough that's roughly 1/3 of an inch thick. If using homemade dough that's been refrigerated or frozen, make sure you let it come to room temperature before you start working it. You can stretch the dough either on a floured surface, to prevent sticking, or wet your hands with olive oil and rub a little bit on the work surface. This adds flavor and will help your crust obtain a crispy, golden finish.

Whatever you do, don't use a rolling pin to flatten out the dough. Doing so will eliminate the gas pockets, which gives it that delightful fluffy texture.