Italian Restaurants: Why Wood-Fired Pizza is the Best
If you find you can never quite replicate the same pizzas that you get from your favourite Italian restaurant, you may be wondering why. The primary reason is for this is that the pizzas are usually cooked in a wood-fired oven using wood that has been properly seasoned and dried for maximum flavour. So while you may be able to find pizza recipes online and have them turn out okay, these pizzas only vaguely resemble what you can expect in a restaurant. In this article, you will learn why wood-fired pizza is a great thing to order when visiting an Italian restaurant.
Wooden Fuel
The traditional way to make wood-fired pizza is in a special oven. They're called "wood-fired" because they use wood as fuel instead of gas or electricity. The amount of heat that these ovens can put out is tremendous! Only fire can do it better. And the difference between cooking with fire and without it is very noticeable. Any commercially available wood can be used to make pizzas, including apple, hickory, and oak. Coniferous (softwood) species such as spruce or pine are typically avoided due to their low burning temperatures.
Even Temperature Distribution
A traditional wood-fired oven does not have a temperature control system. It gets as hot as it can until it can't get any hotter. The wood-burning ovens that you may have seen at pizza restaurants are operated by trained professional bakers and chefs that know exactly what they're doing when it comes to cooking in this type of oven. They don't leave anything to chance; they know the right amount of wood to burn and the right amount to add at various times during the operation of an authentic wood-fired pizza oven. The domed shape of the oven helps to evenly distribute the heat across the surface of the pizza, which means it is a consistent temperature all the way through when it is served.
Wonderful Taste and Texture
One of the advantages of ordering a wood-fired pizza is the incredible tastes and textures you will experience with each bite you take. Because the oven is at such a high temperature, the pizza will often be slightly charred and bubbly by the time it is served. However, these imperfections actually make each pizza completely unique and can result in some wonderful textures and added flavours.
Why not visit your local Italian wood-fired pizza restaurant today?