Baking steel on a gas grill is the best way to make pizza at home

source_topic: Pizza

Absolutely, and it’s easier than you think.

The trick is getting the steel screaming hot. Put your baking steel directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and crank all burners to high. Let it preheat for at least 30 minutes. You want the steel to hit 600-700°F. If your grill has a built-in thermometer, don’t trust it — use an infrared gun.

Once it’s hot, slide your stretched dough onto a lightly floured peel, add toppings quickly, and launch it onto the steel. Close the lid. The steel will radiate intense heat from below while the grill traps heat above, creating a mini pizza oven. In 3-4 minutes you’ll have a charred, leopard-spotted crust. Rotate it once halfway if your grill has hot spots.

One pro tip: dimple the dough with your fingertips before topping to prevent giant bubbles. And don’t overload the sauce or cheese — wet toppings steam instead of crisp.

This method beats any home oven, and it’s way less fussy than a pizza stone on charcoal. Just don’t forget to let the steel cool down slowly after, or you’ll warp it.