Perforated Pizza Peel Vs. Solid: What’s the Difference?

When making awesome homemade pizza, having the right tools can make a huge difference. You’ve probably heard of two popular options for handling and baking pizzas: perforated pizza peels and solid pizza peels. 

But what’s the real difference between these two types of peels? And which one is best for your pizza-making needs? In this blog post, we’ll check out both perforated and solid pizza peels and help you figure out which one suits you best. 

So, let’s get started and explore the cool features of each peel to take your pizza game to the next level!

Perforated Pizza Peel Vs. Solid Pizza Peel: Quick Overview

Features	Solid Pizza Peel	Perforated Pizza Peel
Design	No holes	Holes
Material	Wood, steel, or aluminum	Steel or aluminum
Handle Length	Usually short	Short or long
Primary Purpose	Launching pizza	Launching or turning pizza
Pros	Solid and durable	Lightweight
	Easy to Use	Helps to get rid of excessive flour
	Easy to Clean	Prevents pizza dough from sticking to peel
	More versatile	Less Expensive
Cons	Expensive	Less durable
	Less suitable for turning pizza being heavier	More difficult to clean
Price	$10 – $50	$20 – $100

What’s the Primary Difference Between Perforated Pizza Peel Vs. Solid?

The primary difference between perforated pizza peel and solid pizza peel is their design. The solid pizza peel, made of metal or wood, has no holes. Yet, a perforated pizza peel, made of metal, has holes or perforations in it. 

This difference in design comes with varying versatility and purpose or usage, which we’ll discuss in the next section. Overall, this difference in design impacts the pizza taste indirectly by improving the pizza crust quality, making it crispy and aromatic.

Pizza Peel with Holes Vs. no Holes: Detailed Comparison

Here is a detailed comparison between the two pizza peel types: perforated pizza peel and solid.

What is a Perforated Pizza Peel?

A perforated pizza peel is a type of pizza peel that has small holes in it. A perforated pizza peel is usually made of metal. It’s used to launch and turn pizza on the pizza stone inside the hot pizza oven.

The small holes in the perforated pizza peel allow excess flour to fall away from the pizza dough. These holes benefit the pizza-making process in the following way:

Reduces the risk of sticking

The holes in the peel allow excess flour to fall away from the pizza dough, which helps to prevent the pizza from sticking to the peel. This is especially important when using a hot oven, as the flour can easily burn and make the pizza stick.

Makes it easier to maneuver

Perforated pizza peels are lighter than solid peels, which makes them easier to maneuver in a hot oven. This is important when you are trying to slide a pizza into a hot oven or turn it over while it is cooking.

Allows steam to escape

The holes in the peel allow steam to escape from the pizza dough when you use it for turning pizza in the oven. This escape of excessive steam helps to prevent the crust from becoming soggy. This is especially important when cooking a pizza in a wood-fired oven, as the steam can help to create a crispy crust.

Hence, perforated pizza peels are lightweight and easy to use pizza peels. They can help to prevent your pizzas from sticking. However, perforated pizza peels are bit challenging to clean.

What is a solid pizza peel?

A solid pizza peel is a type of pizza peel that does not have any holes in it. This makes it heavier than a perforated pizza peel, but it’s also more durable and can withstand higher temperatures. 

Solid pizza peels are typically made from wood or metal. They also have relatively short handles. 

These pizza peels are primarily used to launch pizza on the hot pizza stone, though you can also use them to turn pizza. However, using them as pizza-turning peels can be challenging if you’re making many pizzas in one go. 

WHY? 

The heavy pizza peels can make you tired.

Here are some of the benefits of using a solid pizza peel:

Durability

Solid pizza peels are more durable than perforated pizza peels; also, they can withstand higher temperatures. This makes them a good choice for use in wood-fired ovens.

Easy to clean

Solid pizza peels are easier to clean than perforated pizza peels. This is because there are no holes for food particles to get stuck in.

More versatile

Solid pizza peels can be used for various tasks, such as baking bread, roasting vegetables, even grilling meats, and even serving pizza–baked pizza served on pizza peel gives the freshest feeling, BTW.

In short, solid pizza peels are a great option if you’re looking for a durable and versatile pizza peel. They’re also easy to use and clean.

FAQs

Is perforated pizza peel different than pizza turning peel with holes?

Yes, a perforated pizza peel and a pizza-turning peel with holes are two different tools used in the process of making pizza.

A perforated pizza peel, as mentioned earlier, is a flat, paddle-like instrument with small holes or perforations on its surface. It’s primarily used for transferring the pizza in and out of the oven. Owing to its versatility, the perforate pizza peel is also used as a turning peel. Yet, you can’t use a pizza turning peel for launching a pizza. The perforations in perforated pizza peel help you pizza game in 2 ways:

1. It helps get rid of excessive flour from the pizza bottom when you move the pizza back and forth on it.
2. It allows air to circulate beneath the pizza, promoting better airflow and helping to create a crispier crust.

On the other hand, a pizza turning peel with holes is a tool specifically designed for turning or rotating the pizza while it is inside the oven. It’s also known as a perforated turning peel or a perforated pizza spinner. The perforated turning peel helps to rotate the pizza during baking, ensuring that all sides are cooked uniformly and achieve a consistent crust color.

The pizza-turning peel typically has a long handle and a small circular or rectangular perforated head. These perforations in pizza turning peel help in the following ways:

• The holes on the head allow heat and air to penetrate the pizza, helping it cook more evenly. 
• Besides this, these holes also let excessive steam escape from the pizza bottom while turning it into a crispy pizza bottom. 

So, while both tools have holes or perforations, their main functions differ.

Final Thoughts

When it’s about choosing between pizza peel with holes vs. no holes, you can consider their benefits and drawbacks. Yet, if you don’t want to get a pizza peel yet, you can also go for some pizza peel alternatives.