Oven for pizza
Use of porcelain in the pizza oven
In contrast to conventional ovens (see Porcelain & ovens), the pizza oven, like the powerful salamander, demands much greater thermal stability from the porcelain. Gas-fuelled pizza ovens quickly reach temperatures of well over 400 °C and therefore represent a considerable source of danger for porcelain. Conventional ceramics, such as those used for inexpensive pizza plates, are not at all suitable for these temperature ranges. Very few pizza ovens have an accurate temperature display and the bases are usually much hotter than the cooking chamber. Every operator of a pizza oven should therefore pay close attention to what may come into contact with this extremely hot appliance, how and when.
Instructions for using porcelain in the pizza oven
- In principle, porcelain is always ovenproof. However, this does not mean that it is always suitable for a pizza oven! The pizza oven works at higher temperatures and under different conditions than a normal oven.
- Therefore, you first determine the temperature range in which your pizza oven works in normal operation. This will then determine the usability of the porcelain in the pizza oven. Never use porcelain or casserole dishes with setting rings in a pizza oven. Only use cookware and porcelain with a flat base.
- Avoid the dreaded thermal shock (hot dishes in cold porcelain or hot dishes in the fridge). Even grandma knew that you should slowly preheat the pot with warm and hot water before pouring hot coffee into it.
- Never place the porcelain directly on the preheated base of an oven or pizza oven. The thermal shock is too great and the porcelain will break!
- Make sure that the fireclay brick in a charcoal oven - i.e. a wood-fired pizza oven - is always clean and well swept. Vibrations caused by moving baking tins around in the pizza oven on dough residues and uneven surfaces lead to an increased risk of breakage.
- Always use a grid or wire sieve as a base for the porcelain.
- Never place the baking tin you have just removed from the oven on a cold surface such as a marble or stone worktop, not even on stainless steel work surfaces! Please use a base here too, otherwise you will repeat the temperature shock, only upside down. Use a grid or a suitable base. A thick kitchen towel is usually sufficient to place the oven-hot baking tin on.
- Never "quench" a heated baking tin under cold water. Porcelain can easily break in this way.
- Important: Only the designated qualities Alumina porcelain, High Alumina and Ultra Alumina are suitable for using conventional plates, bowls and platters in the oven at temperatures above 220 °C!
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