Julius, Author at Insider Pizza

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza Recipe (Crispy Bottom Every Time)

Pepperoni pizza with melted cheese and basil leaves in a cast iron skillet

Cast iron skillet pizza produces an incredibly crispy, golden bottom crust you cannot replicate on a baking sheet. Here is the definitive method.

Best Pizza Sauce Recipe (And How Store-Bought Stacks Up)

Chunky tomato sauce cooking in a pot with a wooden spoon

The right sauce makes or breaks a pizza. Here is the best homemade pizza sauce recipe, plus how popular store-bought options actually compare.

Chicago Deep Dish vs Detroit Style Pizza: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Make?

Slice of deep-dish pizza with melted cheese, chunky tomato sauce, and sausage

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Both Chicago Deep Dish and Detroit-Style pizza are thick, pan-baked pizza styles with devoted followings — and both are frequently misunderstood by people who have never had the real thing. They are also both very achievable at home.Continue reading “Chicago Deep Dish vs Detroit Style Pizza: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Make?”

Best Budget Pizza Ovens Under $200 in 2026 (Tested and Ranked)

Two portable pizza ovens with pizzas baking inside outdoors

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. You do not need to spend $500 on an outdoor pizza oven to make great pies at home. A handful of solid options under $200 can hit 700-800F and produce genuinely impressive results — they just require aContinue reading “Best Budget Pizza Ovens Under $200 in 2026 (Tested and Ranked)”

New York Style Pizza at Home: The Definitive Guide (Dough, Sauce, Technique)

Hands stretching pizza dough dusted with flour over a wooden surface

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. New York-style pizza is the gold standard of American pizza: wide, foldable slices with a thin, chewy crust, bright tomato sauce, and a generous pull of low-moisture mozzarella. It is also one of the most achievable pizza stylesContinue reading “New York Style Pizza at Home: The Definitive Guide (Dough, Sauce, Technique)”

Ooni vs Gozney: Which Outdoor Pizza Oven Is Worth Your Money in 2026?

Pepperoni pizza baking in a brick wood-fired oven with fresh ingredients on a wooden table

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Two brands dominate the outdoor pizza oven market in 2026: Ooni and Gozney. Both make exceptional ovens. Both have passionate fans. And both will cost you a few hundred dollars. So which one should you actually buy? WeContinue reading “Ooni vs Gozney: Which Outdoor Pizza Oven Is Worth Your Money in 2026?”

Sourdough Pizza Dough Recipe (48-Hour Ferment)

Jar filled with bubbly sourdough starter covered with cloth

Sourdough pizza dough takes more time than a commercial yeast version — but the results are different in a way that’s hard to go back from. The crust is chewier, more complex in flavor, and has a structure that holds up well under toppings without going limp. The 48-hour cold ferment is the key. ThatContinue reading “Sourdough Pizza Dough Recipe (48-Hour Ferment)”

Best Pizza Peels for Home Use (2026)

Wooden and metal pizza paddles, cutters, and peelers on a rustic wooden table

A pizza peel is the tool that launches your pizza into a hot oven — and retrieves it when it’s done. The wrong peel makes every pizza session harder than it needs to be. The right one becomes invisible: you stop thinking about the tool and start thinking about the pizza. I’ve tested wood peels,Continue reading “Best Pizza Peels for Home Use (2026)”

Pizza Dough Hydration: The Complete Guide (60% to 80%)

Two hands pressing and shaping pizza dough on a floured wooden board with a rolling pin and bowl of flour nearby

Pizza dough hydration is one of those concepts that sounds technical but unlocks enormous improvement once you understand it. Whether your dough keeps tearing, your crust comes out dense and cracker-like, or you’re chasing that open, airy crumb you see in photos — the answer almost always comes back to hydration. This guide covers everything:Continue reading “Pizza Dough Hydration: The Complete Guide (60% to 80%)”

Ooni Karu 16 Review: The Best Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven?

Pepperoni and basil pizza baking inside a rustic wood-fired oven with flames

If you’ve spent any time researching outdoor pizza ovens, you’ve seen the Ooni Karu 16 come up again and again. At $799, it’s one of the most expensive ovens Ooni makes — and it promises to earn every dollar by running on wood, charcoal, or gas (with an optional burner attachment). I spent three monthsContinue reading “Ooni Karu 16 Review: The Best Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven?”