How Long To Cook Pizza At 450 Degrees?

There is nothing better than a delicious slice of pizza with a crispy crust, but sometimes it can be difficult to get the right texture.

If you’re wondering how long to cook pizza at 450 degrees, I have your answer!

In this article, I’ll help you understand how long your pizza will take to cook at 450 degrees and the best way to cook it so that you can get the perfect pizza crust.

How Long To Cook Pizza At 450 Degrees?

The exact time will depend on the size of your pizza, but a good rule of thumb is to cook it for 8 to 10 minutes at 450°F. However, preheating the oven to 450°F may take 10 to 15 minutes, so the total time required could be up to 20 minutes.

At 450°F, your pizza will be cooked quickly and evenly. The pizza will be crispy and golden brown on the edges and around the crust, but the center will remain soft. This is a good consistency for most people.

But if you like your pizza with a crisper crust cooked more quickly, then crank up the oven to 500 or 550 degrees instead.

Should I Cook Homemade Pizza At 450 Degrees F?

Cooking pizza at temperatures between 450 and 500 degrees is generally recommended for the best results. This allows you to achieve a nice golden-brown crust with an interior cooked through but not dried out. The pizza will also be ready to eat much faster than if you cook it at a lower temperature, making it ideal for busy families.

How To Cook Pizza In Oven At 450?

To cook your pizza in the oven, start by placing an unheated pizza stone or pizza pan on the bottom rack of a cold oven and preheating it to 500–550 degrees. Then put your pizza on top, close the oven door, and cook for 8 minutes at 450 degrees.

Baking homemade pizza in your oven at 450 degrees: A step-by-step guide

Place the pizza stone on the lowest rack of your oven and heat it to 450 degrees.
Flour the work surface, then use your hands to stretch the pizza dough into a round shape.
Sprinkle your pizza peel lightly with flour, then place the dough on top. The flour will keep the dough from sticking to the peel and make it easier for you to slide your pizza into the oven.
Put pizza sauce on the pizza, then layer on your favorite toppings.
When you’re done, check the temperature with the thermometer and slide the pizza onto the stone. Bake for 8~10 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
When your pizza is done, use a metal pizza peel to remove it from the oven and let it cool for 2 minutes for the hot steam to escape before cutting.
Cut your pizza into slices and enjoy!

Side note:

If you put too many toppings on at once, the bottom crust will not get cooked through—it’ll end up soggy.

So if you want to cook a pizza with many toppings, it’s best to do so in two rounds: first layer your pizza base with sauce, then bake; when the bottom crust is cooked, remove it from the oven, then top with your cheese and desired toppings. Put it back into the oven to finish cooking.

Do I Need To Preheat The Oven?

If you’re cooking homemade pizza in an electric or gas oven, it’s best to preheat the oven before baking. Preheating your oven will help maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process and ensure that your pizza will cook evenly.

The amount of time it takes for the oven to preheat depends on its size. If your oven has a small capacity (like an electric toaster oven), it may take only 15 minutes. If your oven is large enough to fit multiple pizzas at once, it could take longer—up to 20–25 minutes.

How Do You Tell If A Pizza Is Cooked?

When a pizza is cooked, it will be golden brown on the bottom and edges. The cheese will also be melted and bubbling but not burned or charred.

If you want to check if your pizza is cooked through, ensure there are no raw spots on top of the cheese. If you see any uncooked dough or raw cheese in the middle, pop it back into the oven for another minute or two.

Do You Cook Toppings Before Putting Them On Pizza?

If you only have pizza sauce and cheese as your pizza toppings, it is unnecessary to precook the toppings. However, if you have many layers of different ingredients on your pizzas—such as meat or vegetables—it’s best to cook some of them first so that they are properly cooked by the time the pizza is finished.

This is especially important for vegetables that take longer to cook, such as mushrooms and eggplant.

Do The Toppings Change The Cooking Instructions For A pizza?

The toppings do not change the pizza cooking instructions, but some should be precooked before being added to the pizza. The order of adding toppings to a pizza is usually cheese first, followed by the other toppings.

FAQs

Should I bake pizza at 400 or 450?

The best temperature to cook pizza is 450–500°F, but it also depends on your oven and the type of pizza you’re making. If you’re baking a thin-crust pizza, it’s best to bake them at a higher temperature, around 500°F. If you’re making a thicker pan pizza or deep dish pizza, set the oven temperature at 400°F.

What happens if you cook pizza at too low of a temperature?

If you cook your pizza at too low a temperature, your crust will be soggy, and the cheese won’t get fully melted. This can also lead to burned edges and undercooked centers. When the cheese doesn’t melt properly, it can give off a rubbery texture. How long should a thick pizza be in the oven?

A thick pizza should take 20–25 minutes in a conventional oven at 400°F. For a thick-crust pizza, you need to set the oven temperature lower than normal so that the crust has time to cook before the toppings burn.

Why is my homemade pizza soggy?

There are a few things that can cause your pizza to be soggy:

The first is too much moisture in the dough. This could be from adding too much water or not letting the dough sit long enough before stretching.
The second is not cooking it long enough. This could be from using a pizza stone that isn’t hot enough or baking pizza at a low temperature.
The third is using too much sauce and cheese on your pizza, which can weigh down the crust.

How long should pizza sit before cutting?

It is important to let the pizza sit for a few minutes before cutting it. The reason is that the pizza needs time to settle and cool. If you cut it immediately, the cheese will ooze out and make a mess. Letting your pizza rest before cutting is necessary for both frozen and fresh pizza.