Best Pizza Dough

By classycook

Ingredients

• 3 3/4 c. bread flour (or all-purpose)
• 2 1/2 Tb. fast-acting yeast (2 packets)
• 3/4 ts. salt
• 1 ts. sugar
• 1 1/3 c. room temperature (about 72 degrees) water
• olive oil for the pans and stretched dough

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add the water and, using a wooden spoon, mix until blended, about a minute. The dough might be a bit stiffer than other pizza doughs you’ve made. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes, until it's smooth. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature until the dough has doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 500. Oil one 13×18 baking sheet and one half that size. Use a bowl scraper or rubber spatula to scrape 2/3 the dough onto an oiled pan in one piece. Starting at one end, gently pull and stretch dough across the surface of the pan, and use your hands to press it evenly out to the edges. If the dough sticks to your fingers, lightly dust it with flour or coat your hands with oil. Pinch any holes together. Repeat with the second smaller piece.