Creating a tremendous restaurant-style pizza crust at home – well-baked, crips, well-browned, and crunchy – requires the right tools. Usually, the pizza stone is the go-to for its blasting heat to get the bottom and top of the pie cooked evenly and quickly.
However, there’s a new hype around thin perforated metal disks called pizza screens. This tool offers better air circulation and even heat distribution for a crispy crust, making it an essential tool in any pizzeria.
Sadly, pizza screens are created equal. They are available at different prices, shapes, materials, and sizes. Plus, the plethora of options out there makes the decision process a bit overwhelming and challenging.
Luckily, in this post, we’ll review the top 6 best pizza screens, how they work, and critical factors to consider when shopping to prevent splurging on a subpar product.
Top 6 Best Pizza Screens
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Winco Winware 16-Inch Pizza Screen | Professional quality |
| 2. | New Star Foodservice 50684 Pizza Screen | Oven-safe |
| 3. | Met Lux Stainless Steel Pizza Mesh Screen | Smooth baking |
| 4. | Winco Aluminum Winware Pizza Screen | 12-Inches Capacity |
| 5. | Winco Aluminum Winware Pizza Screen | Dishwasher Safe |
| 6. | Hubert Seamless Rim 24-inch Pizza Screen | Quick & Easy cleaning |
Types of Pizza Screens
Pizza screens are a type of oven mitt that keeps your hands clean while you are cooking the pizza. They come in many different sizes and shapes to fit any kitchen. There are also pizza screens with built-in grates that make it easier to slide the pizza onto the pan.
Mesh Pizza Screen
They are highly sought after for their ease of use and wide range of size options available. Mesh pizza screens do not feature heavy-duty construction, but their durability is not questionable, considering their price point.
Stainless Steel Pizza Screens
When it comes to durability and sturdiness, you want to stick with this type. Stainless steel pizza screens are the go-to for professional kitchens since they can withstand the rigors of commercial use without breaking down.
Also, they come in different sizes, which eliminates the need to purchase multiple ones to cook a large pizza at once.
Perforated Pizza Screens
Thanks to their perforations, these screens are great for making thin-crust pizzas to deliver uniform airflow and even heat distribution. Hence, both sides get evenly cooked without a soggy center.
Further, perforated pizza screens come with handles for easy and secure handling. It’s also perfect for use with your large outdoor grills.
Aluminum Pizza Screens
Aluminum pizza screens are the thinnest option on this list. They come with an affordable price tag, and their perforation delivers excellent braking performance. Also, their high heat resistance makes them perfect for grilling pizzas.
Bordered Pizza Screens
These models’ edges feature a solid border to help hold the heat better for crispy results. Also, it’s a perfect choice for people looking to own a rugged pizza screen for making large pizzas.
Square Pizza Screens
Obviously, these pizza screens are designed to make square-shaped pizzas. However, they still come in handy for cooking small pizzas. It’s an excellent option for cooking both square and round pizzas. Its edged borders and raised handles also make handling this tool a breeze without worrying about scalding yourself.
What Need To Know When Buying A Pizza Screen
Before you head to your local grocery store to purchase just about any pizza screen that comes your way, here are essential factors to consider for a smart decision:
Material
It is best to either go with a stainless steel or aluminum model when it comes to pizza screens. They offer reliable nonstick surfaces and are durable enough to withstand tough and rough use.
Either option will last you many years to come, provided they are properly maintained. Talking about maintenance, we advised you to season the pizza screen straight out of the box.
In addition, cleaning a stainless steel and aluminum pizza screen is a breeze. While some manufacturers might tout their products to be dishwasher friendly for a convenient cleaning experience, it’s best to hand wash.
Shape
This baking tool is available in three shapes – rectangular, square, and round. The choice boils down to your personal preference. The rectangular or square models are perfect for baking large pies and warming up pastries or breadsticks. However, most people prefer circular models to make their pizzas since it’s common shapes.
Size
The best pizza screen for you should be one that fits in your oven without a fuss. This factor is often ignored until the product arrives at your doorstep and you find out the pizza screen won’t fit in your oven. Hence, it’s better to compare the dimensions of the pizza screen to your oven.
Best Pizza Screen Reviews
1. Winco Winware 16-inch Aluminum Pizza Screen
It’s easy to dismiss this product because of its lightweight and terrible hole appearance. But before you do that, you might want to check out its perks and understand why it might just be the best thing for you.
When paired with a baking stone, this model delivers a home-kitchen pizza experience that’s hard to beat. This top-quality pizza pan allows you to make a crispy crust at home. The Winco Winware 16-inch Aluminum Pizza Screen makes a golden, crispy crust that slides off easily without a fuss.
What’s more? This unit is made of aluminum which is responsible for its lightweight and quick heat distribution. This professional-quality baking tool features a seamless design to improve ventilation for a more uniformly baked pizza crust.
On the flip, the Winco Winware 16-inch Aluminum Pizza Screen is not sturdy enough to cut your pizza on. You might want to invest in a good pizza peel to cut your pizza on. Also, you need to use a lot of cornmeal to guarantee a reliable food release performance.
Verdict
The Winco Winware 16-inch Aluminum Pizza Screen is just a pizza screen, not a pizza peel. It is lightweight and works well with a pizza stone.
Strengths:
- Offers incredible ventilation
- Suitable for making small to large pizzas
- Professional-quality aluminum construction
- Affordable price point
Weaknesses:
- It tends to warp
2. New Star Foodservice 50684 14-Inch Pizza Screen
Want the best pizza screen for your next home pizza party? The New Star Foodservice 50684 14-inch Pizza Screen won’t disappoint. This baking tool will be a great addition to your arsenal.
This unit is designed with home and commercial applications in mind. It features a heavy-duty aluminum construction to ensure it delivers on its promises. This product comes with a seamless rim and fine mesh to improve ventilation for an evenly cooked crust. Hence, you don’t have to worry about undercooking or soggy crust.
Even better, the New Star Foodservice 50684 14-inch Pizza Screen is suitable for baking fresh and frozen pizzas. It is useful in making crunchy and perfect cakes, brownies, bread, and toast. Furthermore, it’s effortless to clean and maintain. More so, it’s available in different size options to meet your needs.
On the downside, the manufacturer claims this product offers easy pizza transfer; some customers experience pizza sticking and are challenging to remove. Therefore, it’s best to brush with oil and preheat the pizza screen for perfectly cooked pizza.
Verdict
Depending on the size you need, the New Star Foodservice 50684 14-inch Pizza Screen is a smart choice to consider. It’s made of steel with a non-stick coating; it’s durable and will last for a long. The manufacturer provides a limited warranty of one year.
Strengths:
- Cleaning is a breeze
- Seamless rims and fine mesh
- Excellent heat transfer
- Heavy-duty aluminum construction
Weaknesses:
- The food release performance is not impressive
3. Met Lux Stainless Steel Pizza Mesh Screen
Making our list of the best pizza pans is the Met Lux Stainless Steel Pizza Mesh Screen with heavy-duty aluminum construction. Clearly, this unit is crafted to withstand the rigors of a commercial kitchen.
Coming with a round design, this pizza mesh screen is perfect for making several pastries or a single pizza. Its mesh surface distributes heat evenly for a fuss-free baking experience, and the large holes help brown your crust.
Furthermore, this model has a reinforced rim to prevent messy accidents and make handling streaming pastries and pizza pies in and out of the oven a breeze. This 16-inch mess screen is excellent for desserts or frozen pizzas. Plus, it’s a cinch to clean up after baking, thanks to its dishwasher-safe construction.
Verdict
This pizza mesh screen is an excellent choice for professional bakers, thanks to its sturdy construction and large 16-inch diameter. The reinforced rim provides extra strength and ensures there are no messy accidents.
Strengths:
- Effortless baking experience
- Dishwasher-friendly for convenient cleanup
- Suitable for desserts or frozen pizzas.
- Stainless steel construction
Weaknesses:
- Some customers claim the pizza screen bends
4. Winco Aluminum Winware 12-Inch Pizza Screen
Another spot, another pizza screen from Winco; this model is the perfect tool to get your pizza looking inspiring and perfect for your pizza party or customer. This arguably best pizza screen is crafted with top-quality materials.
Its seamless design allows you to make a perfectly baked pizza in any setting – commercial or home. It delivers superior ventilation underneath your pizza for even baking.
Winco Aluminum Winware 12-inch Pizza Screen is made with premium aluminum to ensure it brings out the best in any pizza recipe. This 12-inch pizza screen is suitable for making small to big pizzas conveniently. Also, the manufacturer wanted a durable and long-lasting pizza screen, which is evident with its professional-quality aluminum material option.
Sadly, the Winco Aluminum Winware 12-inch Pizza Screen is not resistant to high heat and will likely melt under extreme temperatures. Also, this screen does not come with instructions on how best to clean and maintain this tool for long-lasting baking performance.
Verdict
While the Winco Aluminum Winware 12-inch Pizza Screen is a long-lasting pizza screen, it does not come with instructions on how to clean and maintain it. Also, this tool is not ideal for baking small or big pizzas in high temperatures.
Strengths:
- Perfect for making small to big pizzas
- Delivers better ventilation
- Made with high-quality aluminum
- It can be used for grilling pizza
Weaknesses:
- Likely to melt under high heat
5. Winco Aluminum Winware 10-Inch Pizza Screen
By now, you should have figured out that Winco is a brand to stick with when it comes to baking accessories. The Winco Aluminum Winware 10-inch Pizza Screen offers that perfect balance between a chewy and crispy crust. This model cooks a 10-inch pie with a golden crust.
To get the best out of this product, you should season both sides of the baking screen in a 500 degrees F preheated oven for a couple of minutes. This way, you should expect an improved food release performance.
It delivers perfectly melted cheese and crispy crust to impress your customer, friends, or family. The Winco Aluminum Winware 10-inch Pizza Screen is suitable for heating your frozen pizza.
The downside to this model is its cleanup process. The Winco Aluminum Winware 10-inch Pizza Screen is not one of the easiest to clean screens we’ve tested. On top of that, it’s not dishwasher safe and can be very sticky if not properly seasoned.
Verdict
Winco Aluminum Winware 10-inch Pizza Screen is an excellent product for making pizza. It has about 95% customer satisfaction rate, and it can be a nice addition to your kitchen.
Strengths:
- Professional-quality aluminum
- Seamless design for improved ventilation
- It fits up to a 10-inch pizza
- Best for home-made pizza lovers
Weaknesses:
- Difficult to clean
6. Hubert Seamless Rim 24-inch Pizza Screen
Creating the best thin-crust pizza requires the proper inventory, like the Hubert Seamless Rim 24-inch Pizza Screen. This model is designed to create a crisp, evenly baked thin crust to tickle your customer’s taste buds.
This product is built to stand up to the rigors of daily use in a commercial kitchen. The perforated design speeds up the cooking time and offers excellent nonstick performance. Even better, it helps prevent your crust from getting soggy.
Verdict
Even though it’s a bit pricey, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of the Hubert Seamless Rim 24-inch Pizza Screen. Even better, this model is built to last so you can enjoy it for years to come.
Strengths:
- Seamless rim design for safe handling
- Commercial-grade construction for durability
- Perfect for cooking small to big pizzas
- Suitable for both home and restaurant use
Weaknesses:
- Cleaning can be a bit challenging
Pizza Screen Questions & Answered
Pizza screens are designed to promote even heat distribution around the pizza to ensure both sides are properly cooked.
This way, you don’t have to worry about the center of the pizza getting soggy and undercooked.
This tool delivers even cooking to prevent burning or soggy crust. They come in handy for making other baking goods such as calzones, focaccia, etc. These perforated pizza pans promote better air circulation for golden-brown results.
The answer depends on your oven size and the size of pizza you intend to make.
To prevent the dough from sticking to your perforated pizza pan, you should season the screen before using it for the first time.
Also, brushing both sides of the screen with olive oil can improve its food release performance.
Conclusion
No one wants to have a bite of undercooked pizza. Luckily, we’ve pizza screens to help you bake evenly and reheat your pizzas.
In this post, we’ve shared the top 6 best pizza screens to make your favorite pizza recipe. Hopefully, our comprehensive buying guide will help you make an informed decision.
Regardless of your choice, you want to season the screen before using them straight out of the box.