Top 5 Pizza Peel Alternatives for Those Who Hate Peels

If you are making your favorite pizza at home, you will need some tools from a pizza stone to a pizza peel, cutter, etc. While these essential tools are good to have, not everyone is a must-have. The pizza peel is an affordable shovel-like tool to pick up your dough from your countertop and retrieve it from the baking stone.

There’s no doubt that this object serves some functions. However, you can do without one – as opposed to what you must have been told.

Thus, in this post, we’ll consider the best pizza peel alternatives out there and how to make the right call.

Top 5 Pizza Peel Alternatives

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Pizza Peel Alternatives Review

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There are a lot of different ways to prepare pizza, but the traditional way is to use a pizza peel. However, if you don’t have one or if you want an alternative to using one, here are five of the best pizza peel alternatives.

1. Nordic Ware Large Classic Cookie Sheet

Time and again, Nordic Ware has proven to be one of the best brands in this space with a spectrum of reliable kitchen tools, and this Large Classic Cookie Sheet is no different. This product is an excellent alternative to the pizza peel.

This commercial-style baking sheet features sturdy aluminum construction that guarantees it never rusts and serves your purpose for almost a lifetime. Bakers will be impressed by its durable and warp-free design.

This cookie sheet measures 13 by 14 inches, which is enough space for cooking large batches. More so, its uncoated, commercial-grade aluminum guarantees even heat distribution for well-cooked treats.

Furthermore, the light silver finish prevents overheating to ensure a crispy, crunchy pizza.

Furthermore, it has a nonstick coating to offer excellent food release and an effortless cleaning experience. Also, there’s a slanted end handle to allow users to handle this product with ease. Plus, it offers a firm, secure grip.

Above all, this model is corrosion- and rust-proof for lifetime performance and can be tossed into your dishwasher for a convenient cleaning experience.

Strengths:

• Large cooking space
• Robust aluminum construction
• Dishwasher safe
• Made in the USA

Weaknesses:

• Not suitable for baking up to 18 cookies at once

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2. Nordic Ware Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet

The Nordic Ware Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet is made of a unique hardened aluminum alloy to deliver superior even heat conduction and guarantee a scratch-resistance tool.

Talking about construction, this best pizza peel alternative features an encapsulated steel rim to transform these baking sheets into a durable unit that can withstand the rigors of daily use.

With the natural aluminum construction, these sheets have a shiny and non-porous surface to easily release your freshly baked cookies without being a thorn in your side.

Also, this nonstick surface ensures a mess-free cooking experience, and it makes cleaning after cooking a breeze.

These natural aluminum pans are compatible with silicone baking mats, parchment papers, and traditional flour methods. The Nordic Ware Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet is your go for roasting sweet and savory foods like butter, vegetables, etc.

This product is not metal utensil safe. Therefore, it’s best to stick with silicone, wood, or nylon utensils to prevent scratching the aluminum sheet. However, the manufacturer claims scratches won’t affect the baking performance of this unit.

Strengths:

• Excellent food release performance
• Easy to clean
• Outstanding baking performance
• Sturdy aluminum construction

Weaknesses:

• It tends to warp under heat

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3. Katbite 200Pcs 12×16 In Unbleached Parchment Paper

If a baking sheet does not sit well with you, you might want to try out this parchment paper. This product contains about 200 pieces of unbleached, extra-thick parchment paper. Each piece features a heavy-duty design and comes pre-cut to save you from the stress of cutting the paper.

These papers come in 12 x 16 inches without any curled edges for hassle-free use and allow you to use these extra-strong parchment papers straight out of the box. This paper is made from natural wood pulp. Also, it features a food-grade silicone coating for better baking performance.

The Katbite 200Pcs 12×16 In Unbleached Parchment Paper has a wide temperature range from -68 to 450 degrees F, making it suitable for a host of applications – freeze, air fryer, and microwave.

What’s more?

This parchment paper offers an outstanding food release performance, which guarantees your food slides off from the pizza stone of the baking tray effortlessly.

Also, you don’t have to spend quality time cleaning this paper; all you have to do is dispose of it after baking.

Strengths:

• Excellent nonstick performance
• Multipurpose design
• Wide temperature range
• 200 pieces of parchment paper
• Heavy-duty construction for reliability

Weaknesses:

• Poor quality control

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4. Juvale 14″ Corrugated Cardboard Sheets

Next on the list of our alternatives is corrugated cardboard sheets. Your plain old cardboard can come in handy for picking up your freshly baked pizza from the baking steel or stone. You don’t want to be too quick to write this product off.

This product is made from durable and thick cardboard that won’t fold or bend easily. This sturdy design makes it strong enough to provide the much-needed support to lift your pizza safely. The corrugated cardboard sheets are designed to be cut into different shapes, which makes them very versatile.

With this in mind, you can cut these sheets into a peel-like shape for better handling and comfortable use. Also, they are thin enough to allow you to slide under your pizza for easy carry. Most importantly, you want to ensure the cardboard has sufficient room to fit your dough to prevent falling off.

Strengths:

• 1/16 inch thickness
• 50 sheets of corrugated cardboard
• Impressive cardboard strength
• It comes in handy for stacking your pies

Weaknesses:

• Not suitable for picking fresh dough from your countertop

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5. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan

Get rid of the need to use a pizza peel with the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan. This product comes from one of the leading brands in this industry. As the name implies, this unit delivers unparalleled heat retention and uniform heating for a crispy pizza base.

The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan has large handles for a comfortable grip and better control.

Also, this pan comes in handy for grilling, frying, broiling, baking, and searing. This product is made of cast iron, which means you should expect it to be heavy.

Another highlight of this baking pan is its superb nonstick performance that lets pizza slide off with ease. This 14-inch baking pan can be used over a campfire, on the grill, on the stove, and in the oven. Plus, it’s compatible with your induction cooktops.

That’s not all; it comes pre-seasoned with vegetable oil to allow bakers to use it straight out of the box. With its robust construction, this product is extremely durable and versatile.

Strengths:

• Natural easy-release finish
• Durable and versatile design
• Easy to maintain
• Large handles for better control

Weaknesses:

• Not dishwasher safe

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Pizza Peel Alternative Buying Guide

“How to use a pizza stone or baking steel without a pizza peel” is a common question, especially among new bakers. Although a pizza peel is a cheap tool and comes in handy, there are other ways of getting your perfectly baked pizza from the stone safely.

This section will discuss the different substitutes for pizza peel to help retrieve your dough in one piece. These substitutes are easy to obtain and use.

Let’s check out some of the alternatives to peels:

Cardboard

Wait, cardboard? I know it sounds slightly off, but yes, your old cardboard can also serve as a peel. This cardboard can be shaped into a peel for a more comfortable carrying experience. Further, you could use the pizza box to retrieve the pizza from the stone.

Keep in mind that you want to use sturdy cardboard to offer the much-needed support to keep the pizza from falling off when trying to take it out the pizza.

Parchment Paper

If you hate a little bit of a complex or tricky cooking method, you don’t want to go for parchment paper as a substitute. This alternative requires you to bake your pizza or pie on parchment paper, making the cooking process a bit delicate and challenging.

You want to bake your dough on parchment paper and add your toppings to allow you safely and efficiently remove the pie or pizza from the baking stone.

For new bakers looking to make their favorite pizza without a pizza peel, your best bet is the rimless cookie sheet. This easy-to-obtain substitute allows you to do your business without any need for grease or oil for easy food release.

Rimless

This product has a naturally nonstick surface to allow bakers to flip the pizza upside down without a fuss. It’s a great way to bake your pies with golden-brown results.

Cutting Board

If you can’t get your hands on a pizza peel, you can opt for a cutting board. It’s important to note that you can’t always rely on this method to retrieve your pizza safely since it is size-dependent. You want to use a large cutting board with enough room to accommodate the pizza to limit your chances of it falling off.

Cutting boards are my favorite if my pizza peel is nowhere to be found. Do not forget to choose or use a cutting board that is bigger than the pizza.

Serving Platter

You must have thought of using a serving platter. These tools are an excellent choice in place of pizza peels. Serving platters are thin enough to slide between the perfectly baked pizza and pizza stone for effortless removal. Another benefit of this substitute is its shape. Serving platters are round, which makes it easier to handle getting the pizza off the stone.

Baking Pans

This comes last on our list because it involves eliminating the need for a peel and its substitute. With a baking pan, there’s no need for a pizza stone – all need a baking pan. It’s best to settle for a cast iron baking pan. They are durable with high heat retention and distribution to leave your pizza with a crispy base.

Related FAQs

Conclusion

All in all, you’ve seen that several tools can serve as a pizza peel. In this post, we’ve reviewed the top 5 best pizza peel alternatives and how to choose the right one to help get your pies safely from the oven or pizza stone.