The Best Pizza Peels in 2023

A few years ago, I made it my goal to make pizzeria-quality pizza at home. I bought a premium pizza stone, invested in the yummiest ingredients, and read countless cookbooks.

My pizza game was good but not great. I was missing something. Then, it dawned on me: Professional pizza chefs carry those large paddles like they are extensions of their bodies. I needed to get myself a pizza peel.

This tool quickly became indispensable to me. It made it possible for me to transfer and rotate pizzas in my unbearably hot oven. When I am not flipping delicious tomato pies, I use my peels as serving trays and kitchen decorations.

Top Pizza Peels Reviews

1. Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter and Paddle

This extra-large pizza paddle and cutter set will help you turn your kitchen into Little Italy. It even comes with a restaurant-quality silicone dough mat. Essentially, the set includes everything you need to make the perfect homemade pizza. Well, everything besides the dough, cheese, and tomato sauce…

The super-thin stainless steel paddle has a unique folding handle. Pizza making at home has never been easier! The wide, flat handle protects fingers from slips. The sturdy metal paddle will never buckle under the weight of an everything pie. It slides right under hot pizzas, making for super smooth transfers.

2. Chef Pomodoro Aluminum Metal Pizza Peel with Foldable Wood Handle

Chef Pomodoro’s metal pizza peel is a miraculous kitchen invention. First off, its pizza box packaging makes it a spectacular gift. The smooth food-grade aluminum paddle offers clean dough transfers. Meanwhile, its foldable metal handle allows for oven-mitt-free retrievals. Plus, this thing fits into the tiniest of residential kitchen cabinets.

Use the Pomodoro to step up everything from your pizza to your cake game. The paddle is 14 inches long and 12 inches wide. Its 11-inch wooden handle turns 180 degrees, giving it the smallest possible footprint when it is in storage. Naturally, the light-colored pine complements the silvery aluminum quite nicely!

3. Pizza Royale Bamboo Pizza Peel

The Pizza Royale is by far the best wooden pizza peel for artisanal flatbreads. First off, this lovely kitchen utensil is made from sustainably sourced bamboo. It is 19.6 inches long and 12 inches wide, making it the perfect tool for personal pies. The notched wood handle is easy to grip. The Royale logo, which is burned into the wooden board, gives the peel a touch of character.

Unlike cheap wood peels, this bamboo masterpiece will not split, warp, or splinter. Just use a bit of warm water to remove any stuck-on food particles. We love that Pizza Royale has backed this peel with a generous 180-day guarantee. It’s a 100% risk-free purchase!

4. Heritage Acai Wood Pizza Peel

This wooden pizza paddle will spice up your kitchen. It has a sharp design, with lovely tapered edges that make dough transfers a breeze. The acai wood has a deep brown color with vibrant sepia highlights. We strongly recommend using it as a decorative piece; there is even a hole that you can thread a string through.

The rounded handle makes for safe transfers in and out of hot ovens. Don’t underestimate the peel’s potential. It makes an excellent charcuterie board or serving tray. It is 22 inches long and 14 inches wide; you’ll have no trouble squeezing a large piece of dough onto this wooden paddle.

5. New Star Foodservice Aluminum Pizza Paddle

The New Star Foodservice Pizzle paddle has a handle that’s suitable for wood-fired ovens. It has a 12-by-14-inch rectangular blade. Plus, its wooden handle extends nearly 26 inches, keeping fingers away from scalding oven walls. The handle is connected to the blade with triple rivets, ensuring that no cook will fall victim to a falling pie.

This is the sort of kitchen gadget you would find in the kitchen of a professional chef. Don’t let this lengthy peel intimidate you. It’s a good investment for anyone who starts to take their pizza-making seriously.

6. Honey-Can-Do Foldable Pizza Peel

Here we have the best stainless steel pizza peel on the market. The Honey-Can-Do is a 14-inch foldable pizza peel that makes it super easy to remove piping-hot baked goods from the oven. The gorgeous wooden swivel handle folds in for easier storage. You can even use it without oven mitts.

The easy-glide aluminum paddle sends properly floured or oiled pizzas flying. The generous paddle fits pizzas of all shapes and sizes. It even comes wrapped in a shroud of protective plastic. So, there are no smudge marks or nicks to be seen.

You can’t get away with stuffing this peel into the dishwasher. For one, it’s bound to obstruct a machine’s spinning spray arms. Plus, the wooden handle swells when exposed to water for long periods.

7. Komista Perforated Pizza Peel

Komista makes a fabulous perforated pizza peel. This grated anodized aluminum surface enables home cooks to transfer pizzas, sandwiches, and other foods with ease. The peel’s heat-resistant plastic handle is secured to the blade with three large, overlapping rivets. The peel’s machined perforations eliminate excess flour from the bottom of homemade pizzas.

Plus, this peel’s tapered front lip makes for smoother dough transfers. The paddle is 14 inches long and 12 inches wide. The handle gives it an additional 7 inches of length.

8. American Metalcraft Large Blade Peel

This long pizza spatula is quite the bargain. It features an extra-large food-grade aluminum paddle and a long wooden handle. It is available in a variety of lengths, including ones with 28-, 37-, and 54-inches lengths.

We recommend the 54-inch spatula for outdoor wood-fired ovens. While the gluten in pizza dough tends to cling to the silvery aluminum surface, a little cornmeal should be all you need to resolve this issue.

Everything You Need to Know

If you want to make professional-grade pizza, you are going to need a pizza peel. Check out this video for step-by-step tips!

These pizza-making essentials are either made from wood or metal. Chefs use pizza peels to transfer the prepped dough in and out of hot ovens.

To use: First, preheat your pizza peel. Then, coat your peel in flour and cornmeal. When you’re done, place your freshly shaped dough on top of your warmed peel.

After that, you can add your toppings. Finally, shift the pizza peel back and form to transfer your pizza onto a preheated pizza. Or else, shove the peel under your perfectly charred pizza. Set it aside, and get your pizza cutter ready.

Many chefs prefer to use metal peels because it is easy to slide them under hot pizzas. They are also super easy to clean. Wooden pizza peels tend to be less clingy. They make it easier for inexperienced cooks to transfer raw pizza dough into a hot oven. However, these peels require more maintenance.

In the section below, we discuss the differences between aluminum and wood pizza cutters. We also go over the key considerations you need to make when purchasing one of these kitchen utensils.

The origins of this one-of-a-kind cooking tool are a bit hazy. We do know that the word peel is derived from the French word for a shovel. There’s no better way to grab a 500-degree pizza of dough from the oven. Most professional pizza makers will tell you that two shovels (peels) are better than one.

After all, you need to be able to snatch and rotate your pizza dough to make a James Beard-quality culinary masterpiece.

Factors to Consider

Material: Aluminum vs. Wood Pizza Peels

Traditional pizza peels were made from wood. Wood is readily available, durable, and attractive. Today’s consumers still appreciate the beauty and brawn of solid wood kitchen utensils.

Wood peels are not as sticky as aluminum peels. They double as charcuterie boards, which happen to be all the rage right now. Still, wood is undeniably bulky. It absorbs smells and stains. Moreover, it requires care and attention.

You cannot just stuff a wooden pizza peel in the dishwasher.

For this reason, many eco-conscious consumers have taken a liking to sustainably sourced woods, such as bamboo.

On the other hand, aluminum pizza peels handle well and are considerably durable. The thin metal blades are easy to slide under hot pies. They are super easy to wash. Moreover, they do not absorb odors or dyes.

Shape

Pizza peels may be round or rectangular. Ultimately, you want to choose a peel that has the same shape as your ideal pizza. Some pizza peels have sharp or tapered edges. These design features are both decorative and functional. They make it easier to transfer baked goods onto hot surfaces.

Size

Are you looking to create personal pizzas or pies for a crowd? As a good rule of thumb, pizza peels should have a paddle that is a least 14 inches long and 12 inches wide. The paddle should add even more length between a cook and their culinary creations.

Handle

A pizza peel’s handle needs to be long enough to extend to the back of an oven. You’re going to need an even longer handle if you’re going to be reaching into a large outdoor oven. Keep in mind that some modern pizza peels boast foldable handles. These peels fold up for easier storage.

How to Use a Pizza Peel

Do you take pride in making the perfect pizza pie?

Making pizza looks simple, but there are pro tools that’ll help you bake the perfect pie every time.

There’s more than one way to place a pizza in the oven. We’re here to show you what people are saying about how to use a pizza peel.

By the end, we’ll even help you figure out which peel to choose.

In this article, we’ll cover the three popular pizza peel techniques that everyone is talking about:

• Metal Pizza Peel
• Wood Peel to Metal Peel
• Long-Handled Wooden Pizza Peel

Countertop and Metal Peel

What’s a Metal Peel Technique?

This is the most common way that restaurants make pizzas for their customers. Most pizza chefs build their pies on clean countertops, and they use metal peels to transport their pies from counters to ovens.

A good metal peel is usually made from aluminum. Chefs usually cover them with flour in order to keep the raw pizza dough from sticking.

Why Choose This Type of Peel?

Metal peels are preferred by pros because they’re affordable, and they’re durable. It works like a charm to move the dough into the oven without causing it to stick to any surfaces along the way.

People choose this peel for their pizzas because it’s long enough to put a pie into the back of a large oven, so you could cook multiple pizzas at one time.

Product Specifics to Look out for:

Aluminum is a fine metal for a pizza peel, but stainless steel will keep it from rusting over time.

Another thing to look for in metal peels is a folding handle because it will make storing this large tool easier when the pie is complete.

You might also find a metal pizza peel with a rubber grip to keep your hands comfortable.

Wooden Peel to Metal Peel

What’s the Wooden Peel to Metal Peel Technique?

This technique involves purchasing a wooden pizza peel to be used for assembling the pizza, and you’ll use a metal pizza peel to place the pizza in the oven.

Homeowners prefer using this technique because it keeps the countertop clean, and the pizza transfers directly to the oven without issues.

If you enjoy this technique, you should consider investing in a few extra wooden peels. You could use the extra peels to allow guests to decorate their own pizzas before you lift them off to the oven with the metal peel.

Why Choose This Type of Peel?

The wooden peel is aesthetically pleasing, and it could even work as a serving plate for the pizza when it’s done cooking in the oven.

Ultimately, pizza peels protect your counter from damage and debris.

Product Specifics to Look out for:

You might be able to find short-handled wooden pizza peels in sets of two or more, so you’ll have a few extras for guests to use.

Look for a wooden pizza peel that is made of food-safe material. There are plenty of wooden pizza peels that are made of high-quality materials, such as bamboo.

Long-Handled Wooden Peel

What’s a Long-Handled Wooden Peel Technique?

This is the simplest method that will yield the best results. However, relying upon one long-handled pizza peel has its limitations.

On the bright side, you’ll be able to make the pizza on the peel and slide it into the oven without the hassle of transporting it from one surface to another.

The downside of this method is that long-handled peels are more cumbersome, and you’ll have trouble making multiple pizzas at once.

Why Choose This Type of Peel?

If you’re looking for a simple method for making pizza, this type of peel is less complicated than the other techniques that we’ve described above.

This is the perfect pizza peel for a small family that typically makes one pizza at a time.

Product Specifics to Look out for:

In addition to picking a wooden pizza peel that’s made of high-quality material, you should consider purchasing a product made of materials that have been ethically sourced.

While looking for the best pizza peel on the market, you’ve uncovered three enticing techniques for preparing the perfect pie.

There isn’t a right answer as to which peel is best, but you might be able to figure out which pizza peel is best for your situation if you consider how many pizzas you make on a regular basis.

If you enjoy making pizza for your family and guests, you should consider using the metal peel in combination with a short-handled wooden peel.

Summary

Pizza peels make homemade pizza even more fun! These paddles may just help you pull off restaurant-quality pizzas. We hope this buying guide makes it easier for you to succeed in your pizza-making adventure. Just for fun, share your favorite pizza toppings in the section below!