Can I Cook 2 Pizzas In The Oven? Two Pizzas, One Oven: Is It Possible?
Cooking delicious pizza is fun as long as you’re dealing with one pizza at a time. But what if you need to cook two pizzas in the oven at the same time? Is it even possible?
Yes, you can cook 2 pizzas in the oven at once but there are some factors you need to consider. Factors like the size of your oven, the amounts of toppings you add, and the type of your oven will have an impact on the result. Also, you must adjust the cooking time and temperature and monitor the pizzas throughout the cooking period.
This is not the full picture though. We’ll be discussing the right way of cooking two pizzas in the oven and which things you should avoid throughout the process. So, stick around to know more!
Is It Possible to Cook Multiple Pizzas In The Oven?
Yes, there are chefs who cook more than one pizza in the oven at once. But you need to make sure that your oven is WIDE enough to accommodate multiple pizzas. Otherwise, there are chances of drips from toppings or cheese when the pizzas are too close.
An improper way of cooking two pizzas at once in the oven can result in soggy crusts or hot spots. It can even cause a potential burning in your kitchen as well.
If you’re using a conventional oven, know that the heat in such an oven comes from the bottom. For this, the pizza you’re cooking on the lower rack can finish before the upper one. Eventually, such ovens will require longer cooking time and a higher temperature compared to convection ovens.
In convection ovens, there’s a fan that circulates hot air and ensures more even cooking in quicker cooking times.
However, the steps for cooking two pizzas in both kinds of ovens are the same. Scroll down to learn more about it.
Which Factors Impact Cooking 2 Pizzas In The Oven?
A few factors will impact the whole cooking process of two pizzas in an oven at the same time. Here are some examples.
The Size and Type of Your Oven
It’s a must to have a big enough oven so the multiple pizzas can fit properly. Moreover, there are different types of ovens including conventional ovens, wood-fired ovens, and convection ovens. The heat distribution and overall settings of each type of oven can vary widely and impact the cooking process.
Oven Temperature
Make sure you follow the instructions on the pizza packaging while setting the oven temperature because the right temperature prevents over or undercooking. Although different pizza recipes require different temperatures, usually around 450°F to 500°F temperatures are used.
Pizzas are cooked at high temperatures. And, you must preheat the oven to get the desired temperature as well.
The Size and Thickness of Your Pizza
Yes, how thick your pizza crust is will impact the overall cooking process and time. Naturally, thicker crusts will require more time compared to thinner ones. If you don’t give it enough time to cook, a thinner crust will easily come out as an undercooked or doughy center. And, giving it excessive time will result in burnt crusts.
Similarly, the larger pizzas will require a longer time and a proper heat adjustment to ensure the proper heat distribution.
Pizza Placement
The proper pizza placement in your oven is an unavoidable part of the cooking. If your oven has multiple racks, you need to place the pizzas on different racks ensuring enough amount of space between each pizza.
Also, you need to rotate the pizzas or swap their positions halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution throughout the cooking time.
Pizza Toppings
People who eat lots of toppings in their pizzas need to be more patient because more toppings mean a longer time required for cooking. When the toppings are thick and higher in numbers, they’ll need to heat through and potentially release moisture.
Pizza Stone or Baking Sheet
Using a pizza stone or baking sheet will help distribute heat more evenly and produce a crispier crust. If you have two pizzas in the oven, you’ll need two stones or sheets or you can cook them one at a time.
But which one is better to use while cooking multiple pizzas? Pizza stone or baking sheet?
It depends on your personal preference because both come with their individual features. A pizza stone can absorb excess moisture from the pizza dough, which helps prevent a soggy crust. This is especially important when baking pizzas with a lot of toppings or ingredients that release moisture during cooking.
On the other hand, a baking sheet doesn’t have the same moisture-absorbing properties as a pizza stone, but it can still help reduce the likelihood of a soggy crust compared to placing the pizza directly on oven grates.
How to Cook Two Pizzas In The Same Oven At Different Temperatures
It’s almost the same process as cooking one pizza in the oven. Here, you’re just going to heat up two pizza stones at once.
Start by preheating your oven to the higher of the two desired temperatures. For example, if one pizza needs to cook at 450°F and the other at 400°F, preheat to 450°F. Then, place the pizza that needs the higher temperature closer to the top heating element or at a higher rack position, as heat rises. Put the other pizza on a lower rack.
Make sure that you keep enough space between two racks so that proper air circulation is ensured. Unheaven heat can lead to burning or undercooked pizza.
Set the cooking time for around 10-15 minutes (I mean, start on the lower end of the range). Monitor the pizzas now and then and adjust the cooking time as needed.
The pizza that needs the lower temperature will finish cooking before the other. Remove each pizza when it’s done.
Can You Cook Two Frozen Pizzas At Once?
Yes, you can cook two frozen pizzas at once in the same oven and the process is quite similar as we mentioned above. You need to preheat the oven first and then place two frozen pizzas inside the oven.
Get the temperature and time of the oven set properly and then monitor the cooking time. Check for doneness and then serve the pizzas aka happiness!
Additional Tips for Baking Two Pizzas At Once
Here are some do’s and don’ts for you so you can be safe and clean throughout the cooking time.
- Don’t crowd your oven by placing the pizzas too close to each other. It will block the airflow and result in uneven cooking.
- Closely monitor the pizzas as they cook. Melted and bubble cheese and golden brown crusts indicate that your pizza is done.
- Don’t load your pizzas with lots of toppings as it can take more time to get your cooking done.
- Don’t use excessively high heat settings as there’s a chance of burning crusts.
Above all, don’t rush the process, please. Cook two pizzas like you cook one at a time but don’t miss the careful monitoring now and then.
Conclusion
And, we’re done guiding you on the right way to cooking pizzas in the oven. Hopefully, ‘can I cook 2 pizzas in the oven’ is not a big question for you now. No matter how many pizzas you’re cooking in your oven, the key is not to overcrowd them in a little space. You always need to give them enough place because the hot air needs to circulate peacefully, don’t block them away!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook two pizzas on the same rack?
Yes, you can but you should not cook two pizzas on the same rack. It’s because there’s a high chance of uneven cooking because placing two pizzas on the same rack will block the airflow and heat distribution.
It’s natural that the pizza you place closer to the heating element will cook faster or even burn but the other one may not even get cooked at the same time. So, it’s always best and recommended to use separate racks for cooking two pizzas at the same time.
How many pizzas can you cook in an oven?
You can cook at most two pizzas in an oven at the same time, in general. However, if you have a commercial or larger oven having multiple racks or leaves, cooking more than two pizzas at the same time might be possible.
But don’t overcrowd your oven, see how much its capability is, and then attempt to cook multiple pizzas in it.
How do you cook two Totino’s pizzas?
Preheat the oven and place two Totino’s pizzas on the oven rack. You can place two pizzas side by side, on the same rack but it’s best to cook them separately according to packaging directions. It will take around 10 minutes to get the baking done. When the pizzas are golden brown and you can feel the crisps with your eyes, remove them from the oven.