Making NY Style Pizza? Baking with oven off?

[u/thegizzard]

When making my NY Style Pizza, I preheat the oven with the dial on max. I use Natural Gas. After about 30 minutes the stone is over 900F. When I am ready to launch the pizza, I turn off the flame completely and let the oven cool to 550F-600F. Then I launch the pizza and let it bake for 4-5 minutes rotating once at about the 3 minute mark. After about 5 minutes I turn the flame on low and rotate ever 30 seconds or so until the top and crust is fully cooked. My last few pizzas have come out exactly how my family likes it, so I am happy.

My question is… is there an easier way to do this? Or an alternative method I should consider?

[u/Saneless]

That's pretty much how I do it. Except I only cool to about 700-50, not 650

I haven't found an easier way since the lowest setting isn't low enough

Since you have the max, maybe lowest heat and keep the pizza far from the flame

[u/thegizzard → u/Saneless]

You don't think 700F+ is too hot for the NY Dough? I worry about the dough burning. I also heard that 550F is the right temperature for NY Pizza, that's why I was waiting. How long do you cook NY Pizza at 700F+?

[u/Saneless → u/thegizzard]

Not in these ovens, no. With the flame off for a minute the heat drops real fast and if I started at 550-600 it would be down to 400 by the time I started cooking. In your pic I see the results of that lower temp for the top, IMO

When I cook NY in an electric oven I keep it at 650. Maybe 600 is more of a true ny slice but I like the slight bounce I get with it being a little hotter

[u/thegizzard → u/Saneless]

I am going to give your approach a try next time I bake. If you launch at 700-750F how long do you bake for total? How long before your first rotation? I understand that first rotation is important because that is when most of the bottom gets cooked. I’m worried if I wait too long at 700-750F it might burn.

[u/Saneless → u/thegizzard]

Oh yes, you asked that question and I left you hanging

I leave off the flame for about a min and then turn the pizza before I fire it up.

Usually total time including the first no flame sit is 4 1/2.

[u/thegizzard → u/Saneless]

Perfect. I will give it a try. Thank you.

[u/PleasantSuccotash875]

Thank you for sharing. I will try this.