Pan Pizza VS Hand Tossed: Here’s A Difference

Hand-tossed pizza and pan pizza are both popular types of pizza, but their preparation results in a different type of pizza crust. 

The crust on hand-tossed pizzas is thinner, whereas the crust on pan pizzas is thicker and chewier.

The hand-tossing pizza tends to pop the air bubbles in the dough, the pan pizza vs hand-tossed crust has fewer bubbles and doesn’t rise as much as a pan pizza crust.

The pan dough is stronger, and because there is no room for expansion, the pizza is fluffier. Pan crust, also known as deep-dish pizza, has a thicker and fluff-covered crust than the hand-made pan vs hand-tossed pizza, which has a flatter and crispier crust.

The crust on a hand-tossed pizza is thinner; it cannot accommodate as many toppings. There is only a thin layer of cheese and one or two other toppings. The crust will not be as greasy as a pan pizza.

The oil has made the crust of the pizza thick and golden brown. It can withstand a heavy load of toppings, which typically include a thick three-cheese blend.

The handmade pan pizza vs hand-tossed pizza is in high demand among pizza lovers. 

Hand-Tossed Pizza Vs Pan Pizza: What’s The Difference?

  • Thinner crust: Hand-tossed pizzas have a thinner crust, whereas pan pizzas have a thicker, chewy crust. The hand-tossing a pizza tends to pop the air bubbles in the dough 
  • Create pan pizza crust: The hand-tossed crust has fewer bubbles and doesn’t rise as much as a pan pizza crust. The fluffy texture of the pan pizza crust is similar to that of focaccia.
  • The essential texture of the pizza crusts: The crust on both pizzas is crispy. Because the crust is essentially fried in oil in the oven, pan pizza crusts are crunchier and more golden. 
  • Blended cheese with mozzarella: Although hand-tossed pizza can be crispy, it is drier and softer than pan pizza. Pan pizza can withstand a cheese blend of mozzarella, white cheddar, provolone, asiago, and fontina.
  • Thicker crust with toppings: Pan pizza’s crust is thicker and can hold more toppings. A hand-tossed pizza, for example, typically contains one type of cheese, mozzarella. 

What Is A Pan Pizza?

pan pizza vs hand tossed

Pan pizza is made by baking it in a cast-iron skillet or a cake pan, resulting in a thick-crust pizza.

A cast-iron pan is used to make Chicago-style pizza, also known as deep-dish pizza and Detroit-style pizza. Hand-tossed pizza is tossed in the air! 

How To Make A Pan Pizza

  • Grease the pan and the dough: Vegetable or olive oil at the bottom of the cast-iron skillet or baking sheet. Oil a ball of pizza dough before placing it on the pan.
  • Roll out the dough: Spread the dough with your fingers until it completely covers the button and sides of the pan.
  • Add your desired toppings: The pizza dough can then be topped with tomato sauce, cheese, vegetables, pepperoni, oregano, and any other toppings you desire.
  • Put your pan pizza in the oven: Preheat the oven to 500°F and bake the pizza for 25-35 minutes, or until the toppings are brown and bubbly and the crust is crispy and golden brown.

What Is A Hand-Tossed Pizza?

A hand-tossed pizza is stretched by tossing the dough in the air. After hand tossing, the pizza is baked on a slab in a hot oven.

The technique produces thin-crust pizza, such as New York-style, Brooklyn-style, and traditional Italian pizza. 

How To Make A Hand-Tossed Pizza

pan pizza vs hand tossed

  • It is best to prepare the dough for the pizza. Make the pizza dough ball with the flour on it and then flatten the ball. 
  • Make the pizza dough by kneading it. Work the dough gently with your fingertips, stretching it out to about the size of your hand. 
  • Squeeze the dough on the outside edges to form a crust around the perimeter of the dough.
  • Toss the pizza by hand. To the dough ball, add flour. Pick up the dough, place it on the back of your hands, and toss it upward. Catch the dough with your fists after it rotates.
  • Repeat until the dough is thin and about 12 inches. Next, top with pepperoni, vegetables, oregano, or any other toppings you prefer.
  • Add the garnishes. When the dough is thin enough, return it to the work surface and top with the pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. 
  • Place the pizza in the oven. It is best to move in the pizza and then use it by using the pizza on the peel immediately. 
  • A baking sheet is best and can also be used to place the pizza in the oven. 
  • There are multiple niches of professionals who help to bake pizzas on the stone of the pizza and also on the steel. 
  • Cook your pizza in low flame. Bake at 500°F for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pizza dough. It is puffy and slightly brown.

What Is Better, Hand-Tossed Or Pan Pizza?

The crust is essentially fried in oil in the oven, pan pizza crusts are crunchier and more golden. Although hand-tossed pizza can be crispy, it is drier and softer than pan pizza. 

Point Of Differences: Hand-Tossed Pan Pizza And Regular-Size Pizza

  • Hand-tossed pizza is highly baked at 500°F for 10 to 15 minutes, while pan pizza is baked at a higher temperature for about 15 minutes. 
  • A whole crust of wheat when topped with onion and cheese tastes better (1 inch)  
  • The tossing action bursts air bubbles in the dough, reducing its rise in the oven; hand-tossed pizzas are thin and also of medium crust. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Whose pizza is better – Domino’s or Pizza Hut?

A1.  While Domino has a better taste, Pizza Hut has much larger portions for the same price. Domino’s pizzas are limited to 13.5 inches. Pizza Hut offers 14-inch pizzas in a variety of styles. 

Q2What makes hand-tossed pizza better than pin-rolled pizza?

A2. In most cases, rolling out pizza dough with a rolling pin produces a poorer crust than stretching it out by hand. 

Q3. What Domino’s Pizza crust is the best?

A3. It all comes down to personal preference. However, if you enjoy cheese, we recommend the cheese burst crust.