Need to cut pizza without a pizza cutter? A sharp knife is key. Any sharp cutting tool, like a large chef’s knife, butcher’s knife, or small paring knife, can create clean slices.
Lacking a pizza slicer? Several kitchen tools can get the job done! Discover how to maximize available utensils and cut pizza evenly without damaging toppings or crust texture!
In This Article
How To Cut Pizza Without A Pizza Cutter
Different pizza cutters make slicing equal portions a breeze. While they reduce effort, cutting a fantastic homemade pizza isn’t hard!
Success lies in a sharp blade, so choose any cutting knife or tool at home to achieve your goal.
Explore classic options and understand how they function for perfect pizza slicing.
Pizza Wheel
The pizza wheel, an iconic cutting tool, is now synonymous with freshly baked pizzas. It’s an excellent, efficient choice for professional pizza makers and home cooks alike.
The original pizza wheel, patented in 1892, quickly gained widespread recognition due to its convenience and popularity among pizza chefs.
A pizza wheel features a rotating wheel-like blade attached to a handle. Simply press down on the pizza and glide it across to create thin slices!
Minimalist pizza wheels eliminate the handle in favor of a side grip, resulting in a large circular blade used similarly to the handled version. However, the handled variant offers more control and stability.
While useful in professional settings, pizza wheels can be tricky to maneuver, particularly with long handles, and challenging to store. As most households don’t eat pizza regularly and numerous alternatives exist for home pizza cutting, investing in this specialized tool may not be the best option for infrequent users.
Pizza Rocker Blade
The crescent-shaped rocking pizza cutter is a popular alternative to the traditional pizza wheel.
Typically used by pizza makers, this cutter efficiently slices large, deep pizzas in seconds with its smooth rocking motion, reducing the risk of mistakes.
This versatile pizza cutter can handle any round pizza and is ideal for deep-dish pizzas that demand a larger blade.
Commonly found in commercial settings where multiple pizzas are cut simultaneously, the rocking blade comes in various designs. However, as expected, this cutter takes up more space than its pizza wheel counterpart.
Alternate Ways For Cutting Pizza
Here are a few of the most common cutting tools you could cut pizzas with at home!
Scissors
Using scissors to cut pizza is not uncommon, and it’s even a popular method in Italy, pizza’s birthplace!
Cutting round pizzas with scissors is surprisingly efficient and practical.
Scissors offer enhanced control and can slice through toppings without displacing them, unlike pizza wheels or other blades.
The scissor blade quickly cuts through pizza crust, vegetables, and meats. The best part is that you can use nearly any type of scissors to cut pizza.
For evenly cut slices, opt for a sturdier pair of scissors that provide a better grip and height.
Avoid using small scissors, as they may create a mess or smear sauce on your hands.
When employing this technique, we recommend using heat-resistant gloves since you’ll need to hold the hot pizza with one hand while cutting with the other.
Chef’s Knife
A versatile kitchen knife, the chef’s knife, can be a handy tool for cutting pizzas too!
Chef’s knives work well for slicing equal portions of various pizza types.
Their height and precision allow for effortless cutting of deep-dish, hand-tossed, or classic thin-crust pizzas.
This method is ideal for oven-baked pizzas; the hot ingredients are easily cut with a single swipe of the blade.
For thicker crusts, gently saw the edges using a back-and-forth motion. Once the slit is made, proceed with the same method for the rest of the pizza.
Some chef’s knives have a slight curve; adjust your cutting technique accordingly. Curved knives may require a rocking motion to slice through toppings and crust!
Butcher’s Knife
Though not commonly found in households, a butcher’s knife can be used for chopping small-sized pizzas.
Cutting larger pizzas with a butcher’s knife can be challenging, but it’s still possible using sequential slicing.
Employ a rocking motion with the butcher’s knife for personal-sized pizzas, similar to a classic crescent knife!
Paring Knife
In the absence of other tools, a well-made paring knife can also be used to cut pizzas.
Though there are some limitations, a paring knife is a viable option for smaller crusts and pies.
With the right technique, it offers control and precision, gliding effortlessly over the pizza without displacing toppings.
Sharpen your blade first, ensuring it can easily slice through tough ingredients. Place the tip of the blade on the crust, angled at 45 degrees, and slide it down. Repeat on the opposite side for evenly-sized slices.
Avoid using a paring knife to slice through the entire pizza, as it could damage the crust’s texture and displace toppings.
Cutting Cold Vs Warm Pizzas
Pizzas usually don’t need cutting before baking. In some cases, pre-cutting is possible, especially with commercial pizza dough and frozen pizzas.
Frozen pizzas are easy to cut and less messy since there’s no melted cheese or other toppings to contend with. Any knife can handle cutting frozen pizzas!
However, be aware that pre-cutting pizzas can sometimes lead to a mess, as cheese may ooze out onto the sides.
We don’t advise cutting homemade crusts before baking for the same reason. As the crust expands, toppings may become displaced or even fall off the slices!
Generally, it’s best to cut pizzas using the recommended tools. If you lack these tools, consider cutting warm pizza once it has cooled down.
Read also: Can You Refreeze Frozen Pizza?
FAQs
Can You Cut A Pizza Using A Dough Cutter?
While the dough knife might not have a sharp edge, it can work in some situations. You could experiment with a dough cutter for Neapolitan and thin crust pizzas. If you can use a dough cutter with a tapered edge, you can employ a rolling motion or a straight downward motion to evenly cut the slices.
Should You Allow Oven Hot Pizza To Rest Before Cutting It?
Indeed, allowing the pizza to rest on the counter at room temperature for 3-4 minutes is advisable, as it lets the cheese meld with the crust. This not only minimizes the chances of cheese sliding off but also helps secure the other toppings, making it easier to cut without compromising the pizza’s flavor.
