10 Tools That Will Help You Make Your Best Pizza Ever

Making pizza at home is a rewarding experience and it's even more fun when you have the right tools. Whether you prefer a red or white pizza, vegetarian or meat lover's, these products will help you become a pizza pro in your home kitchen.

If you're making pizza dough at home instead of opting for store-bought, a few tools will help you to create smooth dough that isn't overworked or underworked. Use a sturdy stainless steel mixing bowl for kneading the dough by hand, then cover with a dish towel to help the dough rise. Or invest in a bread hook if you're making pizza dough in a stand mixer; it's both more efficient and effective at kneading dough than a regular paddle, or your own two hands.

One of the most essential tools for making pizza at home is a pizza stone. Made of either ceramic or clay, these heavy-duty stones can be used in an oven or on top of a grill to make restaurant-quality pizza in a home kitchen. They help to create an even, golden-brown crust that's crunchy on the outside and light and airy on the inside. To easily transfer the pizza to and from the oven, purchase a wooden pizza peel as well. In addition to moving the finished pizza from the counter to the hot pizza stone—and back again—choose an attractive one and you can serve the pie right on it.

And what's a perfect pie without delicious toppings? Use full-fat mozzarella, a combination of dried and fresh herbs including oregano and basil, and good-quality marinara sauce for a bite that will transport you straight to Naples. From here, the options are endless and the pizza party can get started!

If you own one tool and one tool only for making pizza at home, it should be a pizza stone. Generally made of ceramic or clay, bake homemade pizza right on top of this tool, which helps to create a crispy, golden-brown crust—no brick oven required!

Shop Now: Emile Henry Pizza Stone, $50, bloomingdales.com.

A two-in-one tool that's an absolute essential for both making and serving pizza. Prepare the pizza on this stunning wooden pizza peel and use it to transport the pie to and from the oven. Then serve the final product right on the peel so everyone at the table can grab a slice.

Shop Now: Acacia Pizza Peel, $34.95, crateandbarrel.com.

Elevate pizza night with this ergonomic cutting tool. A razor-sharp, shiny stainless steel blade is attached to a smooth walnut handle for easy cutting.

Shop Now: Walnut-Handled Pizza Wheel, $29.95, williams-sonoma.com.

If you're making pizza dough in a stand mixer, use a bread hook attachment to knead the dough, instead of doing it by hand. The "C" shaped hook works by pushing the dough off the bowl to work the glutens. This method is faster than kneading by hand and the result is more even.

Shop Now: KitchenAid Bread Hook, $15.99, bedbathandbeyond.com.

Starting from scratch? Start your collection of pizza tools with this dynamic duo—Emile Henry's signature pizza stone and wooden pizza peel all-in-one smart set. It also makes a great gift for the pizza lover in your life.

Shop Now: Emile Henry Charcoal Pizza Set, $80, food52.com.

While this pan works for making homemade pizza, we especially love it for reheating leftovers because it helps slices retain their crisp, crunchy crust. A perforated surface helps steam to escape and the nonstick coating makes for easier-than-ever clean-up.

Shop Now: Nonstick Pizza Crisper, $29.95, williams-sonoma.com.

One thing that can distinguish a good pizza from a great one is the sauce. We constantly turn to Rao's anytime we want to use store-bought marinara sauce. It's fatty, flavorful, and the perfect canvas for toppings galore.

Shop Now: Rao's Marinara Sauce, $7.69, target.com.

If you don't have a full-sized oven or lack kitchen storage space, then a heavy ceramic pizza stone may not be the right tool for you. Instead, try this nonstick silicone mat, which you can place on a baking sheet for the pizza to bake on.

Shop Now: Silpat Perfect Pizza Mat, $20, surlatable.com.

Prefer to make pizza by hand? Invest in a good-quality, stainless-steel mixing bowl. It's heavy duty, all-purpose, and versatile with endless uses after the pizza party has commenced.

Shop Now: Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl, from $19.95, williams-sonoma.com.

Once you've finished kneading the dough, let it rest in a covered bowl to rise. We like using dish towels, which are more eco-friendly than plastic wrap, to keep the dough warm and moist. And this classic red and white striped design looks like it came straight from Naples.

Shop Now: Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels, $19.95 for four, wiliams-sonoma.com.