How to Make Pizzas Hot Without Burning? 12 Effective Ways

Some things simply happen to ruin our moods. And a burnt pizza with black cheese will surely go on top. All our efforts just go to waste.

It’s not always easy to understand what you did wrong. But you do want to prevent burnt cheese pizza at any cost. So, try to find the problems first, then the solution. 

Cheese may burn on pizzas if the temperature is too high, the oven isn’t preheated, or you use a lot of toppings and shredded cheese. So, avoid these steps and use a pizza stone to keep the cheese from burning. In addition, know the right ways to bake pizzas depending on the type and oven settings.

There is still a lot to learn about making pizzas. Continue to read and find other possible reasons for your pizza to burn, some precautionary steps, and tips on cleaning pans.

Why Do You Have Burnt Pizza Cheese?

Pizza cheese burns before the crust are done; why? Well, it may happen faster or slower, depending on the cheese. Besides, several other reasons may cause the mishap.

1. High Temperature

Let’s address the most commonly thought problem. You might have given a little too high a temperature for baking. The heat might not spread out evenly in the oven.

This means that if the pizza is on the top rack and the temperature is too high, the cheese will burn even before the pizza is done.

2. Improper Preheating of Pizza Stone

In case you use a pizza stone with incorrect heat, it might be a problem. It can burn the cheese. It also means that you didn’t preheat the stone nicely. So, only the top will cook faster when the pizza is tossed on the stone.

3. Wrong Cheese

This is an unexpected reason for most of us. Mozzarella is always the right one for pizzas. It has fewer preservatives but higher fat content. You will have lesser cases of cheese burning by using mozzarella instead of low-fat ones. Better to use pizza mozzarella.

4. Shredded Cheese instead of Diced

Shredded cheese is easier to melt, but this can also heat and burn faster. Instead, medium chunks will melt slowly, so even with a high temperature, they can’t burn.

5. Pizza Not Baked on Pizza Stone

Unfortunately, any other medium, like pans, screens, or baking sheets for baking instead of a pizza stone, can burn your cheese. When the heat isn’t reaching the bottom, it burns the cheese on top. In such cases, we usually raise the temperature to prevent the pizza from being undercooked. It is what ruins everything.

6. Dry Dough

Last but not least, your dough might not be made greasy enough. When it sticks to the pan surface, the cheese also reaches the areas. We also have a burnt pizza bottom. Besides, high heat can absorb the fat and oil from pizzas which can dry them and cause cheese and the crust to have burnt spots.

How To Keep Cheese From Burning On Pizza:12 Effective Ways

Now it’s time to make amends. The right ways of baking can only offer a great pizza on a pan. You don’t have to do a lot for that, either.

1. High-Quality Mozarrella

You need high-quality cheese for your pizza, preferably mozzarella. In the case of fresh mozzarella, it already has low moisture. But for regular ones, you must dry them by straining them before use.

2. Parmesan Or Ricotta

Other than mozzarella, a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese can help, too, since it has a high melting point. So, it will cook slowly and cover the other cheese and pizza toppings from burning.

Another one is ricotta which is a creamy cheese. It also has a protein to make it heat resistant. So, a high temperature by mistake won’t cause much harm.

3. Small Chunky Cheese

Try to use diced or small chunks of cheese rather than shredded ones, regardless of the type of cheese used.

4. Preheated Oven

Never forget to preheat your oven before baking. It would allow heat to spread uniformly to cook from all sides. Otherwise, it will cook on one side, usually the top, and burn the cheese.

5. The Right Temperature

While preheating, don’t use a high temperature for cooking pizzas. Burning is inevitable if it’s beyond the usual range or the oven has high power. Know the appropriate temperature, depending on the oven and the thickness of the pizza.

If a high temperature is used, cook for a shorter time. Better to have undercooked pizza than to have it burnt. You can easily increase the time gradually to finish cooking.

Slow cooking will also melt the cheese slowly to prevent burning.

6. Proper Placement Of Cheese

Always put cheese in the center, not the edges. The edges cook faster and turn crispier, so the cheese on the sides burns quickly.

7. Aluminum foil

Use a foil sheet for baking with the pan. Aluminum foil reflects heat while ensuring the right temperature for cooking. So the cheese doesn’t burn.

8. Toppings Size

You want all your favorite toppings at once, but this isn’t good. The cheese will sink within the toppings and cook unevenly. You won’t notice that it’s burnt from overcooking. In addition, cut the ingredients into small pieces for toppings.

9. Pizza Stone

It’s best to use a pizza stone for baking rather than the finest pizza pan in the market. The pizza stone, if appropriately heated, cooks the pizza evenly. So it gets easier to prevent any burning.

10. The Right Flour

All-purpose flour works but isn’t very effective. You need the right flour to make the pizza soft and chewy. If the dough can retain air from rising, it will prevent the cheese from burning. In addition, make a thin crust with 00 flour or pizza flour. The lighter texture needs less heat to cook.

11. The Right Greasing

A nonstick cooking spray has its benefits, but not for pizzas. It’s not effective to prevent the pizza from burning, let alone sticking to the pan. So, use either butter or a little cooking oil for greasing. But the best is olive oil. It will offer enough grease to prevent the cheese from burning. Besides, your pizza won’t get dry or cook faster from the heat.

But most importantly, continually monitor the baking. It’s only a few minutes of waiting and observing. Doing this will help check whether the pizza is overcooking or not cooking at all. 

How to Fix a Burnt Cheese Pizza?

Worst comes the worst; you couldn’t avoid burning cheese. But you don’t have to throw it away. What you can do now is take and knife and start scraping carefully. Usually, the whole thing doesn’t burn at once. So, cut off the burnt cheese.

If the burn is barely noticeable, add more sauce, a favorite drizzle, or another topping to cover it up. It will also hide the burnt taste.

But you need to scrape off the entire thing for the highly burnt pizza where the cheese is all brown or black. Then add the cheese again, and cook slowly at a low temperature.

Why does the Crust Burn?

Another common burning incident is with the crust. It can happen for 3 reasons.

• Too much oil or sugar in the dough
• Excess flour used on the pan to avoid sticking
• The dough is cold, so it heats up faster.

So, to avoid your crust from burning, control the proportion of oil, sugar, salt, and flour. Let your dough become room temperature before use. When the crust burns, it can also affect the cheese on top sometimes. 

How to Avoid Cheese Burning in Fire-wood Ovens?

Sadly, it’s harder to control a firewood oven than an electric oven at home, but not impossible. All you need to do is practice and maintain a temperature balance.

• Firstly, make the floor hot by starting a fire in the middle. It’s best if the oven is dome-shaped to spread heat all over.
• Try to check the temperature before placing the pizza.
• Use a pizza peel to turn your pizza halfway through.
• Don’t bake your pizza by placing it on one side only.
• Keep checking the oven bottom to avoid burning the crust.

Temperature Guideline for Melting Cheese

Checks out the proper temperature range for cooking your pizza, depending on the cheese. It can avoid any burning issues.

How to Clean a Pizza Stone Burnt? Some Cleaning Tricks

When your cheese is burnt, the pizza is ruined, and you also have a hard time with the pans. So, try out some effective tips to learn ‘how to clean burnt pizza stones.’

• Whether a pan or a stone, add a little water to cover the area. Let it sit for some time to make the surface wet. 
• Use a spatula or knife to scrape off the burnt bits. You can also use a brush to remove stains and particles. 
• When the burnt parts are removed, use your regular dishwasher or a dishwasher tablet to clean the pans thoroughly.
• Wipe off the pizza stone or pan with a damp rag and let it air dry completely.
• You can also put them into the oven to dry with heat.

Homemade Cleaning Agents

You can make some strong cleaning agents at home for cleaning tough stains on burnt pans or stones.

FAQ’s;

• Is your pizza burnt or charred?

Sometimes, the pizza has brown spots on the cheese layer or the crust edges. It happens when the sugar in the dough is caramelized, as in Neopolitan pizzas. It tastes a little savory and also bitter, but still edible. Burnt pizza is almost black in areas and unedible.

• Can eating burnt pizza or the edges cause any problems?

A burnt pizza, either the edges or the cheese, isn’t safe to eat. It can cause different health risks. Sometimes, the burnt parts can have certain chemicals that increase cancer risk.

• How long does it take for the cheese to become brown while baking?

Although this is variable according to different cheese and the oven power, usually it is after 15 minutes. The baking temperature shouldn’t be higher than 450 F. When you bake for longer, there is the risk of cheese burning. 

The Bottom Line

Why does my pizza cheese burn?

Burnt pizza cheese is indeed heartbreaking. Not only do we ruin a meal, but this can also cause other risks. Cheese can burn for several reasons, but it isn’t impossible to prevent them. All we have to do is control the baking process as much as possible and monitor it. 

This accident will become less common in the kitchen as we practice making pizzas. So, be aware of the simple precautions, so your pizza doesn’t become a health hazard.