Pizza Shovel Buying Guide

Pizza shovels, more formally referred to as pizza peels, are tools for moving your pizza to and from the oven or onto a cooking stone safely. Commonly made of wood or aluminum, they come in a lot of configurations. What you choose is really driven by your needs and preferences.

Some factors to consider include:

• material
• blade size and shape
• handle size

Pizza Shovels/Peels for Home Use

If you're a home chef that's passionate about pizza, a peel is going to make a big difference in your end product. A wooden peel with a short handle is ideal to be topped raw dough. Create your pizza upon it and transfer onto a hot stone easily for a wonderfully crisp crust.

Wood peels are more insulated than their metal counterparts, which helps prevent dough from sticking. That way, your pizza retains its finished presentation.

A shorter handle will also make maneuvering in a tight space easier and more controlled. Those from the line-up by American Metalcraft might be a good choice (don't be fooled by the name; there are wooden varieties). If you need a longer handle or different sizes, consider Lillsun peels. This manufacturer is also a favorite.

Pizza Shovels/Peels for Commercial Use

Peels for use in commercial settings (pizza stores, restaurants, bakeries, etc.) require other considerations. Some are dictated by the needs of the operation; others are purely preference.

Some pizza artists prefer wooden peels all around, but choose a longer handle to reach into a big oven safely and with more flexibility. Blade shape and brand preferences might have developed back when a chef learned to craft pizza, and old habits make for consistently happy customers.

Some prefer wood for getting the raw dough into the oven because it is less likely to stick, and metal for turning and removing the pizza from the oven to prevent damage to the wood. They use both for different reasons.

Others need to take size very seriously to accommodate the larger pies on their menus, or keep a few different sizes on hand. Our selection of Lillsun peels all total 42" tall, but include different blade and handle heights to fit your needs.

Maintenance often is a deciding factor. While wooden peels may require more upkeep, many choose them because the benefits warrant the additional care.

Choosing Your Pizza Shovel

Compared to the cost of other equipment, pizza peels are relatively inexpensive. However, your choice has a big impact on your final product and presentation. If you need help choosing a pizza shovel, are considering an upgrade, or would like a bulk price quote, please feel free to contact us for help. We've been in the business for almost 80 years and have helped our clients serve awesome pizza to satisfied customers, friends, and family for just about as long as we've been around.