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hand tossed pizza in Hickory

Qualities Of The Best Hand Tossed Pizza In Hickory

Pizza is one of the most adaptable meals. Change one component, and you get an entirely new flavor profile. Although regional areas may prefer different variations, NY style remains the undisputable favorite. When searching for the best hand tossed pizza in Hickory, visit Mario’s Pizza.

Crust: A Pizza’s Foundation

Often, chefs like to experiment with the pizza’s crust. With 1 or 2 simple alterations, the texture, flavor, and appearance can change:

  1. Ingredients

Basic pizza dough requires 4 simple ingredients:

  • High gluten flour
  • Warm water
  • Yeast
  • Salt

However, some chefs add additional ingredients to improve the construction and enhance the taste. The 2 most common are sugar and olive oil.

  1. Hydration

The water-to-flour ratio affects the dough’s elasticity, stickiness, and rise. It also changes the final product. Lower hydration produces a firm, crispy crust, while higher ratios of water make a light and airy crust.

  1. Fermentation

During this process, yeast and bacteria break down carbohydrates, producing by-products that enhance flavor. The perfect pizza crust requires a balanced fermentation time to create the best flavor without compromising usability.

  1. Hand Tossing Pizza Dough

Using this method for shaping allows some air to remain in the dough. This results in a crispy exterior with a soft, chewy interior.

  1. Cooking Method

The pizza’s oven temperature and baking time significantly affect the final product. A short baking time at extremely high heat (900 degrees) causes fast moisture evaporation. This results in a crispy exterior with a soft, airy inside. Neapolitan is an example of this type of baking.

In contrast, a longer cooking time at a lower heat (500 degrees) allows for slower moisture evaporation. The crust is denser and drier with a crispy exterior and a chewy interior. This baking method produces the iconic NY style pizza.

Hand Tossed Pizza Variations

As the foundation of the pizza pie, each stage is a critical process in creating the perfect crust. While shaping may seem like an insignificant step, the technique affects the final texture. Generally, cooks can stretch pizza dough balls by one of the following methods:

  • Rolling pin
  • Fingertip pressing
  • Countertop stretching
  • Hand tossing

Ultimately, the goal of dough stretching is to shape it evenly while keeping the air inside. A properly stretched dough bakes uniformly, with a light, airy crust. Some methods, such as using a rolling pin, release too much gas, resulting in a tough crust.

Hand tossing pizza dough is the best way to form a good crust – light and soft, yet crispy. Although NY style is the most well-known hand tossed pizza crust, several other variations exist:

  1. Neapolitan

Baked at a high temperature, this pizza has a soft, airy, and slightly charred crust. The sauce is simple, just tomatoes and salt, topped with fresh mozzarella.

  1. Brooklyn

Cousins to NY style, pizzeria chefs stretch the dough thinner for a crispier crust. Then, they sprinkle the bottom of the crust with cornmeal for a distinctively crunchy texture.

  1. California

This pizza crust is somewhere between a Neapolitan and a Brooklyn style. Typically, chefs bake it in a wood-fired oven at a temperature comparable to NY style. Some diners describe it as puffy like Neapolitan, but with the chew of NY style.

However, the toppings are usually locally sourced, and boldly innovative ingredients. Some examples include arugula, goat cheese, kale, figs, or duck sausage.

Although these different styles are a pleasant variation, the undeniable ruler of pizza is New York style. America’s favorite consists of melted mozzarella cheese on top of sweet, tangy tomato sauce, all held by a foldable crust.

Best Hand Tossed Pizza In Hickory

One of the best places to get delicious, NY style pizza is right here in North Carolina at Tony’s Pizza. Originally from Brooklyn, three Italian brothers wanted to bring a taste of Italy to the south. As their pizzeria’s popularity grew, so did their restaurants and menu offerings.

Today, you’ll find Tony’s at these locations:

Furthermore, in addition to pizza, we also offer these delicious options:

  • Salads
  • Wings
  • Garlic knots
  • Cheesy/plain garlic bread
  • Toasted ravioli
  • Sub sandwiches
  • Calzones
  • Strombolis
  • Bakes ziti
  • Lasagna
  • Eggplant/chicken parmigiana
  • And more!

FAQs About Tony’s Pizza

Want to learn more about our Italian restaurants? Below, we provide some additional information.

Do You Have A Kids’ Menu?

Absolutely! As a family-friendly restaurant, we offer smaller, cost-effective portions of young diners’ favorite foods. Of course, we prepare kids’ meals with the same commitment to quality as all our menu items.

What Is The Best Way To Save Money At Tony’s?

First, check out our luncheon and daily specials. Also, you can join our free loyalty program to earn points on all purchases at our restaurants. Once you accumulate 50 points, you earn a $5 credit.

Which Pizzeria Has The Best Hand Tossed Pizza In Hickory?

Of course, we think Tony’s Pizza does, but more importantly, so do many of our customers. Here are some comments by our diners:

Best pizza in town hands down!! Native New York are here so this is a big compliment! – Chariese A.

Every time I am near Tony’s, I pop in for a slice. Huge. Hot. Delicious. A great slice of NY style pizza. It’s everything I remember and desire in a local northern pizza shop. Get your pie fix here! Mmmmmm. – Peter M.

Are you ready to try the best hand tossed pizza in Hickory? Our team is ready to toss your dough! Call our Hickory location at (828) 327-6636 and order yours now.

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