The Best Pizza Dough

INGREDIENTS

• 1 2/3 cups 

  warm water (about 100ºF)

• 1 to 2 teaspoons 

  active dry or instant yeast

• 1/4 cup 

  olive oil

• 5 cups 

  all-purpose flour (about 1 pound, 10 ounces)

• 2 teaspoons 

  fine salt

• INSTRUCTIONS

  1. If you want to use the pizza dough that same day, use 2 teaspoons yeast. If you are going to let the dough rise overnight, use 1 teaspoon yeast.

  2. Mix the water and yeast together in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Let stand for a few minutes until the yeast is dissolved. Stir the oil into the yeast mixture, then add the flour and salt. Mix with a spatula until a shaggy, floury dough is formed.

  3. Knead the dough on low speed with a dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes, or knead by hand on the counter for 6 to 8 minutes. When kneaded, the dough should form a smooth ball, feel smooth to the touch, and spring slowly back when poked.

  4. Use a pastry scraper or knife to cut the dough into 8 (about 5 1/4 ounces each) lumps for small pizzas, or 4 (about 10 1/2 ounces each) for 12-inch pizzas. Grease a baking pan lightly with olive oil or baking spray. Place the dough lumps in the pan and turn them over so they are coated with oil. Cover the pan with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel.

  To Make Pizza the Same Day

  1. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in bulk.

  2. At this point the dough can be used immediately, or refrigerated or frozen for later use.

  3. → How long the dough lasts in the fridge: The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. After that it should be cooked or frozen.

  To Make Pizza the Next Day (or Later)

  1. If you don't need the dough until the next day, place the covered pan immediately in the refrigerator and let it rise slowly overnight or up to 24 hours.

  2. Before making the pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

  3. You can also of course remove just one or two balls of dough and return the remaining dough to the fridge. If removing just part of the dough, prepare a baking sheet or countertop surface by greasing lightly with oil or baking spray. Place the dough balls on top, then cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel while they rise.