Pizza Peels: Wood or Metal?

A commercial pizza peel is necessary for any establishment with pizza on its menu, from Italian restaurants to specialty pizzerias using wood-fired ovens. Pizza peels are designed with round or pentagonal paddles attached to long or short handles, but operators in search of new peels will have more to consider than the diameter of the blade and length of the handle. That's because pizza peels are made of wood or metal, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, each type of pizza peel is also recommended for different stages of the pizza-making process, so operators may want to keep both metal and wooden pizza peels in their kitchens. Learn about the differences between these pizza peels and when to use each below.

Metal vs. Wooden Pizza Peels

The primary difference between metal and wooden pizza peels is the amount of maintenance each type requires. Most manufacturers caution against washing and sanitizing either in a dishwasher. Like other commercial foodservice products made of wood, wooden pizza peels should periodically be maintained with food-safe oils to ensure their surfaces remain sealed. While metal peels may eventually become dented or scratched through heavy use, wooden peels exposed to too much heat and moisture are at risk of cracking, splitting, and warping.

Because dough is less likely to stick to wood than metal, wooden pizza peels are usually a chef's best option for transferring unbaked dough into the oven. Pizzas can also be prepared on wooden pizza peels, eliminating the need to transfer the prepared pizza to the peel from a counter or other prep surface. If the pizza needs to be moved around in the oven, it may be best to switch to a metal pizza peel, which is more resistant to high temperatures.

Metal pizza peels are usually made out of aluminum and are generally the best option for retrieving baked pizzas from the oven. The paddles on these peels are thinner than their wooden counterparts, allowing them to more easily slip under pizza crusts. Although most commercial pizza peels with aluminum paddles have wooden handles to provide chefs with a more comfortable grip, peels made entirely of metal are also available.

If your health department does not allow the use of traditional wooden pizza peels, some manufacturers offer pressed pizza peels created from wood or paper composite materials, rather than raw lumber. These typically can also be safely cleaned in commercial dishwashers, which can be a significant advantage over metal and wood peels. Not all of these pressed materials are resistant to the high temperatures at which pizzas are cooked, which can mean they should not be used in the oven. However, they are popular for serving pizza and a host of other foods, from appetizers to desserts.