LESSON #8

CUTTING THE PIZZA

DO NOT CUT or SLICE THE PIZZA WHILE STILL IN THE PAN! Once your pizza is done, remove it from the oven and place it on a cooling rack, (still in the pan), to cool and "set" for a couple of minutes.

CAUTION: The melted cheese retains heat longer than the other contents, and can cause severe burns to hands, lips and tongue if handled too soon! Once the pizza has set and cooled, the pizza will easily slide out of the pan. Securely grab an edge of the crust and slide the whole pizza on to a cutting board.

Cut the pizza with a large bread knife, serrated knife, or mezzaluna, (a moon-shaped, double-handled knife made especially for cutting pizza). A 12" pizza will yield 8 equal slices. A 9" pizza is usually cut into 6 slices. A 16" pizza can be cut in 10 slices.

Now, you can return the pizza slices to the pan for serving or place the slices on individual serving plates. Always use a plastic spatula or other plastic serving utensil when removing/serving pizza from the pans. Metal utensils may leave unnecessary marks or scars on the baking surface.