Pizza is known as a greasy delicacy, and let’s face it, we can’t get enough of its greasy deliciousness. That doesn’t mean you want your pizza dripping with grease, though. That might leave you with a bellyache (and a stain on your t-shirt that just won’t give up).
But what makes pizza so greasy, and how can you fix it?
Pizza is greasy because the dough is fatty, and the toppings, including the sauce, cheese, meat, and vegetables, contain fatty elements that pool during the baking process. You can reduce the grease level by using low-fat cheese, pre-cooking meats, baking thin crust at a higher temp, and kneading the dough properly.
Well, hello, there! My name’s Michelle, and I am a self-taught baker and avid pizza connoisseur. No, seriously – we ate pizza way too much in this household. Honestly, though, how much is too much? Nobody can put a number on that!
I make pizzas regularly and have discovered how to reduce the greasiness. Let me show you how!
Contents
What Makes Pizza Greasy?
The simple answer to this question is everything.
Firstly, you have the pizza dough loaded with fatty elements.
Then, you have the sauce and cheese, which are also riddled with fat (especially the cheese!).
Lastly, you have the other optional toppings – meats and vegetables. Yes, it’s true that meat – namely pepperoni, sausage, and other high-fat meats – will create the most grease. But vegetables have their own minute amount of fat that will be released while baking.
While baking, all of these ingredients will release some of their fatty content, which appears as grease on your pizza.
How to Fix an Overly Greasy Pizza (10 Tricks)
As much as I love a greasy pizza, there is such a thing as being too greasy. If you continuously find yourself with a greasy disaster rather than a yummy slice of pizza, you need to know how to fix it.
Here are my top solutions for fixing an overly greasy pizza.
1. Use Low-Fat Cheeses
If you’re anything like me, you’ll agree that the cheese is the best part of any pizza – and the more, the better. However, cheese is also the main culprit for excessive grease.
Does that mean you should leave the cheese out altogether?
Uh, no way. Instead, opt for a low-fat cheese option, such as mozzarella, provolone, or parmesan. (Trust me – these three cheese types taste incredible atop any pizza!)
2. Pre-Cook the Meats
I have yet to meet a soul that doesn’t love bacon. It’s loaded with flavor, crispy, and scrumptious. Oh, and it’s also dripping with grease, which is great if you’re not trying to cut down on the grease level of your pizza.
Again, this doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to picture-perfect pizza toppings like bacon, pepperoni, and other greasy meats; it just means you must cook them beforehand. Otherwise, the grease will release while baking in the oven – and the only place for it to go is on top of your pizza.
Honestly, you should probably be doing this anyway. After all, you don’t want to run the risk of consuming undercooked meat. That’s a quick way to end up on the toilet all night!
3. Ditch Pork Toppings
Pork is delicious. Pork is also greasy. (Look back to the issue with bacon!)
If you really want to cut down on greasiness, consider swapping your pork ingredients for similar ingredients made with different cuts of meat.
For example – try switching pork bacon for turkey bacon. It tastes surprisingly similar, and you won’t have to deal with the high levels of grease. Make sure to cook it before adding it on top of your pizza!
4. Go With a Thin, Crispy Crust
As much as I love deep-dish pizzas, there is no denying that they’re tremendously greasier than crispy, thin-crust pizzas. That’s because the crust is thicker, and there’s more dough. As it cooks, it releases more fat, leading to the notorious grease!
That said if you’re trying to avoid excess grease, opt for a thin and crispy crust instead. There isn’t as much dough, which means there won’t be as much fat or grease.
5. Make Homemade Pizza Sauce
Did you know that store-bought pizza sauces contain a lot of fat? And if we’ve learned anything by now, fat is the root of all evil – well, grease.
With that in mind, one of the best things you can do to reduce the amount of grease is to make homemade pizza sauce.
Homemade pizza sauce is a cinch to make, and it comes with two spectacular benefits:
- Your pizza won’t be as greasy, and
- It will taste so much better
6. Bake at a Higher Temperature
There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding the right temperature to bake a pizza. But what I have found is that the higher, the better. Not only will your pizza come out with the perfect texture, but it won’t be riddled with grease, either.
So what temperature is best?
Basically, the best temp to bake a pizza is as high as your oven will go. For some, that could mean 450F. For others, it means 550F. Don’t be afraid to rev up your range that high. It’s designed to reach that temperature, and nothing terrible will happen to you or your oven.
7. Don’t Overdo The Oil
Just about every pizza dough recipe you find will have some amount of oil. That’s fine and all, but what is one of the most significant factors of grease?
Oil.
That said, I encourage you to follow your recipe closely. Don’t add extra oil. There is no need for it, and you’ll end up with way too much grease.
8. Ensure It’s Properly Kneaded
Let me fill you in on a secret – nobody actually likes kneading pizza dough. It’s time-consuming, and you’ll most likely be left with a sore muscle or two by the end of it. Yet, it’s 100% important for the success of your pizza.
This is especially true when it comes to overly greasy pizzas. The wet and dry ingredients will not incorporate if they are not kneaded correctly. This can quickly leave you with moist pizza that feels greasy and gross.
Make sure you knead your pizza correctly before baking it.
9. Move to a Clean Surface After Baking
I’m a big fan of my pizza stone. And honestly, I think it’s a game-changer. (Although you can be successful using a pizza stone substitute, too!)
However, while the pizza stone is a must while baking your pizza, it shouldn’t be used after baking. That’s because all the oils and fats will sit underneath your pizza. If you don’t move it, it will continue to soak.
Allow your pizza to cool on the pizza stone (or alternative surface) for a couple of minutes. Then, move it to a clean surface. This will help reduce how much grease is on your pizza slices.
10. Don’t Overdo it on the Toppings
Listen, I love toppings on my pizza as much as the next person. But too many toppings may lead to your downfall, especially if you’re trying to avoid grease.
Unless you don’t mind grease, it’s best to limit how many toppings you’re layering on your pizza. You should also refrain from using high-fat elements like pepperoni, bacon, etc. Limit how much cheese and sauce you add to your crust, too.
FAQs
Pizza will be greasy, and there’s really no way around that. At least now you can cut down on some greasiness, though. Oh, and here are a few frequently asked questions that might interest you. Let’s keep learning, everyone!
Does blotting grease off pizza help?
If you have already baked your pizza and want to get rid of some grease, use a napkin or paper towel to blot it off. This will help to reduce some of the overall greasiness of your pizza. Also, it will reduce the fat and calorie content, which may benefit some.
Does dabbing grease off pizza make it healthier?
While it might not seem like you’re doing anything groundbreaking, dabbing grease off the pizza with a napkin or paper towel makes it somewhat healthier. That’s because you’re removing some of the excess fat, which in turn, reduces the calorie content.
Why is Pizza Hut pizza so greasy?
Pizza Hut is one of my favorite pizza chains, and I love it because it’s so greasy! The excessive greasiness is all thanks to the high amount of cheese and toppings on the pizza. Also, the oil used in crafting the pizza dough. The thicker crusts are also greasier.
Pizza is Greasy, But It Doesn’t Have to be Overly Greasy!
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to cut down on the greasiness of your pizza. However, always remember that there will always be some grease from the dough, sauce, and cheese.
Do you like greasy pizza, or do you prefer less greasy varieties? Do you have any tips to add?
About Michelle