The 7 Best Pizza Peels, According to Chefs

Best Overall

Ironwood Gourmet pizza peel

$24 At Amazon

Steven Richard of Paddlefish Restaurant has used the same pizza stone and peel in his home kitchen for over 30 years. He suggests finding a pizza stone of similar size and using them in tandem. The Ironwood Gourmet Napoli Pizza Peel is an excellent choice, crafted from durable, food-grade wood with a smooth, slanted edge for easy sliding.

"When the two tools are the same size, they work together as a team. I can build a pizza that will cover the whole stone right on the peel. With a bit of coarse cornmeal between the peel and the pie, the hardwood peel slides the pizza to the stone without sticking. It has a short handle and can go right to the table as a serving vehicle. The wooden peel is always your friend," says Richard.

• Material: Acacia wood
• Size: 14 inches

Best Value

New Star pizza peel

$29 At Amazon

One of the more popular pizza peels on the market, the New Star Foodservice Restaurant-Grade Wooden Pizza Peel is favored among chefs for its clean design, ease of use, and durability. With a tapered edge and thin body, users can quickly slide it under the dough without disrupting the pizza's texture. Made from a lightweight basswood material, the smooth, even texture resists cracking and warping and helps fight against secreting unwanted oils from the wood over time.

"Select a good wood peel that is square-shaped. Lubricate it with a thin layer of fresh flour to allow the loaded crust to slide off easily in the desired part of the oven floor. These peels are also great for baking bread," says Rick Moonen of Perry's Restaurants.

• Material: Basswood
• Size: 14 inches

Best Splurge

Crate & Barrel pizza peel

$37 At Crate & Barrel

The smooth, wooden surface of Crate & Barrel's Acacia Wood Pizza Peel ensures pesky dough won't stick to the bottom of the paddle, allowing your pizza to seamlessly slide in and out of the oven. It's also thick enough to resist warping over time, as the solid acacia wood material is durable, scratch resistant, and easy to maintain. Simply treating it with food-safe wood oil should do the trick.

Finished off with an ergonomic handle, you'll have no trouble maneuvering all types of pizza with it, even up to full 12-inch pies. We also love the thoughtful hanging loop for easy storage when not in use.

• Material: Acacia wood
• Size: 14 inches

Best Set

Shangpeixuan pizza brush and peel

$56 At Amazon

If you're looking to enhance your pizza skills, why stop at a peel? Bryant Haren of Barca Pier & Wine Bar recommends this brush and peel set, which can help home cooks not only transfer pizza in and out of the oven but also remove debris from burning during the baking process. "While the peel allows you to drop the pizza into the oven, the brush removes the ash from the wood and flour away from the deck of the oven. If the deck isn't swept regularly, then the pizza will char on the bottom, leaving it black and bitter. How often an oven is swept has a direct effect on the quality of the pizza coming out."

This peel features a perforated carrying surface, which, in addition to the brush, can help remove excess flour from the dough. Both tools are nearly 40 inches in length, so you can easily reach deep into your oven. When you're done, you can use the scraper side of the brush to clean your pizza oven or pizza stone, readying it for next time.

• Material: Aluminum
• Size: 9 inches

Best Bamboo

Zulay Zulay Bamboo Pizza Peel

$32 At Amazon

This pizza peel from Zulay is made from triple-layer, restaurant-grade bamboo and finished with a light coating of oil for lasting durability. Like other peels recommended by our chefs, this pick also features tapered edges, helping users to slide their pizza in and out of the oven. When you're done, simply wipe it clean and hang it up on the wall for next time. You can use this peel as a charcuterie board, too, thanks to its large paddle surface.

"Nothing beats a good, old-fashioned tapered pizza peel," says Michael Ferraro of Tavistock Restaurants. "This peel allows you to easily maneuver pies in an oven."

• Material: Bamboo
• Size: 15 inches

Best Stainless Steel

G.I. Metal Short Handle with Small Blade

View On Mainewoodheat.com

Instead of wood, metal peels offer similar benefits. John Arcudi of Delfina is a long-time user of the G.I. Metal Short Handle from Maine Wood Heat Co. The stainless steel design offers durability and strength without unnecessary weight. The material also helps reduce heat transmission when transferring pizza, with a sliding grip handle.

"My favorite peel to use is metal because it's super light, longer, smaller, and much easier to manipulate in the oven. We load the pizzas with a standard wooden pizza peel, but we much prefer the metal peel while in the oven and for removal," says Arcudi.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Size: 6.5 inches

Best Aluminum

American Metalcraft pizza peel

$29 At Amazon

An alternative to stainless steel is this sturdy, three-rivet, aluminum-made American Metalcraft Pizza Peel. Typically, stainless steel or aluminum peels require less maintenance and upkeep than their wooden counterparts. Simply use it and wipe it clean when done.

"This will be your best friend for moving and rotating the pizza as it cooks. It works well to remove the cooked pizza to a cutting surface to serve," says Rick Moonen of Perry's Restaurants. Another benefit of aluminum peels is their thin construction, which makes sliding under dough easy. The short wooden handle also provides a secure, comfortable, and heat-resistant grip.

• Material: Aluminum
• Size: 16 inches