Papa Murphy's Pan Pizza: Baking Guide

Papa Murphy's pan pizza is a delicious, convenient option for those who want the taste of freshly baked pizza without the hassle of making it from scratch. The Take N' Bake concept allows customers to enjoy a pizza made with fresh ingredients, baked at their convenience. With a thick, buttery crust, and high-quality toppings, the key to a perfect Papa Murphy's pan pizza is in the baking. So, for a golden, crispy crust, follow these simple steps:

Preheat oven to 425°F for traditional pizza or 350°F for stuffed pizza

Preheating your oven is a crucial step in the pizza-making process. It ensures that your oven is hot enough to cook your pizza properly and helps to achieve an even cook throughout. For a traditional pizza, you should preheat your oven to 425°F. This temperature is ideal for cooking a simple homemade pizza or cooking a frozen pizza. At 425°F, your pizza will take approximately 12 to 20 minutes to cook. However, it's important to keep an eye on your pizza as it cooks, as oven temperatures and cooking times may vary.

If you're making a stuffed pizza, preheat your oven to 350°F. Stuffed pizzas take a little longer to cook than traditional pizzas, so be prepared to wait a little longer for that golden, crispy crust. The cooking time for a stuffed pizza is approximately 32 to 40 minutes. As always, keep an eye on your pizza and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Whether you're making a traditional or stuffed pizza, the key indicator that your pizza is cooked is a golden brown crust. You should also look for melted cheese that is bubbling slightly. If you see any uncooked spots or your pizza doesn't look golden enough, pop it back in the oven for a few more minutes.

Remember, the temperatures and cooking times provided are just guidelines, and you may need to adjust them based on your oven's performance and your personal preferences for pizza doneness.

Remove plastic wrap and leave pizza in pan

Once you've preheated your oven to 425°F (or 350°F if you have a stuffed pizza), it's time to remove the plastic wrap from your Papa Murphy's Pan Pizza. This is an important step, as leaving the plastic wrap on could be hazardous. With the plastic wrap removed, simply leave the pizza in its pan. It's important to keep the pizza level at all times.

If your pizza has been in the refrigerator, it's important to let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before baking. This will allow the crust to rise, ensuring a perfect pizza.

Now that your pizza is ready to go, it's time to pop it in the oven! Place it on the center rack and get ready to enjoy a delicious, fresh pan pizza.

Bake on centre rack for 12-18 minutes or until golden brown

Now that your oven is preheated to 425°F (or 350°F for a stuffed pizza), it's time to bake your Papa Murphy's pan pizza! Place the pizza on the centre rack of the oven and let it bake for 12-18 minutes. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it. You'll know it's ready when the crust is golden brown. If you're using a conventional oven, you may need to rotate the pizza on the rack to ensure even browning.

While it's baking, you might notice some bubbles forming on the surface. Carefully pop them with a fork, being careful not to puncture the pan. This step is important because bubbles can cause your toppings to slide off the pizza.

After 10-12 minutes, if you're craving an extra crispy crust, you can try a little trick. Take the pizza out of the oven and carefully slide it off the tray directly onto the oven rack. This will give you that crispy base many pizza lovers desire. Just be cautious as the pizza will be hot, so don't forget your oven gloves! Check on it every 1-2 minutes until you're happy with the crispiness.

Rotate pizza to ensure even browning

To ensure your Papa Murphy's pan pizza is evenly browned, you will need to rotate the pizza on the oven rack. This is because not all ovens heat evenly, and rotating the pizza ensures a consistent bake and colour across the crust.

First, preheat your oven to 425°F. If you have a stuffed pizza, you should heat to 350°F. Place the pizza on the center oven rack and bake for 12 to 18 minutes. If you have a thin crust, you can place it on the lower rack. If you are baking more than one pizza, place one on the lower rack on the left and the other on the upper rack on the right. Rotate halfway through the cooking time.

Rotate the pizza 180 degrees every 5 to 7 minutes. This will ensure that the crust is evenly cooked and browned. Keep the pizza level at all times. If you notice any bubbles forming, pop them with a fork, being careful not to puncture the pan.

Once the crust is golden brown, remove the pizza from the oven. Let it sit for 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy your freshly baked Papa Murphy's pan pizza!

Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting

So, you've baked your Papa Murphy's pan pizza to perfection and can almost taste that thick, buttery crust and freshly-prepared toppings. But before you dive in, there's one crucial step left: letting your pizza sit for a few minutes.

After removing your pizza from the oven, it's essential to give it some time to cool down. This step might feel like an eternity when you're hungry, but it's worth the wait. Allowing your pizza to rest for 5 minutes helps to ensure the cheese sets slightly, the toppings settle, and the crust remains crisp. This step is especially important for pan pizzas, as it gives the hot oil under the crust a chance to cool down, making it safer to handle and ensuring the crust stays nice and crispy.

During this resting period, you can also take a moment to admire your culinary masterpiece. Check that the crust is a beautiful golden brown and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. If you notice any bubbles, carefully pop them with a fork, being cautious not to puncture the pan. This step will help prevent the toppings from sliding off.

Once the 5 minutes are up, it's time to remove the pizza from the pan. Use a spatula to carefully lift the pizza out of the pan, being extra cautious of the hot oil that may have accumulated underneath. Then, it's finally time to cut into your delicious Papa Murphy's pan pizza and enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Remember, this waiting period is an essential step in the baking process, ensuring your pizza is not only safe to eat but also maintains its delicious texture and flavour. So, as difficult as it may be, try to savour these final moments before indulging in your freshly baked Papa Murphy's pan pizza.

Frequently asked questions