Grill Pizza Pan Burning Crust - Advice Needed

[trps]

I have a customer asking about her pan. I do not have a grill so I couldn't help her.

She said every time she makes a pizza on her grill on the pizza pan the crust is done and starting to burn so she takes it in and puts it in her oven to cook the top.

She said she has an infrared grill (?) and that she bought it because the consultant did it at her house on this grill and it worked great. But that consultant will not reply to e-mails or phone calls.

Does anyone have advice I can give her?

Thanks (TIA)

 

[kam]

That is strange. We actually had the opposite problem the first few we did...I think the instructions say indirect heat - which means the heat/flame is NOT on under the pizza. We used to have the top the done before the crust, so we started turning the heat on under the pizza very low during the last half of the cooking time. So, my first thought is that if her crust is being done first, maybe she has the heat ON under the pizza and it should NOT be. This is difficult if the burners run side-to-side and not front-to-back. Our burners run front-to-back so it is easy to only have the left side on and the pizza sits on the right side - where the burners are off.We have an infrared, too, and I am pretty sure we have done the pizza on this grill since we have gotten it. But, our grilled pizzas have always turned out beautiful!EDIT: I just looked at the instructions for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza - which I think is the recipe that comes with it. It says "Prepare grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat.". But when the instructions talk about putting the pizza on the grill, it does not explicitly say to put the pizza on the side where the burners are off.Here is what I found from about.com on indirect grilling:
"Indirect Grilling is more similar to baking than direct grilling. This method requires that the "fire" by built off to the side of where the cooking will take place. If you think of a typical gas grill, imagine having the burner(s) turned on, on only one half of the grill. This is the heated side. You then place the food you wish to grill indirectly on the unheated side and close the lid. Convection and radiant heat will then cook the food. Since the food is not being exposed to direct heat from the burners it will cook more evenly and be less likely to burn on the exposed side. Of course this also means that it will cook more slowly. "

 

[cindiskitchencabinet]

We grill a lot of pizza and here's how we do it. We make the crust inside in the oven on a stone. Meanwhile, outside on the grill (favorite pan is the BBQ Roasting Pan) we cook the toppings- fresh spinach, tomato, olives, mushrooms, onion, artichokes, zucchini, etc. that was tossed in olive oil and Italian Seasoning. Brush the finished crust on both sides with olive oil, then grill topping side down until it's just warm enough to blend the toppings. Then put the toppings on, feta or other soft cheese, and put back on the grill long enough to warm and make the bottom crisp.

 

[doughmama]

I make pizza on the grill a lot. Heat the grill on high with the lid closed for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to medium, I start with direct heat cooking one side of dough for about 3 minutes. I then remove the pan, flip the dough and put on the toppings. I turn off the middle burners to cook with indirect heat. If you only have two burners, turn off one and rotate the pan half way. Close the cover and cook til the cheese is melted. I also got a book which is wonderful - see if you can get it from your library first. "Pizza on the Grill" by Elizabeth Karmel & Bob Blumer. Pretty inexpensive to purchase.

 

[esavvymom]

All great suggestions....but couldn't she just turn off the grill and leave the pizza in with the lid close to finish cooking without burning or overcooking the bottom?? Obviously, doing INDIRECT seems the most logical to me....just turn on one half of the grill or something.

 

[doughmama]

sure you could do that Bobbi. If you are done cooking, but if you want to make another pizza then the indirect way is the best.