Lab sheet

Teglia romana (pizza al taglio)

Teglia romana, pizza al taglio, is a pizza baked in a pan and sold in portions by weight. Its dough is very wet, within 72–90%, which produces large irregular holes under a thin, crisp crust.

Technical sheet

Every dimension is a window, not a single number: two doughs at 60% and 62% hydration are both Neapolitan. The marker shows the typical value.

Hydration
72–90%
Salt
1.9–2.6%
Oil
0–3%
Sugar
0%
Flour strength (W)
300–400
Dough ball
600–1400 g
Diameter
30–60 cm
Oven deck
270–330 °C (520–625 °F)
Bake time
12–20 min
Fermentation load
18–55 h-eq

Confidence B · documented consensus

Source. Consensus of Roman schools

Where this style comes from

It is Rome’s street pizza. The school of Gabriele Bonci made it known beyond Rome and it is associated with very mature doughs. Fornello rates it confidence B: the consensus is solid, but there is no standard.

The dough

Hydration climbs to 72–90% and calls for a strong flour (W 300–400). The dough is handled with folds rather than intensive kneading. Weights are high: 600–1400 g, for a pan of 30–60 cm.

Fermentation is long: the calculator targets 18–55 h-eq, far more than for a fast-oven pizza.

Experiment

The calculator, set to this style

The calculator below is already set to this style, with a starting schedule. Change hydration, salt, oil or the fermentation schedule: the yeast is recalculated, and the indicator tells you whether you are still inside the style’s window.

Farine

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g

Eau

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g

Levure

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g

Style

Farine

Ajouts

Levée

Horaire

Pesée

Garnitures

Sauvegarde

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The bake

It bakes around 270–330 °C (520–625 °F) for 12–20 min. The pan, often oiled, produces a crisp base despite the very high hydration.

Variants to try

Three ways to play with this style

Each variant moves one parameter inside the style’s window. The engine recalculates the yeast so the fermentation load follows the schedule. The button loads the variant into the calculator above.

Reference

Hydration
80%
Oil
1.5%
Load
22 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.071%

12 h at 21 °C, then 48 h in the fridge (4 °C), then 4 h proofing at 21 °C

Instant dry yeast 0.24 g for a 635 g dough ball

Moderate hydration

Bottom of the window: easier to handle, a less spectacular crumb.

Hydration
72%
Oil
1.5%
Load
22 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.071%

12 h at 21 °C, then 48 h in the fridge (4 °C), then 4 h proofing at 21 °C

Instant dry yeast 0.26 g for a 635 g dough ball

Maximum hydration

Top of the window: giant holes, delicate handling.

Hydration
90%
Oil
1.5%
Load
22 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.071%

12 h at 21 °C, then 48 h in the fridge (4 °C), then 4 h proofing at 21 °C

Instant dry yeast 0.23 g for a 635 g dough ball

Longer maturation

The same dough, 72 hours in the cold: the engine recomputes the yeast.

Hydration
80%
Oil
1.5%
Load
24.5 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.064%

12 h at 21 °C, then 72 h in the fridge (4 °C), then 4 h proofing at 21 °C

Instant dry yeast 0.22 g for a 635 g dough ball

Common mistakes

  • Using a weak flour: the dough slumps.
  • Handling roughly: you lose the holes.
  • Topping too much before the bake: the open crumb collapses.

The main steps

  1. Mix flour, water and yeast, then add the salt and the oil.
  2. Fold the dough several times during the rise.
  3. Mature in the cold following the schedule.
  4. Spread in the oiled pan and let it rise.
  5. Bake, top (or top halfway through), and cut.

Frequently asked questions

Why such a wet dough?

To produce large holes. It takes a strong flour and a long rest.

How do I cut it?

With a knife or scissors, into rectangles, sold by weight in Rome.

Can it be prepared ahead?

Yes, and it is recommended: cold maturation improves the flavour.

Related styles

Same family, or close in hydration and bake.