Lab sheet

Pinsa romana

Pinsa romana is an oval, elongated pizza, crisp outside and very light inside. Its dough is very wet, within 72–88%, and traditionally made from a blend of wheat, rice and soy flours, matured long in the cold.

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
72–88%
Salt
2–2.7%
Oil
2–6%
Sugar
0–0.5%
Flour strength (W)
280–380
Dough ball
220–320 g
Diameter
25–34 cm
Oven deck
290–340 °C (555–645 °F)
Bake time
4–7 min
Fermentation load
20–60 h-eq

Confidence C · local practice, no standard

Source. Commercial practice, no published standard

Where this style comes from

"Pinsa Romana" is a registered trademark, and Fornello rates it confidence C: the style is commercial, with no published standard. The windows reflect the practice of the makers and pizzerias that use it.

The dough

Hydration is very high (72–88%) for a very open crumb, with oil (2–6%). The flour blend is supplied by commercial mixes. The ball weighs 220–320 g.

Maturation is very long: the calculator targets 20–60 h-eq.

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

The pinsa bakes 4–7 min at 290–340 °C (555–645 °F). The stretched oval shape allows an even bake with a crisp outside.

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
3.5%
Load
21.6 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.072%

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

Instant dry yeast 0.11 g for a 295 g dough ball

Moderate hydration

Bottom of the window: easier to shape.

Hydration
72%
Oil
3.5%
Load
21.6 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.072%

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

Instant dry yeast 0.12 g for a 295 g dough ball

High hydration

Top of the window: very airy, very delicate.

Hydration
88%
Oil
3.5%
Load
21.6 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.072%

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

Instant dry yeast 0.11 g for a 295 g dough ball

Longer cold rest

The same dough, matured for 72 hours.

Hydration
80%
Oil
3.5%
Load
24.1 h-eq
Instant dry yeast
0.065%

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

Instant dry yeast 0.1 g for a 295 g dough ball

Common mistakes

  • Relying on wheat flour alone: without the blend, the texture differs.
  • Too short a maturation: the dough lacks lightness.
  • Overloading: the centre can collapse.

The main steps

  1. Mix the preparation with cold water.
  2. Mature long in the cold following the schedule.
  3. Shape into an oval without crushing the bubbles.
  4. Bake plain first, then top if desired.

Frequently asked questions

Is pinsa a trademark?

Yes, the name "Pinsa Romana" is a registered trademark. A dough of the same nature can be made without using it.

Is it more digestible than ordinary pizza?

That is not shown here. The calculator makes no health claims.

Can I use wheat flour only?

Yes, but the texture will change.

Related styles

Same family, or close in hydration and bake.