Crank Up the Heat

• Pizza crust is different than other types of bread dough because your goal is crusty, chewy bread that cooks quickly. It doesn't need to rise much, and actually needs to stay relatively flat to keep the toppings secure. Commercial pizza ovens routinely reach temperatures of 700 degrees Fahrenheit or more. At home, crank up your oven's temperature as high as it will go -- probably 450 or 500 F. At this temperature bread for a pizza crust takes between 8 and 15 minutes.

Bake Ahead

• You can use regular bread dough or a dough specifically made for pizza. Both take the same amount of time to bake, but pizza doughs are usually lean doughs, made from nothing but flour, water, oil, salt and perhaps a bit of sugar or honey. To use bread dough or pizza dough for making pizza, gently stretch the dough between your fingers. Rotate the dough as you work until it's 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Place it on a heated pizza stone or a greased pizza pan. In most cases, you'll add the toppings before you place the pizza in the oven. You can also cook the bread dough slightly before adding the toppings to help brown up the crust so it doesn't become soggy. In this case, bake the prepared dough 4 to 5 minutes. Let it cool slightly, add the toppings and continue baking.

Thin and Light

• A soggy crust is the bane of home pizza chefs, but high heat and quick cooking reduce the risks of this problem. Another important tip is to roll the dough no thicker than 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Thicker pizza crusts tend to cook unevenly and turn out soft, rather than crisp and chewy. They also take longer to bake. Cut vegetables into 1/4 inch pieces and consider sauteing them first, which improves their flavor and also reduces the amount of moisture they release on the pizza. Spread a thin layer of sauce over the pizza crust and space toppings evenly. Don't overload a pizza or the crust won't cook well. Stick with about 1/2 to 1 cup of pizza toppings. When properly prepared, homemade pizzas cook in less time than it takes to call for pizza delivery.

Pick a Pan

• The type of pan you use can also play a role in how long a pizza takes to cook. A pre-heated baking stone is the ideal choice for quickly cooking pizza. It wicks moisture from the dough while radiating even heat so the pizza bakes in just a few minutes. Perforated pizza pans also work well because the holes allow steam to escape and also help brown the bottom of the pizza pan. Rimmed baking sheets work in a pinch, but a pizza crust baked on these pans takes longer and probably won't be as crisp. Plan on 15 to 20 minutes if you use a baking sheet, depending on the thickness of the crust and the toppings.