Abstract: A mold assembly for forming a dough mass into a unique pizza shell. The molding method and apparatus are operable to form the pizza shell from a preestablished, pre-measured quantity of dough sufficient to fill the mold cavity completely, but to obviate extrusion of excess dough from the mold. Thus, material is conserved and wasteful trimming operations are eliminated. The selected mass of dough used is correlated with the specific volume of the mold cavity to ensure complete filling while avoiding "overrun". Controlled spacing is provided between the cooperating dough-shaping mold elements so that air may escape from the mold cavity during compressive closure of the mold while the dough is retained to prevent extrusion. The shell itself is characterized in that it is not merely a flat sheet, but consists essentially of a planar base sheet bounded by a circumambient, integrally-formed, upstanding rim, marginal dam, or edge.

Abstract: A mold assembly for forming a dough mass into a unique pizza shell. The shell is characterized in that it is not merely a flat sheet, but consists essentially of a planar base sheet bounded by a circumambient, integrally-formed, upstanding marginal dam or edge. The mold assembly, which includes intercoupling pizza-shell-forming platen and matrix means, carries heater means in the platen for applying heat to the contacting face of the dough mass during compression shaping thereof thereby partially to cure and thus to fix or set the dough in its ultimate converted configuration.