1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, instant yeast, and salt. Stir until well mixed.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the lukewarm water and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form.
3. Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time.
4. Let the Dough Rise: Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
5. Shape the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, shape each portion of dough into a smooth ball. To stretch the dough, gently flatten it with your fingertips, then pick it up and stretch it out from the edges, rotating it as you go to form a round shape.
6. Use or Store the Dough: At this point, the pizza dough is ready to be topped and baked according to your pizza recipe. Alternatively, you can wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days, or freeze it for longer storage.