When it comes to pizza, there’s no shortage of options across the United States. From classic styles like Chicago deep-dish and New York style topped with extra cheese and sauce, to newer takes like Neapolitan-style pizza.
Let’s take a look at the different types of crusts available for you to add as many toppings or sauces as your heart desires to create the perfect pie.
Italian-Style Flatbread
Italian-style flatbread is the most common style used for pizza. This is a low-moisture, high-acid dough that is stretched into a thin sheet as it is cooked. Because of the high acidity of the dough, it can react with the ingredients added to it, resulting in a crispier crust. Italian-style crust is made with either a sourdough or regular yeast dough. The latter is a quicker-to-make, less sour bread that’s more commonly used for breadsticks. The thickness of the bread is commonly medium to medium-thick. The toppings you’d choose for this style of pizza will be very different than those used on other types. The high acidity of the crust can react with the fatty ingredients in cheese or heavy cream to create a flavor that’s distinctly different from other types of crusts.
New York-Style Crust
New York-style crust is similar in style to Italian-style crust but is made using a sweeter dough and a much lower amount of yeast. The dough is then transformed by a long, slow rise in an environment with a generous amount of air, resulting in a bread with a hearty, open crumb. New York-style crust is lighter in color and is made with a lower amount of yeast than Italian-style dough. The dough is then baked at a higher temperature, resulting in a lighter crust that is crispier and flakier than the Italian style. New York-style crust is topped with a variety of ingredients, including tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and meat. The use of tomatoes and green peppers is what sets this pizza apart from others with their heavier use of oregano, garlic, and other spices.
Deep Dish Pizza
Deep dish pizza is a signature style of Chicago-style pizza. It is a very thick crust, often over 1/3 of an inch, that results from a very wet dough. The wet dough is then punched down to allow the air bubbles to “pop” and flatten out the top of the dough, creating a crunchy but delicate bottom crust. Deep dish is topped with heavy cheese and thick, rich tomato sauce that cling to the crust as it cooks. The tomato sauce also contains a variety of herbs and spices, giving this style of pizza its distinctive flavor. The sauce is not the only sauce used for deep dish. Some restaurants also add a topping of mild white or yellow mustard that is known as a “pizzaiola,” or a tomato-based condiment similar to pesto.
Detroit Style Crust
While other pizza types may be considered deep dish, Detroit style pizza sets itself apart with its soft inside and crispy outside. It’s made with a special dough that’s often topped with a mixture of cheddar, mozzarella, and extra sauce.
American Thin Crust
American thin crust is a more recent variation on the pizza scene that has become very popular in recent years. During the early 2000s, pizza chains were experimenting with new ideas and combining various flavors and toppings. This resulted in a thinner crust that was more crispy and crunchy than the traditional thick or New York-style crusts. American thin crust has become a very popular style of pizza in the last few years. The thinner crust is made from a mix of wheat and corn flour that produces a cracker-like crust, similar to what is made using a sesame seed crust. This style of crust has a crisp exterior and a softer, airier interior. The toppings on this type of pizza are also very different from other crusts. They include only a few kinds of vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions.
Other Types of Pizza
There are also a number of other types of crusts available. These include:
- Cajun-style pizza - This style is topped with spicy crawfish, chicken, or other seafood and Creole seasonings.
- Hawaiian pizza - This style is topped with pineapple, ham, and other tropical flavors.
- New Mexican pizza - This style is topped with chili, cumin, and other New Mexican seasonings like ancho and seco.
- Vegetarian or vegan-friendly pizza - This style is topped with a variety of vegetables, grains, and legumes.
- Gluten-free pizza - This style is usually made from a gluten-free dough that is either made from a soy-based protein or contains no gluten ingredients.
Don’t Have a Pizza Dough? That’s OK!
Many people are put off by the idea of making their own pizza dough because they don’t want to invest the time or patience in making it. Or, they’re used to buying it pre-made and don’t want to invest in making it from scratch.
That’s OK, too! There are many different kinds of pizza dough available that can be bought ready-made, pre-mixed, or made from scratch. Each of these kinds of pizza dough has its own unique qualities that make it work best for different kinds of pizzas. Ready-made dough is the easiest to use.
Simply put it on a pizza stone or baking sheet and cook it to the desired crispness. Pre-made dough is usually a mix of several different types of flour. These are usually best for using in a bread machine or mixer.
Homemade dough is made from scratch, with just flour, yeast, salt, and water. This dough is best for making thin-style pizzas that use a very short fermentation time.
Brush Up on Baking Basics
There are a few basic things you can do to improve your baking result.
- Preheat the oven and ensure it is at the correct temperature before baking.
- Measure liquids and ingredients carefully.
- Stir ingredients gently and cleanly before adding them to the mixing bowl.
- Use the correct utensil for the job.
- Remove the pizza from the oven when it is golden-brown, but before the internal temperature reaches the danger zone.
- Cool the pizza promptly. - Store pizza properly in a refrigerator or freezer.
Which is Your Favorite?
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Pizzaville is a local mom and pop pizzeria located at the corner of Goose Creek Road and Westport Road in Louisville, Kentucky (between Bandido Taqueria Mexicana and Great Clips). Pizzaville serves the best pizzas using scratch made dough, premium toppings, and the highest quality cheeses available all at a fair price with the friendliest, most helpful customer service in the industry.
For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Pizzaville’s website at www.pizzavillepizza.com
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Co-Authors - Rachael Reed and Todd Case
Learn more about the Pizzaville Founders
