Ever since the first pizzeria was opened at Lombardi's in New York City, pizza has been a food favorite. It's so popular, in fact, that if they had to eat one food for the rest of their lives, Americans would choose pizza. Because what can be better than a delicious hot crust with the perfect tomato sauce and hot melting cheese?
Most Americans say that pizza is their favorite food, but how did that happen? Like many popular foods in the United States, it came over with immigrants. Italians who came to the U.S. in the late 1880s brought the meal with them and it became popular in the larger cities that they settled in. Then when soldiers stationed in Europe during World War II started returning home, their love of pizza started spreading across the country.
While the traditional recipe of tomato sauce and cheese is still popular, pizza chefs have developed new recipes to please every palate. And of course, there's the neverending debate of which style is better - deep dish Chicago or thin crust New York style. With Detroit-style pizza now wanting to be a part of the discussion.
Even though no one needs a reason to eat pizza, having holidays like National Pizza Day, National Deep Dish Pizza Day or National Pizza Party Day makes eating those pies even more fun. And these holidays are great reasons for restaurants and pizzerias to experiment with new recipes to help increase sales.
Whenever pizza is served, it's important to start with the best equipment and ingredients to maximize flavors and textures and achieve a perfect masterpiece.
Pizza is the perfect food because it is hot, full of flavor, and is a great handheld meal. But getting the best results requires having the best equipment. A subpar dough mixer or commercial oven won't get the consistent results needed. Competition is fierce, even in a small neighborhood pizza parlor, and serving undercooked or tough pizza slices can impact customer satisfaction and profits.
Once a decision is made on the pizza dough, thin, crispy, deep dish, or traditional, mixing ingredients is the first step.
Globe Mixers have cast-iron bodies made for heavy-duty wear and tear. Commercial venues rely on their mixers for the power and capacity to fill every pizza order. High-torque, gear-driven transmissions hold up through the busiest pizza production schedule.
After the dough is mixed and prepared with unique toppings, it's time to bake it at the ideal temperature to achieve the finished masterpiece. Middleby Ovens produce reliable, consistent heat needed to serve customers a piping hot pie every time they order.
Choosing the right oven for a pizza business might seem a bit confusing, but the Middleby Pizza Selector can help when browsing models. The ultimate choice depends on many factors, such as the type of business, kitchen space, and how large a pizza you'll be making. The Middleby Pizza Selector easily walks you through everything and lists the ovens that would work best for your business. It's that easy!
There are lots of variables to serving pizza at the ideal temperature consistently. Even when served inside a restaurant, sometimes dishes are held to serve together.
But the true test is for when it's served. No one wants a cold pizza, whether it's served in the restaurant or for to-go orders. This is where Carter-Hoffman Holding Cabinets can help. With easy and efficient pizza storage until it's picked up, the cabinet design allows for a variety of holding environments, has individually heated shelves with removable lids for pizza boxes, and is doorless for fast access. Keeping every pizza served hot and ready to eat
Schedule some time in one of our four test kitchens where you can get hands-on experience to find pizza equipment that's perfect for your foodservice business. Or download our pizza guide below.