Andy Montoya
Imo's Pizza is a popular pizza chain with a strong presence in St. Louis, Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. The company was founded by the Imo family, who, after years of picking up meat-topped pizzas from Italian restaurants near their home, decided to open their own pizza parlor. The company's unique selling point was delivering pizzas, which was uncommon at the time. Imo's Pizza is known for its distinct St. Louis-style pizza, which features a thin, crisp crust, a sweet sauce, and a generous amount of cheese. This cheese is the topic of much discussion and is often described as gooey and tangy. But what kind of cheese does Imo's use, and why is it so beloved?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Provel Cheese |
| Ingredients | Blend of Cheddar, Swiss and Provolone with some liquid smoke flavoring |
| Texture | Tangy, gooey, melts easily |
| Taste | Mild, deliciously creamy |
| Toppings | Extra-Cheese, Onion, Green Pepper, Sausage, Hamburger, Pepperoni, Anchovy, Bacon, Black Olive, Mushroom, Canadian Bacon, Jalapenos, Pineapple, Banana Peppers, Tomatoes |
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What You'll Learn
Imo's uses Provel cheese
Imo's Pizza uses Provel cheese, a unique blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone cheeses with a hint of liquid smoke flavouring. This combination of cheeses creates a one-of-a-kind taste that has become synonymous with the famous St. Louis-style pizza. The result is a meltably tangy, deliciously creamy, and wonderfully gooey cheese that has been a well-kept secret in St. Louis for decades.
Provel cheese is known for its easy meltability and lack of messy strings, making it the perfect topping for pizzas, salads, or sandwiches. It is this distinct characteristic that sets Imo's Pizza apart from other pizza joints. The cheese blends seamlessly with the sweet sauce, crisp crust, and generous toppings that define the St. Louis-style pizza experience.
The history of Imo's Pizza is deeply rooted in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. The Imo family, devoted Catholics, would order meat-topped pizzas every Friday night, always after midnight, from local Italian restaurants. Their desire for pizza delivery sparked a revolutionary idea in the pizza industry. With determination and an entrepreneurial spirit, they opened their first pizza parlor, marking the beginning of a successful journey.
Today, Imo's Pizza has expanded beyond its humble beginnings, with nearly 100 franchise locations across Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. The brand has become synonymous with St. Louis-style pizza, known for its distinctive square-cut slices and, of course, the iconic Provel cheese.
While the exact recipe for Provel cheese may be difficult to replicate, its impact on the taste and texture of Imo's Pizza is undeniable. The cheese plays a pivotal role in the overall dining experience, leaving a lasting impression on those who crave the unique flavor profile it offers. Whether you're a St. Louis native or a pizza enthusiast, Imo's Pizza and its signature Provel cheese are sure to leave a memorable mark on your taste buds.
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Provel is a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone
Imo's Pizza uses Provel cheese, a unique blend of three cheeses: mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. This blend was created to avoid the messiness of mozzarella's strings when eating pizza. Provel is meltably tangy, deliciously creamy, and gooey, with a wonderful texture that makes it a perfect topping for pizzas, salads, or sandwiches.
Provel cheese is a St. Louis specialty, originating from the city's legendary Italian neighborhood, "The Hill." It is a well-kept secret that has been enjoyed by locals for decades. The blend of these three cheeses creates a one-of-a-kind taste that has now expanded beyond St. Louis, becoming available in other parts of the country.
The process of melting Provel cheese is just as important as its flavor. It should be melted slowly and at a low temperature to achieve the perfect consistency. This attention to detail ensures that the cheese becomes delightfully gooey without becoming stringy.
While Provel is the signature cheese of Imo's Pizza, some people choose to substitute it with other cheese blends when recreating the pizza at home. For example, one recipe suggests using one cup of provolone, half a cup of cheddar, and half a cup of Swiss cheese to more closely replicate the unique flavor of Provel.
Provel cheese is an integral part of the St. Louis-style pizza experience, adding a tangy and creamy dimension to the crisp crust and light, sweet sauce of Imo's Pizza. Its gooey texture and mouthfeel have made it a favorite among those who enjoy the distinct characteristics of this regional pizza style.
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Provel cheese is gooey and tangy
Imo's Pizza is a St. Louis-style pizza that uses Provel cheese, a blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses with liquid smoke flavoring. The cheese is gooey and tangy, with a wonderful gooeyness and no strings attached. It is said to melt in your mouth and stick to the top of your mouth.
Provel cheese is a unique, tangy, and deliciously creamy cheese that is perfect for pizzas, salads, or sandwiches. It was created to avoid the messy strings of mozzarella when eating pizza. The cheese melts easily and has a wonderful gooey consistency. It is a well-kept secret of St. Louis and is now enjoyed across the Midwest.
The process of making Provel cheese involves blending mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses with liquid smoke flavoring. The cheese is then melted slowly and at a low temperature to achieve the perfect gooey consistency. This results in a cheese that is easy to melt and has a wonderful gooey texture without the strings of mozzarella.
Provel cheese is a key ingredient in the famous St. Louis-style Imo's Pizza. The pizza is known for its paper-thin, crisp crust, light sweet sauce, and generous amount of tangy Provel cheese. The combination of the crisp crust, sweet sauce, and gooey, tangy cheese has made Imo's Pizza a beloved and well-known dish.
While some may attempt to recreate the Imo's Pizza experience at home, the unique flavour and texture of Provel cheese are hard to replicate. The cheese is a signature ingredient that contributes to the overall deliciousness and distinctiveness of Imo's Pizza. Its gooey and tangy characteristics elevate the pizza, making it a favourite among many.
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It's hard to replicate the cheese at home
Imo's Pizza is a St. Louis-style pizza that uses Provel cheese, a blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses with liquid smoke flavouring. The cheese is known for its gooey, stringless, and deliciously creamy texture.
While it is possible to recreate Imo's Pizza at home, it is challenging to replicate the cheese exactly. Some people have tried to recreate the cheese by blending different ratios of cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheese, but it is difficult to get the same taste and texture as the original Provel cheese.
One challenge in replicating the cheese at home is that Provel cheese is a unique blend that is not easily accessible outside of St. Louis. While the individual cheeses in the blend (Cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone) can be found in most markets, creating the right combination of these cheeses to mimic Provel can be tricky.
Another challenge is that the ratio and blending process of the cheeses in Provel are proprietary and not easily replicable. The specific quantities and methods used to create the blend are closely guarded by the company, making it hard for home cooks to recreate the exact taste and texture.
Additionally, the liquid smoke flavouring added to Provel cheese is a key component that can be challenging to incorporate correctly. Too much liquid smoke can overpower the other flavours in the cheese, while too little may not provide the desired smoky taste.
Finally, the cooking technique and equipment used in the pizzeria may differ from what is available in home kitchens. For example, Imo's Pizza is baked in a pizza pan in a professional oven, while home cooks may use a pizza stone or a thin baking sheet in a standard oven. These differences in equipment and cooking methods can affect the melting, texture, and overall taste of the cheese.
In conclusion, while it is possible to create a similar cheese blend at home, replicating the exact taste and texture of Imo's Provel cheese is challenging due to the unique blend, proprietary ratios, specialised equipment, and cooking techniques used by the company.
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Imo's pizza is cut into squares, not triangles
Imo's Pizza is famous for its unique characteristics, including its paper-thin, crisp crust, sweet sauce, and generous toppings. However, one of its most distinctive features is that it is cut into squares instead of the traditional triangle slices. This square-cutting tradition has become synonymous with the Imo's brand and has played a role in its popularity and expansion.
The story behind Imo's Pizza began with the Imo family, who had a tradition of ordering meat-topped pizzas every Friday night. Inspired by the idea of pizza delivery, they opened their first parlor with a unique approach: cutting their pizzas into squares. Ed Imo, in particular, drew on his experience as a tile setter, slicing squares of linoleum, which may have influenced the square-cutting technique for their pizzas.
The square-cutting tradition sets Imo's Pizza apart from other pizza places and has become an integral part of their brand identity. This unique presentation captures customers' attention and creates a memorable dining experience. The squares are also practical, providing a more efficient way to divide the pizza evenly among diners. This cutting style allows for equal portions and ensures that each slice has a consistent ratio of crust to toppings.
The square slices also align with the thin crust that Imo's Pizza is known for. Cutting the pizza into squares ensures that the crust remains crisp and sturdy, preventing sogginess. This technique enhances the overall texture and mouthfeel of the pizza, creating a unique sensory experience that keeps customers coming back for more.
In conclusion, the decision to cut Imo's Pizza into squares, rather than triangles, is a deliberate and strategic choice that has contributed to the brand's success and cult following. It is a testament to the power of thinking outside the box (or in this case, inside the square!) and demonstrates how a simple innovation can make a significant impact.
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Frequently asked questions
Imo's uses Provel cheese, a blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone with some liquid smoke flavoring.
Provel is a type of cheese that is a blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses. It was created to avoid the messy strings of mozzarella when eating pizza.
Provel cheese is a blend of mild cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses, while mozzarella is a single type of cheese. Provel melts easily and has a gooey consistency with no strings attached.
You can buy Provel cheese at select retailers or online. One source mentions that a user found it at Schnucks, a now-defunct store in Memphis.
To make Imo's pizza at home, you'll need to prepare the crust, sauce, and cheese. For the crust, you can use a pizza pan with holes or a pizza stone. The sauce should be sweet, and the cheese should be a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone with liquid smoke flavoring. Assemble the pizza and bake it in the oven until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Finally, cut the pizza into tile-like squares instead of traditional triangle slices.
