Bushra Griffith
Pizza is an Italian dish that typically consists of a flattened base of leavened wheat-based dough, topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, and baked at a high temperature. The term pizza was first recorded in 997 AD in a Latin manuscript, and modern pizza evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century. Pizza cheese includes several varieties, such as mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, and Parmesan, and the term cheese pizza can refer to a pizza with lots of cheese. Interestingly, the phrase cheese pizza has also been associated with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and has been interpreted as code for child pornography in some online forums.
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What You'll Learn
- Pizza is an Italian dish, specifically Neapolitan, that traditionally consists of flattened dough, tomatoes, cheese and other toppings
- The term 'cheese pizza' has been associated with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, where it is used as code for child pornography
- Pizza cheese can refer to any type of cheese suitable for use on pizza, including mozzarella, provolone, cheddar and Parmesan
- In the US, only 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella
- Pizza likely evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century
Pizza is an Italian dish, specifically Neapolitan, that traditionally consists of flattened dough, tomatoes, cheese and other toppings
Pizza is a dish that originated in Naples, Italy, and traditionally consists of flattened dough, tomatoes, cheese, and other toppings. The dish has evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century. Flatbread was often topped with ingredients such as garlic, salt, lard, and cheese. It is uncertain when tomatoes were first added, but it certainly could not have been before the 16th century and the Columbian Exchange. The bottom of the pizza, called the "crust", can vary from thin, as in a typical hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza, to thick, as in a deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. The crust is traditionally plain, but it may also be seasoned with garlic or herbs or stuffed with cheese.
Mozzarella is the most common type of cheese used on pizza, with buffalo mozzarella produced in the surroundings of Naples. Other varieties include burrata, Gorgonzola, provolone, pecorino romano, ricotta, and scamorza. In the United States, it is estimated that only 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella, with provolone being the second most popular. Cheddar may be mixed with mozzarella to preserve chewiness, and grated Parmesan may be added on top, although it typically does not melt well when cooked.
Pizza cheese also includes processed and modified cheese, such as mozzarella-like processed cheeses and mozzarella variants. These are designed and manufactured for use specifically on pizza. Processed pizza cheese is produced to optimise qualities in browning, melting, stretchiness, and fat and moisture content. In 1997, it was estimated that the annual production of pizza cheese products was 2 billion pounds in the United States and 200 million pounds in Europe.
While pizza is a modern dish, there are records of pizza-like foods throughout ancient history. For example, in the 6th century BC, Persian soldiers of the Achaemenid Empire during the rule of Darius the Great baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. Similarly, the ancient Greeks supplemented their bread with oils, herbs, and cheese.
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The term 'cheese pizza' has been associated with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, where it is used as code for child pornography
The term "cheese pizza" typically refers to an Italian open pie made of thin bread dough spread with a spiced mixture, including tomato sauce and cheese. However, in the context of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, "cheese pizza" has taken on a more sinister meaning.
Pizzagate is a conspiracy theory that gained notoriety in 2016, claiming that prominent figures, including Hillary Clinton and members of her 2016 presidential campaign team, were involved in a child sex trafficking ring centred around a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C. The theory was based on a highly speculative interpretation of hacked emails leaked by Wikileaks, in which the phrase "cheese pizza" was allegedly used as code for child pornography.
The idea that "cheese pizza" is code for child pornography stems from the shared initials "CP," which is often used as shorthand for child pornography. This interpretation was promoted by individuals such as Martina Markota, a Daily Caller video producer, who discussed Pizzagate and the alleged code word "cheese pizza" in an unlisted YouTube video. Markota's video and other similar claims quickly spread across social media platforms and fake news websites, contributing to the spread of the Pizzagate conspiracy.
It is important to note that the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and the associated interpretation of "cheese pizza" as code for child pornography are baseless and have been widely discredited. The "evidence" supporting these claims is purely circumstantial and has been criticized as highly speculative. Despite this, the Pizzagate conspiracy theory led to real-world consequences, including an incident where an armed man entered the Comet Pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C., allegedly acting on the conspiracy theory.
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Pizza cheese can refer to any type of cheese suitable for use on pizza, including mozzarella, provolone, cheddar and Parmesan
Pizza cheese can refer to any type of cheese suitable for use on pizza. This encompasses several varieties and types of cheeses and dairy products that are designed and manufactured for use on pizza. These include processed and modified cheese, such as mozzarella-like processed cheeses, mozzarella variants, and analogue pizza cheeses.
Mozzarella is the most popular pizza cheese globally, accounting for about 30% of all pizza cheese used. However, in the United States, only 30% of pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella, with provolone being the second most popular. Mozzarella has the perfect properties for melting on top of pizza, as the oils do not separate easily, minimizing greasy puddles. It also browns nicely and has a satisfying, gooey, stringy texture when melted. Low-moisture mozzarella, a variety from which some of the liquid has been removed, is a pizzeria favorite.
Other popular cheeses used on pizza include provolone, cheddar, and Parmesan. Provolone is often blended with mozzarella to give pizza more depth of flavor and improve its browning and blistering characteristics. Cheddar may be mixed with mozzarella to preserve chewiness and add an assertive flavor. Grated Parmesan can be added to the top of a pizza, but it typically does not melt well when cooked. However, younger Parmesan cheeses have better meltability.
In addition to these main cheeses, other varieties such as Emmental, pecorino romano, ricotta, and Swiss raclette are often used as toppings. Processed pizza cheeses, designed specifically for pizza, are also mass-produced and may be frozen for shipping. These processed cheeses are formulated to produce optimal qualities in browning, melting, stretchiness, and fat and moisture content.
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In the US, only 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella
Pizza is an Italian open pie made of thin bread dough spread with spiced tomato sauce and cheese. The term 'pizza cheese' encompasses several varieties and types of cheeses and dairy products that are designed and manufactured for use on pizza. These include processed and modified cheese, such as mozzarella-like processed cheeses and mozzarella variants.
Mozzarella is the most popular pizza cheese globally. However, in the United States, only 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella. This is partly due to the mass production of pizza cheese products, which are designed to have optimal qualities in browning, melting, stretchiness, and fat and moisture content. These analogue or 'cheese analogue' products are used on many frozen pizzas in North America and the United Kingdom, as they are cheaper and quicker to produce than real cheese. They are also formulated to melt well and remain chewy. In the US, 700 million frozen pizzas are sold each year, with three-quarters containing cheese substitutes.
The remaining 70% of pizza cheese used in the US includes provolone, the second most popular pizza cheese, as well as cheddar and Parmesan. These cheeses are often mixed together to achieve specific qualities. For example, cheddar is mixed with mozzarella to preserve chewiness, while mozzarella and provolone may brown less when cooked compared to other combinations. Grated Parmesan is also added to the top of pizzas and does not melt well when cooked. Other pizza cheeses used include Emmental, pecorino romano, and ricotta, which is used for calzones or as a topping.
In 1997, the annual production of pizza cheese products in the US was estimated at 2 billion pounds, with a steady increase in production and consumption continuing into the first decade of the 21st century. This trend has been supported by the growing demand for pizza cheese in the foodservice industry, quick-service restaurants, and other businesses.
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Pizza likely evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century
Pizza is a flatbread dish that likely evolved from similar flatbreads in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or 19th century. The word "pizza" was first documented in 997 AD in Gaeta, an ancient coastal city south of Rome, but it was not until much later that it became a common dish among the indigent people of Naples.
Bygone civilizations such as the Etruscans and Ancient Romans were already producing simple flatbreads with toppings resembling focaccia, which was referred to by the Romans as panis focacius. In the 16th century, pizza became a simple dish commonly eaten by the poor in Naples. However, it was not until the late 18th century to the early 19th century that the modern variation of pizza topped with tomatoes was conceived.
The tomato was first introduced to Italy and Europe by Spaniards who brought it from Peru during their exploration of the Americas in the 16th century. At first, the tomato was considered poisonous, but over time, it became an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine. In 1694, a Neapolitan chef named Antonio Latini published the earliest known tomato sauce recipe in his cookbook "Lo Scalo alla Moderna" (The Modern Steward). He mentioned that tomatoes combined with onions and herbs created a delicious sauce that enhanced all sorts of dishes, especially meat.
As the tomato became popular among the poor, it naturally found its way into their "cucina povera" (poor people's food) and grew into a culinary icon. This is when the modern variation of pizza topped with tomatoes was born. The local sensation involved adding tomato to flatbread, and it was enjoyed by both locals and tourists in Naples.
The most popular cheeses used in the preparation of pizza are mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, and Parmesan. However, pizza cheese can encompass several varieties and types of cheeses and dairy products designed for use on pizza, including processed and modified cheese. In the United States, it is estimated that only 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella, with the remaining being a mix of other cheeses.
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Frequently asked questions
Pizza is an Italian dish that typically consists of a flattened base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, baked at a high temperature.
A cheese pizza is a pizza with lots of cheese. It can also be used to refer to child pornography in certain conspiracy theories.
Pizza cheese includes several varieties such as mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, Parmesan, emmental, pecorino romano, and ricotta.
It is estimated that only 30% of all pizza cheese used in the United States is actual mozzarella.
In 1997, it was estimated that the annual production of pizza cheese products in the United States was 2 billion pounds.
