Today I am here to talk to you about pineapple on pizza. In my
opinion I think that it should belong on pizza.
Did you know that pizza was
first invented in the 18th or early 19th century?
Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy as a fast, affordable, tasty meal for
working-class Neapolitans on the go. While we all know and love these slices of
today, pizza actually didn’t gain mass appeal until the 1940s, when immigrating
Italians brought their classic slices to the United States.
Some historical
context of why some Italians reject pineapple as a pizza topping:
When it comes to
the pineapple topping debate, many Italians reject
the idea due to the historical context surrounding Italian cuisine. Italy is known for its rich culinary heritage and
traditional Italian dishes are often prepared with fresh, high quality
ingredients sourced from local producers and farmers. Italians believe that
pizza should be prepared in a certain way, with strict guidelines for
everything from the ingredients used to the cooking method. Some Italians feel
that adding pineapple to a pizza is going against this heritage and tradition
so reject the idea altogether. Whilst some feel that it should be on some
Italians are open to trying new things and embrace in evolving the nature of
Italian cuisine.
Why does pineapple belong on pizza:
Advocates of this tropical slice think there’s something about the
flavour combination that just hits right. What goes well with pineapple on
pizza? The tart fruit, optional addition of salty ham, and nutty mozzarella
cheese give you a unique taste sensation that no other topping combination can
match. Pineapple is light and refreshing, like sunshine in your mouth, and has
vitamins and minerals that aid in digestion. And it’s the obvious choice of
people with a sweet tooth. The number one reason pineapple is meant for pizza
is because people simply enjoy it. Pizza is the ultimate comfort food, meaning
everyone has the right to outfit it just the way they like.
Why pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza:
A lot of people are not down with this tangy fruit on pizza. It’s got a
strong, tart flavour that tends to dominate the palate. It’s commonly baked and
grilled, but apart from this dish, it’s rarely paired with cheese. Celebrity
chef Gordon Ramsay once said, “Pineapple does not go on top of pizza,” a
sentiment that many share. No other fruits are found on pizza, so why should
pineapple be part of the equation? The double acidity of pineapple and tomatoes
are too much for many, and a common criticism of this style of pie is that the
juicy tropical fruit damages the structural integrity of the slice and is an
unwelcome contrast of sweet and savoury.
In a 2017 YouGov poll found that 82% of people
surveyed liked pineapple, but only 53% liked the fruit on their pizza. 12% of the people said they disliked it on pizza
whilst 29% said they hated the idea. The top 10 pizza choices in the UK are pepperoni
in first place with 18%, meat feast following closely at 17%, ham and pineapple
at 14%, so pretty popular in the UK, 11% of people voting BBQ chicken, 10%
margarita, tandoori chicken and vege supreme coming in at 8%, four cheese at 6%
and tuna and garlic mushroom falling in joint last at 4%.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey once said,
“Pineapple does not go on top of pizza”
Top 10 countries that consume the most pizza
are Norway in 1st with 11.4kg of pizza consumed per year, USA in 2nd,
UK in 3rd, Germany in 4th, Italy coming in 5th,
Russia in 6th, 7th is France, then Australia in 8th,
Japan in 9th and China in last place consuming 3.2kg of pizza per
year.
Why Pineapple Doesn’t Belong on Pizza
A lot of people are not down with this tangy fruit on pizza. It’s got a
strong, tart flavour that tends to dominate the palate. It’s commonly baked and
grilled, but apart from this dish, it’s rarely paired with cheese. Celebrity
chef Gordon Ramsay once said, “Pineapple does not go on top of pizza,” a
sentiment that many share. No other fruits are found on pizza, so why should
pineapple be part of the equation? The double acidity of pineapple and tomatoes
are too much for many, and a common criticism of this style of pie is that the
juicy tropical fruit damages the structural integrity of the slice and is an
unwelcome contrast of sweet and savoury.
Hating
on pineapple
But why is it that a few chunks of fruit on a pizza have become such a
widely divisive issue? One of the primary reasons for it is that most people
think of pizza as a savoury dish and are horrified by the idea of putting
anything sweet on it. There also chefs who believe that pineapple and tomatoes
shouldn’t mix as they are both acidic in nature. The acidity may become
overwhelming when combining the two, giving you an upset stomach. Some also
argue that the pairing of pineapple with cheese is a culinary disaster. So,
which side are you on this debate?
