You've been eating pizza wrong your whole life
Anna Bailey
09 February 2018
Hacks for your favourite food

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Did you know there’s a right way to hold pizza? Mathematicians have even come up with formulas on how to divide perfectly equal slices and ensure you have the correct base to topping ratios. Read on to find out more and discover other great tips for eating pizza.
Use pizza scissors for thick crusts

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You might be better off using scissors to cut pizza. A pizza wheel is fine if you’re slicing up a thin crust but if you have a thick base or it’s loaded with cheese, it will drag through the toppings. Keep everything in place with a pair of food scissors instead.
Pimp up a frozen pizza with fresh ingredients

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Check the fridge for any ingredients or leftovers that could be used to jazz up a frozen pizza. Basil and oregano are perfect for adding fresh flavours and decoration. Other extra topping ideas include olives, capers, sliced peppers, spinach, chopped mushrooms, sweetcorn and cooked meats.
Combine mozzarella with cheddar

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If you love pizza with perfectly stringy cheese, combine mozzarella and cheddar. Scientists at the University of Auckland analysed seven different cheeses and found this was the ideal combination for optimal taste and a golden, slightly blistered texture.
Brush the crust

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Do you always end up with a pile of soggy crusts after eating pizza? Avoid waste by brushing them with garlic or chilli oil before baking to make these crispy edges irresistible.
Divide a pizza geometrically

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Mathematicians Joel Haddley and Stephen Worsley, from Liverpool University, have developed a winning formula for cutting up twelve identical slices of pizza geometrically. Their monohedral disc tiling method involves cutting six curved shapes and then dividing those in two. Just make sure it hasn’t gone cold by the time you’ve figured out how to do it.
Buy a pizza chopping board

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For identical slices cut the traditional way, invest in a pizza chopping board. Perfect for making sure everyone gets an equal share.
Go vegan or gluten-free

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There’s no need to miss out on pizza because you’re vegan or coeliac, as plenty of places offer alternatives. Look out for gluten-free dough or plant-based options such as a cauliflower crust, made with blitzed florets, almond flour and flaxseed.
The perfect base to topping ratio

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Mathematician Dr Eugenia Cheng from the University of Sheffield developed a formula for perfectly proportioned pizza. If the same amount of dough and toppings is used, an 11 inch pizza offers 10% more toppings per bite than a 14 inch base. Larger pizzas loaded with ingredients are also more likely to have a soggy bottom.
Place frozen pizzas on the rack

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To make sure you get a crispy base, place frozen pizzas directly on the rack rather than a baking tray (unless the cooking instructions say otherwise). This allows air to circulate around the crust properly and will ensure any ice crystals that can cause the dough to go soggy will fully evaporate.
Make space for two

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No one likes waiting for pizza. If you don’t have space on your oven shelf for two whole pizzas, Delissio suggests cutting them in half and placing at each end of a tray.
Turn up the heat

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To make the crusts extra crunchy and add a few charred spots for a smoky flavour, give you oven-baked pizza a blast on a higher setting once it's thoroughly cooked through in the middle. Just don't leave it unsupervised.
Fold it when you hold it

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If you’ve been holding pizzas by the crust and shovelling it into your mouth, you’re doing it all wrong. Fold thin crusts in half to stop the tip sagging down and prevent toppings sliding off.
Follow the Neapolitan technique

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Traditionalists in Naples go one step further and fold their uncut pizzas twice before serving them in paper. This technique saves the toppings and prevents the tomato sauce leaking out.
Cut calories with a thin crust

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Pizza isn't a healthy dish but there are a few tricks you can use to make your meal a lot lighter. Opt for a thinner crust which will cut your calorie and carb intake.
Look out for lighter options

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A low-calorie pizza may sound like an oxymoron but many places offer healthier options these days. Along with thinner crusts, look out for no cheese options or consider sharing a small pizza and bulking up your plate with salad.
Blot with a napkin

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One glance at the grease spots in a pizza box can reveal a horrifying amount of oil. Soak up excess fat, by blotting pizza with a paper napkin. Studies have found this can cut calories by 20 to 50 per slice. It'll also stop you dripping grease on your lap while you eat.
Ask your waiter to 'double slice'

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If you’re ordering pizzas for a big group, ask your waiter or local delivery to 'double slice'. Cutting a normal pizza slice in half will double the amount of slices and your pizza party will have far more variety.
Stop pizza toppings moving in transit

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Fed up of pizza toppings sliding off when you drive home? Follow Papa John’s advice and wedge a bottle of drink in the dip of the seat to keep everything level.
Don't throw out the pizza saver

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Ever wondered what that small plastic stand stuck in the middle of your pizza is for? This clever device creates space between your meal and the cardboard box, preventing toppings from getting crushed and stuck to the lid.
Don't let it go cold

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If you're throwing a pizza party, a hot plate will keep everything warm throughout the day or night, with no need to worry about your guests' arrival coinciding with the delivery or cooking times.
How to heal a burnt tongue from hot pizza

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If you find yourself with a burnt mouth after eagerly tucking into pizza, you could try soothing it with sugar. According to some, rubbing sugar on the top of your mouth could ease the pain. Not convinced? Try ice cream instead.
Reheat in a frying pan

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Eating leftover pizza for breakfast is one of life’s simple pleasures. But if you prefer your leftovers hot, reheat it face down in a frying pan. Add a little oil and cook on medium-high for around five minutes or until the cheese starts to melt before flipping over and cooking the other side.
Put leftovers in the fridge pronto

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If you’ve ever been tempted to eat last night’s pizza from a box that hasn’t been put in the fridge, you’re not alone. But tucking into slices that have been left sitting at room temperature for more than two hours could make you ill. Stick it in the fridge in good time and it will be fine for up to four days.
Make plates from the pizza box

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Save on the washing up by making plates from the pizza box. Simply fold the lid into quarters and tear apart to create four handy pizza holders.
Save the box for leftovers

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Your pizza box is also ideal for storing leftovers in the fridge. Tear down the edges of the base and fold in half.
Add a cup of water when microwaving

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Determined to use your microwave to bring last night’s pizza back to life? To reheat your slice without the crust going brittle, nuke it for 45 seconds next to a microwavable-safe cup that’s about two-thirds full of water. The evaporating liquid will stop the dough drying out. Clever, eh?
Create a new dish with leftovers

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Pizza lasagne is a great way of transforming leftover slices. Simply coat a baking dish with tomato sauce and cover with slices of pizza (crusts removed). Build up the layers, smothering mozzarella, ricotta and tomato sauce in between. Place the top slices downwards and add a final sprinkling of cheese and sliced tomatoes. Bake for around 25–35 minutes at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 until golden brown.
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