Crazy Things You Never Knew About Pizza

This Is Why Pizzas Are Round But Pizza Boxes Are Square

Have you ever wondered why pizzas are circular but the boxes they’re delivered in are square-shaped? Reportedly, the reason is because square-shaped cardboard boxes are cheaper to produce and easier to assemble than round ones.

In Ohio, There’s A Pizza ATM

Although ATMs that dispense pizzas have existed in Europe for many years, the first pizza ATM in the U.S. debuted in 2016. Located at Xavier University in Ohio, the machine holds 70 medium-sized pizzas. Customers can purchase one through a touchscreen, and the machine will heat up and dispense the pizza through a slot.

The State That Has The Most Pizza Shops Per Capita Is…

New York and Illinois may be famous for their pizza styles, but the state that has the most pizzerias per capita is actually West Virginia. It is also reportedly the state where “pepperoni” is googled the most often. The state that has the fewest pizza shop per capita is Hawaii.

These Are The Most Popular Pizza Toppings

According to a 2013 study, pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping in the U.S. and Canada, followed by mushrooms and onion. The most surprisingly popular toppings that people order? Pineapple made the list in ninth place, followed by spinach at No. 10.

Norwegians Really Love Pizza

Although pizza was invented in Italy and is beloved by Americans, Norwegians’ pizza consumption is among the highest in the world, according to trade publication PMQ Pizza. People in the Nordic country reportedly eat a pizza meal every other week on average.

Brazilians Are Known For Their Love Of Dessert Pizzas

In Brazil, sweet pizzas are as common as savory ones. Chocolate, coconut and even ice cream are toppings that can show up on a Brazilian dessert pizza.

You Can Buy Marijuana-Infused Pizza In Some Places

A medical marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts may be the first place in the U.S. to sell marijuana-infused pizzas. (Its tomato sauce contains 125 milligrams of THC.) Cannabis-infused pizzas can also be found at dispensaries in Los Angeles.

Eating Pizza May Help With Weight Loss

Think eating pizza is a no-no when you’re on a diet? A 2015 study showed that eating whatever you want, including pizza, one day a week, can help maintain your motivation while dropping pounds. In other words: you shouldn’t feel bad about indulging in pizza on your “cheat days.”

Hawaiian Pizza Was Actually Created In Canada

Despite the name, Hawaiian pizza wasn’t actually the creation of a Hawaiian chef. Instead, it was invented by a Canadian cook who started serving pineapple-topped pie in the 1960s. These days, Hawaiian pizza typically consists of pineapple and either bacon or ham.

Domino’s Ended Their “30 Minutes Or It’s Free” Delivery Guarantee In 1993

Prior to 1993, Domino’s advertised a 30-minute guarantee to its customers, promising quick delivery. (If delivered after 30 minutes, the pizza would be free or discounted.) However, after the company settled a lawsuit related to an auto accident involving one of its drivers, it ended the 30-minute guarantee.

Thanksgiving Eve is One Of The Most Popular Days To Order Pizza

Besides Super Bowl Sunday, the night before Thanksgiving is one of the most popular days of the year to order pizza, perhaps because people don’t want to do a lot of cooking the day before they need to prepare a huge feast. New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Halloween are also popular pizza-eating holidays.

Domino’s Has A Wedding Registry For Pizza-Lovers

What do you get the couple that has everything? How about pizza gift cards? Domino’s launched a wedding registry in 2017 that allows pizza-loving couples to register for their favorite kinds of pizzas. Expectant parents can also sign up for a pizza baby registry.

Pizza Hut Concocted A Pizza-Scented Perfume

Love the smell of pizza? You may have been among the target audience for Pizza Hut Canada’s limited-edition perfume that they released in 2012. According to the press release, the perfume smelled like “freshly baked, hand-tossed dough.”

Little Caesars Released A Bacon-Wrapped Pizza

Combining two of our cultural obsessions (pizza and bacon), Little Caesars debuted a limited-edition bacon-wrapped deep dish pizza in 2015. It featured 3.5 feet of bacon wrapped around the crust. Priced at $12, it was one of the pizza chain’s most expensive menu items.

A British University Offers Pizza-Making Courses

If you want to have the most delicious homework in the world, you may want to attend Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. In 2015, the university teamed up with Pizza Hut to offer for-credit apprenticeships that teach students the art of pizza-making and prepare them for a career in hospitality. According to some, it’s basically like getting a degree in pizza.

Pineapple Pizza Is A Hot-Button Issue

Many people either love pineapple as a pizza topping or detest it. However, in 2017, Iceland’s president, Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson, turned the topic into a hotly debated issue when he joked that pineapple pizza should be banned. The comment quickly drew media attention worldwide, and Johannesson released a follow-up statement in Icelandic and English:

“I like pineapples, just not on pizza,” he wrote. “I do not have the power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapples on their pizza. I am glad that I do not hold such power. Presidents should not have unlimited power. I would not want to hold this position if I could pass laws forbidding that which I don’t like. I would not want to live in such a country. For pizzas, I recommend seafood.”

There Is A Pizza Museum In Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, you can celebrate all things pizza-related at the Pizza Brain Museum of Pizza Culture. The site, which also doubles as a restaurant, is reportedly the world’s first pizza museum. It contains advertising, books and toys, among other artifacts related to pizza.

Lombardi’s Was The First Pizzeria In The U.S.

In 1905, the first pizza shop in the country opened in New York. It was called Lombardi’s, named after the Italian immigrant who started it, Gennaro Lombardi. Today, you can still find Lombardi’s pizzeria in lower Manhattan just down the block from where the original shop was located.

Deep Dish Pizza Was Invented In Chicago

Although pizza hails from Italy, deep-dish-style pizza is a distinctly American creation. It was reportedly invented in Chicago in 1943. The geniuses at Pizzeria Uno came up with the idea to make a thicker pizza in a deep dish, so that it felt more like a meal.

October Is National Pizza Month

For pizza-lovers in the U.S., October is a special time of year because it’s National Pizza Month. Many pizzerias offer discounts to celebrate, so stay tuned to your favorite local pizzeria for delicious savings.

The Pizza.com Domain Name Sold For Millions In 2008

Talk about some serious dough! In 1994, Chris Clark reportedly bought the domain pizza.com for $20. Years later, he sold it for $2.6 million in an auction.

In 2015, Pizza Hut Debuted A Crust Made Out Of Mini Hotdogs

Yes, you read that right. Pizza Hut combined mini hot dogs and pizza and turned them into one crazy limited-edition menu item in 2015. However, even for people who loved both foods, hot dog pizza was very polarizing.

The Record For The Largest Pizza Is Over 13,000 Square Feet

The Guinness World Record for the largest pizza was set in Italy in 2012. It was over 13,000 square feet in surface area and gluten-free. Meanwhile, the longest pizza was created by chefs in California and measured over 6,000 feet long.

Some Pizza May Prevent Cancer

In news we’d definitely like to believe, an Italian study found that thin-crust pizza-eaters had less of a risk for certain types of cancer. However, because there are so many types of pizza (and not all types feature olive oil, which is believed to help stave off cancer), experts say to take the results of the study with a “grain of salt.”

This Man Has Eaten Only Pizza For The Last 25 Years

Could you eat pizza every day? A Maryland man named Dan Janssen revealed in 2014 that he’s subsisted on a pizza diet for over 25 years. He claims to have eaten pizza for nearly every meal.

There Are Around 75,000 Pizza Restaurants In The U.S.

No matter what state you travel to, there’s bound to be a pizza restaurant nearby. That’s because there are reportedly more than 75,000 of them in the U.S. alone. That’s a lot of pizza!

Butternut Squash Pizza Crust Is Now A Thing

Move over, cauliflower crust pizza. The next big trend in vegetable crusts is apparently butternut squash. Trader Joe’s began offering the gluten-free pizza crust alternative in fall 2018.

A Brooklyn Pizzeria Created A Pizza Box Made Out Of Pizza

While cardboard pizza boxes get discarded in the trash, Vinnie’s Pizzeria in Brooklyn, New York, figured out a more environmentally friendly way to transport pizzas: a pizza box made out pizza! As of today, you can order the Pizza Box Pizza for $45. It can even be delivered.

A British Pizza Shop Created A Cadbury Creme Egg Pizza

A chocolate-egg-covered pizza? That’s what Crazy Pedro’s in the U.K. dreamed up in 2016. In addition to the chocolate “egg” topping, the pizza is also covered in brownies, marshmallows and chocolate sauce.

A Texas Pizza Shop Boasts The Largest Pizza That Can Be Ordered

Sure, anyone can bake a massive-sized pizza, but Moontower Pizza Bar in Burleson, Texas, holds the record for the largest pizza that people can actually buy. The pizzeria sells a pizza that is 8 feet by 32 inches for $299.95. It contains over 10 pounds of cheese!