| Pizza is one of the most popular foods in America | | | | rolled no more than 1/4 inch thick and no chance to |
| today with 93% of Americans eating at least 1 pizza | | | | rise before baking. Traditional New York style pizza |
| a month. What's the secret behind this Italian | | | | (thin crust) is currently the most popular and has a |
| specialty and why are Americans so in love with it? | | | | crust so pliable it can fold without splitting. Thin crusts |
| According to the experts, a perfect pizza begins with | | | | are mixed until smooth and are often hand-tossed. |
| the perfect crust. The best pizza is only as good as | | | | On the other hand, some people prefer thick chewy |
| its crust and a large number of Americans agree with | | | | crusts and this can be achieved with either fresh or |
| this. In a recent poll, over 1/3 of Americans believe | | | | chilled dough by simply letting it rise.Deep-dish pizza or |
| that the crust is the most important part of the | | | | Chicago-style pizza is another popular kind and is |
| pizza. Whether the pizza is thick or thin, | | | | made with under-mixed dough that has a cake-like |
| cheese-stuffed or hand-tossed, deep-dish or | | | | texture. The crust turns out biscuit-like because it is |
| gourmet, a good crust is the key.A well-made pizza | | | | pre-baked before the toppings are added. |
| crust has the perfect combination of flavor and | | | | Cracker-crust pizza is gaining acceptance and is made |
| texture. It should never be bland or difficult to chew. | | | | by under-mixing the dough, allowing it to ferment for |
| Most pizza crusts contain only basic ingredients: | | | | a few hours, then sheeting it. Pan-style pizza utilizes |
| water, flour, yeast, shortening, salt and sugar. What | | | | thick dough and is cooked in oil, resulting in a light |
| magic makes this simple combination so | | | | crunchy crust. Cheese-stuffed pizza crusts have |
| mouthwatering? Starting with the right kind of flour | | | | unbeatable flavor and texture, while California style |
| (usually an all-purpose unbleached flour) will help | | | | (gourmet pizza) relies on a typical thin crust and a |
| ensure the perfect pizza crust. Yeast that is still | | | | variety of specialty toppings.So what pizza crusts do |
| active is critical to making the dough rise. Water is | | | | people like best? The verdict is in and statistics show |
| the simplest and yet most important ingredient, | | | | that thin crusts are by far the most popular. |
| because it blends the others together into perfect | | | | Approximately 61% of Americans prefer a thin crust |
| union.The best pizza dough is smooth and elastic but | | | | pizza. Coming in second and tied at 14% are |
| never too sticky, resulting in an irresistible crust. | | | | deep-dish crusts and thick crusts. Cheese-stuffed |
| Some people believe that refrigerating pizza dough | | | | crusts are preferred by 4% of Americans and |
| gives it a more desirable flavor. Sometimes corn meal | | | | especially pleasing to children. Whatever the style, the |
| is added, especially to deep-dish pizza crust, giving it a | | | | crust is undeniably a major factor in good pizza. Good |
| yellowish hue. Adding whole wheat or rye flour | | | | pizza crusts are essential to tasty pizza and have |
| contributes both flavor and nutrition to the pizza | | | | come a long way from the days when the crust was |
| crust. Whole-wheat pizza crusts are becoming more | | | | peeled off and discarded.William Lockhart is Founder |
| common among health-conscious Americans.Many | | | | of He is also a self proclaimed homemade pizza lover. |
| people swear by a thin crust, but 40% prefer it crisp | | | | delivers pizza recipes to subscribers email box. The |
| on the outside and tender on the inside. The secret | | | | slogan on the web site reads, "They'll Get Down On |
| to a deliciously thin crust is fresh ingredients; dough | | | | Their Knees And Beg You To Make Another". |