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