Does Pizza Hut Have New York Style Pizza? A Slice of Truth

No, Pizza Hut does not currently offer a pizza that is authentically classified as New York style pizza. While they may offer large pizzas, or pizzas with certain characteristics similar to New York style, their dough, baking process, and overall recipe diverge significantly from the thin, foldable, and slightly crispy crust that defines the true New York experience.

Deconstructing the New York Style Pizza

To understand why Pizza Hut doesn’t quite hit the mark, let’s first dissect what constitutes a genuine New York slice. It’s more than just throwing a lot of cheese on a big pizza; it’s a culinary art form steeped in tradition.

The Crust: The Foundation of the Experience

The crust is arguably the most crucial element. A true New York style crust is:

• Thin: Not cracker-thin like some other styles, but noticeably thinner than Pizza Hut’s offerings, including their pan pizza or hand-tossed crust.
• Foldable: This is the hallmark. The crust should be pliable enough to fold in half lengthwise for easy, one-handed consumption. This foldability is achieved through a specific dough recipe, often using high-gluten flour and a long, slow fermentation process.
• Crispy on the Bottom: The bottom crust should have a satisfying crispness, often achieved by baking directly on a stone or in a well-seasoned pan.
• Slightly Chewy: Despite the crispness, there’s still a slight chewiness to the crust, thanks to the gluten development during fermentation.

Pizza Hut’s pizzas, even their “hand-tossed,” generally have a thicker, softer crust that lacks the characteristic crispness and foldability of a true New York slice.

The Sauce: Simplicity is Key

New York pizza sauce is typically a simple affair, highlighting the quality of the tomatoes. It’s usually:

• Thinly Applied: Too much sauce can make the crust soggy, ruining the experience.
• Made from High-Quality Tomatoes: San Marzano tomatoes are often favored for their sweetness and low acidity.
• Seasoned Minimally: A touch of oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper is usually all that’s needed.

While Pizza Hut’s sauce is often flavorful, it can sometimes be applied more generously than is typical for New York style, and the exact tomato variety and preparation are different.

The Cheese: Low-Moisture Mozzarella Rules

The cheese is another critical component. New York pizza typically uses:

• Low-Moisture, Part-Skim Mozzarella: This cheese melts beautifully and doesn’t release excessive amounts of oil.
• Generous, but Not Overwhelming, Amount: The cheese should complement the crust and sauce, not drown them.

Pizza Hut’s cheese blend, while tasty, sometimes includes other cheeses and may have a higher moisture content, leading to a different texture and flavor profile compared to the classic New York style.

The Baking Process: High Heat is Essential

The baking process is where the magic happens. New York pizzerias often use:

• High-Temperature Ovens: Brick ovens or deck ovens that reach temperatures of 700-800°F (370-430°C) are common.
• Short Baking Time: The high heat allows the pizza to cook quickly, creating a crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese in just a few minutes.

Pizza Hut typically uses conveyor belt ovens, which operate at lower temperatures and longer baking times, resulting in a different crust texture and overall pizza quality.

Pizza Hut: A Different Style, A Different Experience

Pizza Hut excels at what it does – providing a variety of pizzas with different crusts, toppings, and flavors. They offer options like pan pizza (thick and doughy), stuffed crust pizza, and various specialty pizzas. However, these are distinct styles with their own merits, and none of them replicate the New York pizza experience. They don’t necessarily try to replicate that style. Their aim is broader appeal, which often sacrifices the nuances of specific regional pizza styles.

Why the Confusion? Size Matters (Sometimes)

One reason for the confusion might be the size. Pizza Hut often offers large pizzas, and New York pizzas are traditionally large. However, size alone doesn’t make a pizza New York style. It’s the combination of the crust, sauce, cheese, and baking process that truly defines it.

Bottom Line: Enjoy Pizza Hut for What It Is

While you won’t find an authentic New York style slice at Pizza Hut, you can still enjoy their pizzas for their own unique flavors and offerings. Just don’t expect a foldable, crispy-bottomed, slightly chewy slice reminiscent of the Big Apple. To experience true New York style pizza, seek out a local pizzeria specializing in that specific style.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is New York style pizza known for?

New York style pizza is known for its thin, foldable crust, a simple tomato sauce, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, and its large size, typically around 18 inches in diameter. The crust should be crispy on the bottom and slightly chewy.

2. What kind of crust does Pizza Hut primarily offer?

Pizza Hut offers a variety of crusts, including pan pizza (thick and doughy), hand-tossed (thicker than New York style), and stuffed crust. None are truly thin and crispy like New York style.

3. What type of ovens do New York pizzerias typically use?

New York pizzerias often use brick ovens or deck ovens that reach very high temperatures (700-800°F), cooking the pizza quickly and creating a crispy crust.

4. Does Pizza Hut use San Marzano tomatoes in their sauce?

It’s unlikely. While Pizza Hut uses a proprietary tomato sauce, it’s not typically made with San Marzano tomatoes, which are favored for their sweetness and low acidity in authentic New York pizza.

5. Is it possible to make New York style pizza at home?

Yes, it’s possible! You’ll need high-gluten flour, patience for a long fermentation process, a hot oven (or pizza stone), and quality ingredients. There are many recipes and guides available online.

6. What’s the difference between New York style and Neapolitan pizza?

Neapolitan pizza is even thinner and more delicate than New York style, with a puffy, charred crust. It’s typically cooked for a very short time at extremely high temperatures. New York style is slightly thicker and more robust, designed for folding and eating on the go.

7. Can I customize my Pizza Hut order to resemble New York style pizza?

You can try to order a large pizza with a light sauce and minimal toppings. However, the crust will still not be authentically New York style due to the different dough recipe and baking process.

8. Are there any regional variations of New York style pizza?

While the core characteristics remain the same, there can be slight regional variations in terms of toppings or specific ingredients used. However, the thin, foldable crust is the defining feature.

9. What kind of cheese is best for New York style pizza?

Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella is the preferred cheese for New York style pizza. It melts beautifully without releasing excessive oil.

10. How is the dough prepared for New York style pizza?

The dough typically requires a long, slow fermentation process (often overnight or longer) to develop flavor and gluten, resulting in a foldable and slightly chewy crust.

11. Why is New York style pizza often sold by the slice?

New York style pizzas are typically large, making them ideal for selling by the slice, especially for busy New Yorkers on the go. The foldable crust makes it easy to eat while walking.

12. What are some other popular pizza styles besides New York and Neapolitan?

Other popular pizza styles include Chicago deep-dish, Detroit-style (square with a thick, crispy crust), Sicilian (thick and rectangular), and California-style (known for its unique and often gourmet toppings).