5 Intriguing Pizza Facts You Probably Haven't Heard Before

By Admin
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13 Sep, 2017
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It's round, it's cheesy and almost everyone includes it on their list of favorite foods. Whether you prefer it topped with veggies, pepperoni or just lots of cheese, you can't argue with the fact that pizza is a true American classic. But what else do you know about this saucy, delicious dinner option? Here are five interesting pizza facts you probably haven't heard before.

1. The World Record for Pizza Eating: 40 1/2 Slices in 10 Minutes

It's hard to imagine eating 40 1/2 slices of pizza in a day, let alone in 10 minutes, but the famous Joey Chestnut achieved this heart attack–inducing feat in 2010.

Chestnut is a world-renowned competitive eater who is ranked first in the world by Major League Eating. He also holds a number of other world eating records, such as bratwurst (70 brats in 10 minutes), hard-boiled eggs (141 in 8 minutes) and hot dogs (72 in 10 minutes).

2. The World's Largest Pizza: 1,261.65 Square Meters

With a surface area of 1,2261.65 square meters, this enormous pizza was constructed in Rome, Italy in December of 2012. It figures that Italy would claim the record for the world's largest pizza!

To make things more interesting, the pizza was gluten-free, and the creators named it "Ottavia." It was created, in part, to raise awareness of the benefits of healthy food choices.

3. Many Countries Have Their Own Unique Styles of Pizza

Pizza has always had a lot of regional variations, from deep dish Chicago pizza to thin and foldable New York–style pizza. One of the most unique styles of pizza, however, has to be Brazil's take on this saucy pie. Common toppings include curried chicken, beets, bananas, palm hearts and corn. When you order pizza in Brazil, it does not come sliced, either. The diner is expected to slice it themselves.

Hungary is another country with really unique pizza. They often top it with sour cream, meat and garlic butter, and the crust is more like a flatbread.

In Turkey, onions, herbs and tomatoes are generally worked into the pizza dough, and this crust is topped with a mixture of chopped beef or lamb. Armenian pizza is quite similar, and in both of these countries, pizza is more of a snack than a meal.

4. The Longest Delivery Trip: To Outer Space

Even astronauts have cravings for pizza. In 2001, the first pizza was delivered to the International Space Station, which was manned by both U.S. and Russian personnel. The company delivered a salami pizza because they found, during their research, that pepperoni would not survive the voyage through space without molding.

Sadly, the U.S. workers were not allowed to enjoy any of the pizza because doing so would violate NASA's non-advertising policy. The Russians, however, did get to taste the saucy goodness.

5. Pizzas Sold Each Year in the United States: 3 Billion

That's a lot of pizza! But considering that 93% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month, it's not all that surprising. As an extra bonus fact, the average American consumes 23 pounds of pizza per year. Keep that in mind the next time you reach for another slice. Do you consume more than the average 23 pounds or less?

Whether you're an average American who eats 23 pounds of pizza a year or someone who enjoys a slice as a treat on occasion, make sure you choose a pizza restaurant that makes high-quality pies with good ingredients. Camden House of Pizza offers delicious pizza in a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere. We don't recommend trying to eat 40 1/2 slices in 10 minutes, but we know you'll reach for seconds — and probably thirds.