Did you know that over three billion pizzas are sold every year in the United States? Given these statistics, around 350 slices of pizza are sold every second. Do you order a square cut pizza or triangle pizza? It does influence the taste!
If you’re someone who absolutely adores pizza, these stats shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, pizza is nearly everyone’s favorite food these days.
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So, what is it that makes this meal so irresistible? Is it the fine crust at the edge of each slice or the cheese stretching with each bite?
Whatever your reasons are for loving pizza more than anything in the world, we assume you’re here to find out which pizza cut is the best option for you.
Without further ado, let’s dive into details on pizza cuts and their benefits!
Why Is Pizza Cut into Squares (aka Party Cut Or Chicago Cut)?
It might come as a surprise but some people prefer to cut their pizza into squares rather than traditional triangles and they have a good reason for that. A pizza does not have to be shaped like a square for you to cut it into square pieces.
In fact, many restaurants cut their circular pizza into squares for different reasons.
A square-cut pizza usually yields more slices that are smaller in size. This sytle of pizza makes the square-cut a perfect option if you are ordering pizza for a large group since smaller pieces are easier to distribute evenly.
However, one thing you should keep in mind here is the symmetry of the square slices.
If a circular pizza is cut in squares, the slices will vary in size and shape. The slices in the middle will have a nice square shape and similar dimensions, although the ones near the edge will be more asymmetrical. Deep dish pizza, recntangle shaped thin crust pizza, or sicilian-style pizza is often cut into squares. If you want a silician slice it will always be a square or rectangle cut in New York City.
The pieces with an outer crust will likely turn out as smaller disfigured triangles or even stripes, depending on the size of squares you settle for.
Why Is Pizza Cut Into Triangles (aka Pizza Pie Cut)?
The most common way a pizza is to cut it into triangles. Wherever you go to order pizza from common places like Domino’s pizza, it will most likely come pre-cut into symmetrical triangle slices.
If you’ve ever been curious as to why a triangle is the perfect pizza slice shape, here’s your answer!
This is the best way and most symmetrical way to cut pizza in order to get equal sizes even on different types of pizza (as long as it is a circle). The thing about cutting pizza in triangles is that you can control the size of each slice and still make sure that every slice is completely identical.
While you might not care about spot-on symmetry when cutting pizza at home, this is very important for restaurants and high rated pizzerias.
Let’s face it, nothing looks better than a perfectly cut pizza where each slice fits in perfectly.
The versatility of this cutting method and the freedom to easily control slice sizes is the reason why most people prefer cutting pizza into triangles. Pizza pies are usually triangle cut in NYC using a pizza cutter.
Other Ways to Cut Pizza Slices
The way you cut your pizza can depend on its size, the number of people that are being served, as well as pure cultural preferences. If you’re a big fan of pizza, you already know that squares and triangles are not the only way to cut this delicious dough. No pizza cutter? No problem! Read here for more ways to cut your favorite pizza.
In fact, you can take full creative freedom when cutting pizza to achieve whichever result you are looking for. Here are other common ways you can make the most out of one meal when serving a large group of people:
Strips
If you’ve never seen pizza cut into strips or straight lines, this new information might change the way you eat your favorite meal. While strips are not the most common shape for cutting pizza slices, they do come in handy when you have many dips and sauces on the side.
In this scenario, the pizza is cut into strips ranging from four to six inches in size.
While this is not the most ideal shape for grabbing and handling, it is the best solution for dipping. You can dip each slice into sauce multiple times to get the best out of every bite.
The problem with triangle slices and dipping is that only the top of the slice and the cup can fit into a traditional sauce cup. That’s why strips are the ideal choice if you are serving pizza as an appetizer.
Small Triangles
Traditional triangles, squares, and strips are all great shapes suitable for different situations where pizza is being served.
One thing about traditional triangles is that they are often too big, which results in unwanted folding and the difficulty to keep the tip of the slice in good shape. However, most of us know how to handle a classic triangle pizza slice.
Children, on the other hand, might struggle with the classic triangle pizza shape because of its size. Luckily, you can always request a pizza to be double-cut so you will get 16 thin slices that are easier to hold.
This will make it easier for the little ones to enjoy a great meal rather than make a mess all over the place!
Square VS Triangle: Which Is the Best Option for You?
The biggest question on everyone’s mind is which type of pizza slice will get you the most bang for your buck?
The truth is that the answer depends on your personal preferences. Both triangle cut pizza and square pizza slices have their pros and cons, meaning one of these options will always be more suitable for specific scenarios.
For example, if you are serving pizza for a large group of people, you might want to go for smaller square pizza cuts so everyone can get a piece.
If you’re splitting the pizza between two people or you’d rather keep it all to yourself, then the traditional triangles will be good enough.
Here are the pros and cons of these two types of pizza slices that will help you determine which one works best for you:
Pros and Cons of Triangle Slices:
The Pros:
- This is the most symmetrical and easiest way to cut pizza
- You get the ability to control the size of the slice with ease
- Great for crust lovers – Every slice has a bit of crust, which is everyone’s favorite
- All pizza ingredients are equally distributed among the symmetrical pieces
- You can easily hold the slice or fold it if it’s large
The Cons:
- Triangle-cut pizza slices are more difficult to dip into sauce
- The larger the piece and the thinner the pizza, the more difficult it will be to keep the top of the slice from falling off
Pros and Cons of Square Slices:
The Pros:
- Square pieces are smaller in size and suitable for a party-cut pie
- Small squares are more suitable for snacks and appetizers
- Ancient Italians preferred this method of slicing pizza (historical advantage)
- Less crust (this can be both a pro and a con, it depends on whether or not you like crust on your pizza)
- The small corner pieces are always the best bite-sized slices
The Cons:
- The middle slices with no crust are not everyone’s favorite
- The slices are not symmetrical
- You might get into a fight over the tiny corner pieces
The Verdict
Now that you know what both sides have to offer, it will be easier to determine which type of pizza slice fits your preferences. However, keep in mind that all types of slices have certain advantages that will make pizza more enjoyable.
It all depends on the situation you’re in, the number of people who are being served, as well as the size of the pizza.
Interestingly, Serious Eats conducted a poll on this topic to determine which is the more preferred way of cutting pizza. We already know that the triangles are the go-to traditional option, although Chicagoans won’t agree with this popular technique.
In some areas, square pizza is clearly the more favorable choice and there’s no need to argue about it.
The mentioned poll brought us some interesting results. Namely, 73.8% of people who participated admitted that they prefer the traditional triangle pizza slices.
Only 15% of participants claimed that they prefer the square-cut version. This goes to show that triangles still remain the choice of the majority, which doesn’t mean square pizza is any less important.
In fact, square slices will always have a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of all pizza lovers who don’t like the crust. If you are the kind of person who leaves the crust behind when devouring a plate full of pizza, then square cuts might be the best option for you.
The slices in the middle are full of cheese and sauce, just the kind of combination you need when you’re craving some crust-free pizza.
However, there is no doubt that triangle slices offer far more advantages, including the ability to cut the pizza into equal shapes. With triangle slices, you can enjoy each part of the dough with each piece you grab.
If you’re only serving pizza as a snack or an appetizer, definitely go for smaller, square shapes to increase the quantity.
Best Tips for Pizza Lovers
Regardless of which type of pizza slices is your favorite, you will find yourself in a situation where you need to make a choice out of necessity.
Here are some of the best tips for cutting and ordering pizza that will help you get the best out of this delicious meal!
#1 Make Your Own
No one likes to hear this but, let’s face it, pizza is not the healthiest food out there. Luckily, this does not mean you should avoid it whatsoever. We can’t even imagine what life would look like if we had to avoid pizza for the rest of our days. Still, you can make sure that you are eating healthy while getting your dose of pizza regularly.
To do so, choose to make your own pizza every once in a while and opt for whole ingredients and less processed foods. That way, you will have control over the ingredients and their quality, which will allow you to keep track of your nutrition and calorie intake more closely. After all, any homemade meal is better than the fast-food alternative.
#2 Ask for a Double Pizza
If you’re ordering pizza in a restaurant or a pizzeria, chances are you can get more out of your order by asking for a double pizza. While not all restaurants will allow this, there are some exceptions where you can play around and create your own custom pizza. Essentially, a double pizza consists of two groups of toppings on the same plate.
For instance, if you cannot make your mind up between chicken pizza and the classic cheese pizza, you can ask them to split the two toppings on one dough. This is also a great option if you are planning to share the pizza with someone else.
#3 Take Your Homemade Pizza to the Next Level
Making homemade pizza can be fun, although it never turns out as delicious as the takeout version. However, there are still ways to take your homemade pizza to the next level with simple preparation tips. For starters, always cook your pizza at a high temperature. Around 500 degrees Fahrenheit will get you results similar to the ones you get in a real pizza oven.
While you’re at it, get creative with your toppings and sauces. You don’t have to stick to the original recipes because making your own pizza gives you the freedom to experiment. Some of the toppings you can try out include BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, salsa, pesto, Alfredo sauce, and anything else that comes to mind!
#4 Tip the Pizza Delivery Guy
If you opt for the delivery version, you should know how to tip the delivery guy properly. While this is completely up to you, the general rule states that you should leave a tip of 10 to 15% of your order.
Any orders below 20$ usually entail a tip of around 3$. However, you have the complete freedom to choose the amount and whether or not you’d like to leave a tip at all. After all, there is no need to tip a service you are not satisfied with.
Also look – Does pizza delivery have change?
#5 Know How Much Pizza to Order
Pizza is always the first thing that comes to mind when you sit down to eat with your friends and family. Ordering pizza has become a part of the gathering ritual. The only problem is that we never seem to know how much pizza is enough for everyone. Most often people order too much pizza and have leftovers sitting around for three days.
An even worse scenario is when you order much less pizza than needed so not everyone gets to enjoy a full meal. Luckily, you can solve this issue by using the Pizza Calculator that will help you determine how much pizza to order for a specific group of people.
#6 Medium-Sized vs Family-Sized Pizza
When ordering pizza for more than two people, you will likely find yourself choosing between medium and family size. Knowing the difference between the two will help you make the right choice for your order.
A family-sized pizza usually measures 18 inches and can be served to seven or eight people. A medium pizza, on the other hand, measures 12 inches and it is sufficient for three or four people. The number of slices in both cases can be adjusted to your preferences.
Use The Pizza Calc to Get the Best Out of Your Pizza Slices
If you’re planning a party or a family gathering, there should definitely be plenty of pizza on the table at some point of the day.
Now that you are familiar with different pizza cutting techniques, slice shapes, and sizes, it will be easier to plan ahead and provide each guest with a fair share of this delicious goodness.
To sum up everything we’ve covered in this guide, it is important to emphasize that different pizza cutting styles might not be suitable for everyone. This is a matter of personal preference, although some situations will indicate the need for one type of slice over another.
The good thing is, you can always ask for your pizza to be custom sliced the way you like it.
Be careful with this because not all restaurants and pizzerias like to receive requests that differ from their traditional style.
If you find a place that is flexible enough to make your pizza wishes come true, stick to their delicious offering!
One more thing before you leave to order your perfect box of pizza, make sure to know how much pizza is enough for your group of guests. The Pizza Calc guide will help you learn everything from different pizza shapes and sizes to how much pizza an average person can eat.
Head over to their calculator to determine how many slices of pizza you are going to need for the next gathering.
Make sure to let us know in the comments which pizza slice method you prefer and why. We are looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences on this topic!