Celebrate National Pizza Month in October

Highlights:

• Modern-day pizza has been around since the 18th century.
• Not all cheeses work well on pizza. 

National Cheese Pizza Month

October is National Cheese Pizza Month—a time for celebrating one of America’s all-time favorite cheesy dishes. Cheese-based meals and snacks continue to trend due to consumers’ cravings for comfort foods and the need for convenient nutritious foods during the pandemic. Cheese pizza has wide appeal.

To fully appreciate the importance of this beloved dish, it’s important to take a look back in history at the origins of pizza. The first signs of pizza come from ancient Greece and Rome, where certain flatbreads were topped with cheese and herbs. Interestingly, these early pizzas are thought to have been sweet, rather than savory, and included ingredients such as honey.

It wasn’t until the late 18th century that the modern-day pizza was invented, thanks to the addition of tomatoes—a move that put Naples on the map as a food destination. A century later, a Neapolitan pizza-maker reportedly created the Pizza Margherita—a pizza topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil to represent the white, red, and green of Italy’s flag—in honor of Queen Margherita. Pizza soon arrived in the U.S., with the first pizzeria officially opening in New York City in 1905.

What You Should Know About Pizza

While all cheeses taste delicious, there are certain traits that make the best pizza cheeses. The trick is in identifying the cheeses that have both good melting properties and the right amount of moisture. Cheese should not be so moist that it makes the crust soggy, but not so dry that it burns during baking. 

For these reasons, in addition to its mild but rich flavor, mozzarella has long been the go-to cheese for pizza. With mozzarella as a base, it becomes easy to explore the benefits of other cheeses. Provolone, for example, can be added in equal parts with mozzarella to take the flavor in a new direction—from slightly sweet for younger provolones to sharper, nutty flavors for more aged provolones. Cheddar can be used the same way, but in smaller amounts.

Ricotta pizza is another exciting option. Increasingly popular on pizzas, this soft, creamy cheese can be used alone or blended with another cheese. And don’t forget hard cheeses like parmesan which can add depth and umami taste to a pizza. Due to its low moisture level, parmesan should be sprinkled onto pizza after baking, though it can also be blended into the dough for a cheesy crust.

While families across the country get ready for a spooky fun Halloween, pizza operators everywhere are also preparing for one of their busiest evenings of the year. According to the American Pizza Community (APC), Halloween is one of the most popular days to order pizza. 

How to Celebrate Cheese Pizza Month

For National Cheese Pizza Month, a celebration is in order. Ideas for enjoying this delicious occasion include ordering a pizza for a festive family dinner or inviting friends over for a make-your-own pizza party. Be sure to have a selection of different cheeses on hand. Blended cheeses, aged cheeses, spicy cheeses, and artisan cheeses can add some taste adventure and make this a pizza night to remember.

Here at Glanbia Nutritionals, we know cheese. For manufacturers looking for the highest quality and widest variety of in-demand cheeses for use in their products, Glanbia is the ingredient supplier of choice. From classic cheeses to health and wellness cheeses to cheeses with innovative flavors and inclusions, we’ve got you covered. Learn more about our cheese capabilities!