The Ultimate Pizza Showdown: 15 Styles Ranked

Pizza lovers, get ready for the ultimate showdown! We're ranking 15 of the most popular pizza styles from around the world to determine which reigns supreme. From classic Neapolitan to Chicago deep dish, we'll explore what makes each style unique and delicious.

Argentinian Fugazzeta

We start our journey with a style many may not be familiar with - the Argentinian fugazzeta. This unique pizza features:

• A double layer of dough
• Lots of cheese between the layers
• Topped with onions, chimichurri, and olives
• No tomato sauce

The fugazzeta offers an interesting twist on pizza, with its cheese-stuffed crust and flavorful toppings. While tasty, it's quite different from traditional pizza and may not appeal to purists.

Texture score: 8/10 Flavor score: 8/10

Detroit-Style

Next up is Detroit-style pizza, known for its:

• Thick, airy crust
• Crispy, caramelized cheese edges
• Rectangular shape
• Sauce on top of the cheese

Detroit-style offers a satisfying combination of textures, from the crispy bottom to the fluffy interior. The caramelized cheese edges are a highlight.

Texture score: 8/10 Flavor score: 7/10

New Haven-Style

New Haven, Connecticut is famous for its unique pizza style featuring:

• Thin, crispy crust
• Minimal toppings
• Coal-fired oven baking
• "Apizza" pronunciation

We sampled the classic tomato pie as well as the famous white clam pizza. The coal-fired oven imparts a distinctive char and flavor.

Texture score: 8.9/10 Flavor score: 8/10

Roman Al Taglio

Moving to Italy, we try Roman-style pizza al taglio:

• Rectangular slices
• Light, airy crust
• Variety of toppings
• Served at room temperature

The Roman style offers incredible texture, with a crisp bottom and pillowy interior. The simple margherita allows the quality ingredients to shine.

Texture score: 9.1/10 Flavor score: 9/10

Stuffed Pizza

We sample a proper stuffed pizza, not to be confused with deep dish:

• Two layers of dough
• Filled with cheese and toppings
• Sauce on top
• Baked in a deep pan

The stuffed pizza offers an interesting twist, with its sandwich-like construction. The potato filling adds a unique creamy texture.

Texture score: 8.8/10 Flavor score: 8.8/10

Grandma-Style

Next is the homestyle grandma pizza:

• Thin crust
• Square shape
• Minimal rise time
• Simple toppings

While tasty, the grandma style didn't quite measure up to some of the other varieties in our ranking.

Texture score: 6/10 Flavor score: 6/10

Chicago Tavern-Style

We try both deep dish and tavern-style pizzas from Chicago:

• Tavern-style features a thin, crispy crust
• Cut into squares
• Minimal toppings

The tavern-style proved more enjoyable than its deep dish counterpart, offering a satisfying crunch and balanced flavors.

Texture score: 7.2/10 Flavor score: 7.2/10

New York-Style

No pizza ranking would be complete without New York-style pizza:

• Large, foldable slices
• Thin crust
• Simple toppings
• Sold by the slice

The classic New York slice delivers exactly what you want - a perfect balance of crust, sauce, and cheese that can be easily eaten on the go.

Texture score: 9/10 Flavor score: 8.8/10

Sicilian

We sample the American interpretation of Sicilian-style pizza:

• Thick, focaccia-like crust
• Square shape
• Baked in a pan
• Topped with tomato sauce and cheese

The Sicilian style offers a satisfying chew and excellent flavor, though it can be quite filling.

Texture score: 9.3/10 Flavor score: 8.2/10

Thin Crust

We try an excellent example of thin crust pizza:

• Cracker-thin crust
• Minimal toppings
• Cut into squares

The thin crust style allows the quality ingredients to shine, with a satisfying crunch in every bite.

Texture score: 8.9/10 Flavor score: 8.8/10

Coal-Fired

We sample coal-fired pizza, a style popularized in New York:

• Cooked in extremely hot coal ovens
• Thin, crispy crust
• Slightly charred edges
• Simple toppings

The coal-fired method imparts a unique flavor and texture to the crust, resulting in an excellent pizza.

Texture score: 8.4/10 Flavor score: 9/10

Neapolitan

Finally, we come to the original pizza style - Neapolitan:

• Soft, chewy crust
• Minimal toppings
• Cooked quickly in a wood-fired oven
• Follows strict guidelines

The Neapolitan style showcases pizza in its purest form, with incredible texture and flavor from high-quality ingredients.

Texture score: 9.5/10 Flavor score: 9.4/10

The Final Ranking

After sampling 15 different styles, here's how they stack up:

1. Neapolitan
2. Roman Al Taglio
3. New York-Style
4. Coal-Fired
5. Sicilian
6. Thin Crust
7. Stuffed Pizza
8. New Haven-Style
9. Detroit-Style
10. Argentinian Fugazzeta
11. Chicago Tavern-Style
12. Grandma-Style
13. Chicago Deep Dish
14. Chain Pizza

While personal preferences will always vary, it's clear that the classic Neapolitan style remains hard to beat. However, each pizza style offers something unique and delicious in its own right. The world of pizza is vast and varied - there's truly something for everyone to enjoy!

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G4PqD6Ao80