Pizza Facts : Pizza is a beloved food all around the world, and there are many interesting and fun facts about this delicious dish. From the history of pizza to the most popular pizza toppings around the world, there is always something new to learn about pizza.
In this article, we will explore a variety of pizza facts, fun facts about pizza, and interesting facts about pizza that you may not have known. Whether you are a pizza aficionado or just love a good slice every now and then, these pizza facts are sure to surprise and delight you.
Pizza Facts
Here are some interesting facts about pizza:
- The world’s oldest pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, opened in Naples, Italy in 1738.
- The most popular topping for pizza in the United States is pepperoni.
- October is National Pizza Month in the United States.
- The world’s largest pizza was made in Rome in 2012 and measured 13,580 square feet.
- The first recorded instance of the word “pizza” dates back to 997 AD in Gaeta, Italy.
- The most expensive pizza in the world is the “Louis XIII” at Renato’s in South Beach, Florida, which costs $1,000 per pie.
- The most popular day for eating pizza in the United States is Super Bowl Sunday.
- In the United States, approximately 3 billion pizzas are sold each year.
- The world’s fastest pizza maker can make 14 pizzas in 2 minutes and 35 seconds.
- There are over 60,000 pizzerias in the United States.
- The first known use of tomato sauce on pizza was in the late 18th century in Naples, Italy.
- The first known pizzeria in the United States, Lombardi’s, opened in New York City in 1905.
- The most popular pizza in the United Kingdom is the “Hawaiian,” which is topped with pineapple and ham.
- The first pizza delivery service was started by Domino’s Pizza in 1960.
- The most expensive pizza ever sold was a “Pizza Royale 007” sold by Domenico Crolla in Glasgow, Scotland for £2,150 ($4,200). The pizza was topped with cognac-marinated lobster, champagne-soaked caviar, and 24-carat gold flakes.
- The largest pizza ever made was created in Norwood, South Africa in 1990 and measured 122 feet in diameter.
- Pizza is the world’s third most popular fast food (behind hamburgers and fried chicken).
- In 2017, Americans consumed an average of 46 slices of pizza per person.
- The word “pizza” means “pie” in Italian.
- The most popular pizza topping in Australia is barbecue chicken.
Here are a few more facts about pizza:
- The most popular pizza topping in Brazil is green peas.
- In Japan, octopus is a common pizza topping.
- In India, chicken tikka and paneer (a type of Indian cheese) are popular pizza toppings.
- Pizza is one of the top five most popular dishes in the world.
- The first known reference to pizza in the United States was in the December 13, 1889 edition of the New York Daily Tribune, which described “the pizzeria” as “the first place in New York to sell pizza.”
- The first known published recipe for pizza appeared in the Italian cookbook “La Scienza in Cucina e l’Arte di Mangiar Bene” (The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well) in 1891.
- The average pizza contains about 300 slices of pepperoni.
- The first known pizzeria in Canada opened in 1948 in Montreal.
- The first known pizzeria in Australia opened in 1956 in Melbourne.
- There are over 5,000 pizzerias in Canada.
- The highest per-capita consumption of pizza in the world is in Norway.
- The first known pizzeria in the United Kingdom opened in 1965 in Soho, London.
- Pizza Hut is the largest pizza chain in the world, with over 18,000 locations.
- Pizza was originally sold in streets and was intended to be a cheap, quick meal for working people.
- In Italy, pizza is typically served as a snack or appetizer, rather than a main course.
- In Italy, pizza is traditionally eaten with a fork and knife, not with the hands.
- The first known pizzeria in Germany opened in 1972 in Essen.
- The first known pizzeria in France opened in 1973 in Paris.
- The first known pizzeria in the Netherlands opened in 1978 in Amsterdam.
- The first known pizzeria in Sweden opened in 1979 in Stockholm.
Here are a few more pizza facts:
- There are over 350 slices of pizza eaten every second in the United States.
- The first known pizzeria in China opened in 1990 in Beijing.
- The first known pizzeria in South Korea opened in 1991 in Seoul.
- The first known pizzeria in Japan opened in 1992 in Yokohama.
- The first known pizzeria in India opened in 1996 in New Delhi.
- The first known pizzeria in Russia opened in 1997 in Moscow.
- The first known pizzeria in Brazil opened in 1998 in São Paulo.
- The first known pizzeria in Argentina opened in 1999 in Buenos Aires.
- The first known pizzeria in Mexico opened in 2000 in Mexico City.
- The first known pizzeria in South Africa opened in 2001 in Johannesburg.
- The first known pizzeria in Australia opened in 1952 in Melbourne.
- The first known pizzeria in New Zealand opened in 1953 in Wellington.
- The first known pizzeria in the Philippines opened in 1954 in Manila.
- The first known pizzeria in Singapore opened in 1955 in Singapore City.
- The first known pizzeria in Thailand opened in 1956 in Bangkok.
- The first known pizzeria in Malaysia opened in 1957 in Kuala Lumpur.
- The first known pizzeria in Indonesia opened in 1958 in Jakarta.
- The first known pizzeria in Vietnam opened in 1959 in Hanoi.
- The first known pizzeria in Taiwan opened in 1960 in Taipei.
- The first known pizzeria in Hong Kong opened in 1961 in Hong Kong.
- The first known pizzeria in the United Arab Emirates opened in 1962 in Abu Dhabi.
- The first known pizzeria in Qatar opened in 1963 in Doha.
- The first known pizzeria in Kuwait opened in 1964 in Kuwait City.
- The first known pizzeria in Bahrain opened in 1965 in Manama.
- The first known pizzeria in Oman opened in 1966 in Muscat.
- The first known pizzeria in Saudi Arabia opened in 1967 in Riyadh.
- The first known pizzeria in Israel opened in 1968 in Jerusalem.
- The first known pizzeria in Lebanon opened in 1969 in Beirut.
- The first known pizzeria in Jordan opened in 1970 in Amman.
- The first known pizzeria in Egypt opened in 1971 in Cairo.
Fun Facts About Pizza
Here are a few fun facts about pizza:
- The world record for the largest number of pizzas made in one hour is 8,606, set in Dubai in 2018.
- The world record for the most expensive pizza ever sold is the “Pizza Royale 007,” which was sold for £2,150 ($4,200) in Glasgow, Scotland. The pizza was topped with cognac-marinated lobster, champagne-soaked caviar, and 24-carat gold flakes.
- The world record for the largest pizza ever made was 122 feet in diameter and was created in South Africa in 1990.
- The world record for the fastest pizza maker is held by Tony Gemignani, who can make 14 pizzas in 2 minutes and 35 seconds.
- The world record for the longest pizza ever made was 6,080 feet and was created in Rome in 2012.
- The world record for the most people making pizzas simultaneously is 1,190 and was set in Mexico in 2018.
- The world record for the most pizza boxes stacked in one minute is 30, set by Ashrita Furman in New York in 2012.
- The world record for the most expensive pizza slice ever sold is $2,700, sold at Industry Kitchen in New York City in 2017. The slice was topped with truffles, caviar, and 24-karat gold flakes.
- The world record for the most people eating pizza simultaneously is 1,691 and was set in Italy in 2017.
- The world record for the most people tossing pizza dough simultaneously is 1,584 and was set in Italy in 2018.
Here are a few more pizza fun facts:
- In 2016, a pizza delivery man in the United States delivered a pizza to a customer in Antarctica, setting the record for the world’s southernmost pizza delivery.
- The world record for the most people tossing pizza dough simultaneously while blindfolded is 31 and was set in the United Kingdom in 2019.
- In 2018, a pizza delivery man in the United States set the record for the longest distance traveled on a delivery, traveling over 1,000 miles to deliver a pizza to a customer in Massachusetts.
- The world record for the most people eating pizza simultaneously while blindfolded is 49 and was set in Italy in 2019.
- The world record for the most people spinning a pizza tray simultaneously is 59 and was set in Italy in 2019.
- The world record for the most people tossing pizza dough simultaneously in a relay race is 51 and was set in Italy in 2019.
- In 2018, a pizza delivery man in the United States set the record for the fastest pizza delivery, delivering a pizza in just 5 minutes and 18 seconds.
- The world record for the most expensive pizza ever sold per square inch is $1,000, set by Industry Kitchen in New York City in 2017. The pizza was topped with white truffles, caviar, and 24-karat gold flakes.
- The world record for the most people eating pizza simultaneously while dressed as a pizza slice is 215 and was set in Italy in 2018.
- The world record for the most people eating pizza simultaneously while dressed as a chef is 173 and was set in Italy in 2019.
Interesting Facts About Pizza
Here are 25 interesting facts about pizza:
- The word “pizza” means “pie” in Italian.
- The world’s oldest pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, opened in Naples, Italy in 1738.
- The first recorded instance of the word “pizza” dates back to 997 AD in Gaeta, Italy.
- The first known published recipe for pizza appeared in the Italian cookbook “La Scienza in Cucina e l’Arte di Mangiar Bene” (The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well) in 1891.
- The first known pizzeria in the United States, Lombardi’s, opened in New York City in 1905.
- The first known use of tomato sauce on pizza was in the late 18th century in Naples, Italy.
- The most popular pizza topping in Brazil is green peas.
- In Japan, octopus is a common pizza topping.
- In India, chicken tikka and paneer (a type of Indian cheese) are popular pizza toppings.
- The most popular pizza topping in Australia is barbecue chicken.
- The most popular day for eating pizza in the United States is Super Bowl Sunday.
- October is National Pizza Month in the United States.
- The most expensive pizza in the world is the “Louis XIII” at Renato’s in South Beach, Florida, which costs $1,000 per pie.
- The world’s largest pizza was made in Rome in 2012 and measured 13,580 square feet.
- The average pizza contains about 300 slices of pepperoni.
- In the United States, approximately 3 billion pizzas are sold each year.
- Pizza is the world’s third most popular fast food (behind hamburgers and fried chicken).
- Americans consumed an average of 46 slices of pizza per person in 2017.
- There are over 60,000 pizzerias in the United States.
- The world’s fastest pizza maker can make 14 pizzas in 2 minutes and 35 seconds.
- Pizza Hut is the largest pizza chain in the world, with over 18,000 locations.
- In Italy, pizza is typically served as a snack or appetizer, rather than a main course.
- In Italy, pizza is traditionally eaten with a fork and knife, not with the hands.
- The most popular pizza in the United Kingdom is the “Hawaiian,” which is topped with pineapple and ham.
- The world record for the highest per-capita consumption of pizza is held by Norway.