Giving Pizza Hut Another Try
Apparently Pizza Hut is switching to all-natural ingredients. Whether or not this makes for a better tasting Pizza remains to be seen, especially considering my main beef with Pizza Hut has always been their shitty dough/crust.
Of particular interest to me is that “it would use only pepperoni and other sausages that do not contain artificial preservatives or colors and are free of nitrates and nitrites.” I’ve had a growing interest in charcuterie and I’ve been frustrated at the lack of information out there on curing meats without sodium nitrate (or “pink salt”) which is used to retain color and help it last longer. Even Philly’s own Marc Vetri didn’t have any good info for me. So I’m curious to see how Pizza Hut’s pepperoni and sausage looks and tastes.
Comments
man, i don’t know about this. pizza hut is fucking terrible and was only good when you did book it! in elementary school.
i’m kinda craving it now that you said something. but when papa john’s tried this, the pizza still tasted the same. i guess it’s worth checking out.
I’ve always wondered how pepperoni is so red, especially compared to other sausages. Does anybody know how? Paprika? Pepper flakes?
Reggie, I believe it’s a number of things. You’re right about paprika and I’m sure that helps, but it’s also that pepperoni typically uses way more pink salt (sodium nitrate) which helps the meat retain it’s raw color. Pepperoni also uses more beef which is redder in it’s raw form than pork. The curing process for pepperoni is more intense than sausage, since it’s intended to be eaten without being cooked, so the proteins get a little more fucked up than ordinary sausage which is intended to be cooked and can still go bad after time. Uncooked ordinary sausage can be pretty red, but the cooking process greys/browns it.
A good example of this is a lot of polish sausages which are intended on being eaten raw. They’re much more pink than their italian counterparts, which need to be cooked, because of the heavier cure. Also worth noting is that polish sausages rarely (if ever?) use beef, so the color is pink instead of red like pepperoni.
we tried the new pizza and loved it. a caveat to this, however, is that we like pizza hut pizza anyway. but, from now on i’m going to order the organic pizza over their regular pizza.
If theres a lack of information on these nitrates and nitrites, how do you know they’re bad for you? Or at least worse that what would replace them?
You misunderstood — there’s plenty of information about nitrates and nitrites. There’s a lack of information about how to cure meat without them. The science is pretty well defined about their carcinogenic properties. It’s just that no one who cures meat seems to care.
Pizza Hut over here has been changed to ‘Pasta Hut’ due to serving more, you guessed it, pasta, that I wouldn’t go near if you paid me.
I’m not too worried about the nitrates and nitrites and other carcinogen now that I know that my body gets rid of them and the myth that they are being stored in my system long term and doing me harm is simply junk science. Previously I was concerned but now that I know my body is it’s own best detox system and can flush them out toot sweet, I’m going to eat the fuck out of some preservatives.
Kevin said:I’m not too worried about the nitrates and nitrites and other carcinogen now that I know that my body gets rid of them and the myth that they are being stored in my system long term and doing me harm is simply junk science. Previously I was concerned but now that I know my body is it’s own best detox system and can flush them out toot sweet, I’m going to eat the fuck out of some preservatives.
I don’t know, man. You old guys should never be too careful. Oldie McOlderson.
The pizza I could give a try since I am not terribly picky about that.
As for the pasta they are promoting, there was an ad a few months ago stating that “If you have never eaten food before, you might find the pasta appealing”
Kevin said:I’m not too worried about the nitrates and nitrites and other carcinogen now that I know that my body gets rid of them and the myth that they are being stored in my system long term and doing me harm is simply junk science. Previously I was concerned but now that I know my body is it’s own best detox system and can flush them out toot sweet, I’m going to eat the fuck out of some preservatives.
Way to totally misunderstand science, jerknuts. Yea, your body gets rid of nitrates and nitrites very quickly — much more quickly than any detox would require. We’re talking 24-48 hours. However, it’s the shit it does to your system while it’s in there that causes cancer.
No one has a nitrate or nitrite “build-up” that requires detoxification.
John said:Kevin said:I’m not too worried about the nitrates and nitrites and other carcinogen now that I know that my body gets rid of them and the myth that they are being stored in my system long term and doing me harm is simply junk science. Previously I was concerned but now that I know my body is it’s own best detox system and can flush them out toot sweet, I’m going to eat the fuck out of some preservatives.
Way to totally misunderstand science, jerknuts. Yea, your body gets rid of nitrates and nitrites very quickly — much more quickly than any detox would require. We’re talking 24-48 hours. However, it’s the shit it does to your system while it’s in there that causes cancer.
No one has a nitrate or nitrite “build-up” that requires detoxification.
Um….I was kidding. Can we enable that sarcasm emoticon I see on other sites of the internets?
Emoticons are for sissies.
…and people who can’t detect sarcasm.
christina said:man, i don’t know about this. pizza hut is fucking terrible and was only good when you did book it! in elementary school.
i’m kinda craving it now that you said something. but when papa john’s tried this, the pizza still tasted the same. i guess it’s worth checking out.
There are two Papa Johns boxes in our fridge. Papa Johns and Pizza Hut are to pizza what Target and Best Buy are to record stores.
But to be honest, South Jersey pizza is, from my experience, largely the F.Y.E. of the pizza world (to continue the record store parallel). Possible exceptions to this rule are Forno in Maple Shade and DaVinci Pizza in Willingboro.
Also, their new ads with the "hidden cameras’ always make me think of this
Sammy said:But to be honest, South Jersey pizza is, from my experience, largely the F.Y.E. of the pizza world (to continue the record store parallel). Possible exceptions to this rule are Forno in Maple Shade and DaVinci Pizza in Willingboro.
i miss Forno. however, the wings at our new local pizza joint are far better than anywhere i have ever had.
Sammy said:christina said:man, i don’t know about this. pizza hut is fucking terrible and was only good when you did book it! in elementary school.
i’m kinda craving it now that you said something. but when papa john’s tried this, the pizza still tasted the same. i guess it’s worth checking out.
There are two Papa Johns boxes in our fridge. Papa Johns and Pizza Hut are to pizza what Target and Best Buy are to record stores.
i was stoned. ’nuff said.
Jeez, winers!! Pizza, in my opinion, isn’t supposed to be anything but a delicious guilty pleasure at its worst. It’s fine how it is, and it is RUINED by over-analytical people. I understand, and respect, the exploration of how to cure certain meats for other recipes. However,pizza, “is pizza”. Stop ruining the pizza market with your stupid qualifications.
You like bad pizza, don’t you?
Sammy said:You think Papa Johns is good pizza, don’t you?
Fixed.
World said:Jeez, winers!! Pizza, in my opinion, isn’t supposed to be anything but a delicious guilty pleasure at its worst. It’s fine how it is, and it is RUINED by over-analytical people. I understand, and respect, the exploration of how to cure certain meats for other recipes. However,pizza, “is pizza”. Stop ruining the pizza market with your stupid qualifications.
You have no idea how wrong you are. Pizza is a perfect food and it shouldn’t be banished to the depths of junk food because what some chain restaurants have done to it. Certainly you’ve had well-made bread, great cheese, or amazing tomato sauce? Is it so much to ask that our pizza include all of these things? That they be made fresh with real ingredients and no chemicals? That they not be frozen 10 minutes before we order them?
What about burgers, do you think it’s silly to demand well-made, awesome burgers? Are you satisfied with naught but big macs for the rest of your life?
The only good thing about Pizza Hut is that they serve soda in those pebbled red plastic glasses with crushed ice and a higher seltzer content than most chain restaurant soda.
Oh, and they give out cassette tapes featuring a live costume-clad version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles singing things. I seem to remember that happening.
The last time I had Pizza Hut was in Savannah. I think it made me shit something immediately afterwards that looked like fire and mustard.
I would try this organic stuff. Mostly because I’d like an excuse to go back to Pizza Hut. I had my 10th birthday there because my mom said I could pick anything for dinner. Three of my 4 family members declined to attend my birthday dinner that year. I got them back by going to Taco Bell the next year. Also, my brother used to work at Pizza Hut and eventually his pants were so coated in grease that they cracked when you bent the fabric.
I still have that cassette tape.
> They’re coming out of their sheeeeeells…
YEAAAAHHHHH!!! They’re coming OUT of their SHELLS!
I can still eat and enjoy crappy fast food pizza mostly since I ate it all the time in college and most of those times I was….um…..yeah. So yeah, factor in all the positive association and every time I eat, taste or smell Pizza Hut or Little Caesars not only doesn’t it disgust me culinarily speaking, but I also have an overwhelming desire to start discussing why the show Small Wonder is a metaphor for the ramifications of 20th century technocracy or how cool it would be to have skin made out of foam.
One of my favorite blogs, The Impulsive Buy, reviewed Pizza Hut’s new natural pizza.
They didn’t like it very much, but it might still be worth a shot.
Sammy said:But to be honest, South Jersey pizza is, from my experience, largely the F.Y.E. of the pizza world (to continue the record store parallel). Possible exceptions to this rule are Forno in Maple Shade and DaVinci Pizza in Willingboro.
Yikes! Sammy I am so sorry that you don’t have taste buds or a good map of the area you live in. South Jersey is the mecca of decent pizza, thanks to the mass immigration of half of South Philly. Stop going to pizza places run by non-Italians and you will never want to eat pizza anywhere else.
being sammy’s friend and housemate, i know what he’s saying when he says south jersey pizza sucks. the places that we’ve gone to, the places around us, aren’t decent at all. so, sammy is only half right. he’s needs to branch out a bit, i think.
joe’s and stella’s on haddon ave. aren’t doing the trick. but maybe sammy, if you took some suggestions of some south jerseyans (like myself) you might go to brother’s in cinnaminson or to vito’s in cherry hill.
i think sammy is used to going to any old pizza place around his parents and it being good. here, you might have to look a little harder.
i highly suggest antonio’s in collingswood on haddon ave. best local pizza. local to me.
Sammy said:But to be honest, South Jersey pizza is, from my experience, largely the F.Y.E. of the pizza world (to continue the record store parallel).
I’m sorry, but Sammy has never been more RIGHT about anything in his entire life. South Jersey pizza is pretty mediocre. It’s all the same. Too thick, too doughy, no crunch. Usually over or under baked. Exceptions exist and I’d be willing to try anyone’s recommendation, but for the most part, it’s pretty unimpressive.
Of course, it wasn’t until I moved into Philly that I truly realized just how bad pizza could be. Some of this garbage makes South Jersey look like f’n Napoli.
Sal’s in Washington Township is the best pizza on the planet. It is depressing how hard it is to find decent pizza in Philadelphia, because everyone moved to South Jersey!
Follow my #1 pizza rule-only eat pizza made by people whose first langauge is Italian- and you won’t be disappointed.
alycia said:Follow my #1 pizza rule-only eat pizza made by people whose first langauge is Italian- and you won’t be disappointed.
a VERY, VERY bold statement. even italians wanna get rich quick. don’t underestimate their hasty pizza-making in order to turn a quick buck. we’re a feisty bunch.
alycia said:Follow my #1 pizza rule-only eat pizza made by people whose first langauge is Italian- and you won’t be disappointed.
Unless you’re at Frank’s across from the high school. Then you’ll be very disappointed, unless you’re the kind of person who gets excited about diarrhea.
Sal’s does make some great pizza, though, if I remember correctly. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten it, but I remember it being leagues better than the rest of the places.
That said, the hands-down, #1 best pizza I’ve gotten in South Jersey (or, for that matter, anywhere in the US that isn’t called “Osteria”) is my friend Ang’s family’s place. They’re right off the boat and they make incredible, super-flat, crispy pizza that is remarkably like the pizza we ate in Italy.
I’m not just pumping this place up cause it’s my friend’s family’s. It’s really fucking good.
I was always partial to A&S in Washington Twp., but Sal’s is great too.
I don’t think I’ve ever had A&s…
seriously, if you ever find yourself on rt. 130 going through cinnaminson, stop and get brothers. it’s in the big acme shopping center.
alycia said:Sal’s in Washington Township is the best pizza on the planet. It is depressing how hard it is to find decent pizza in Philadelphia, because everyone moved to South Jersey!
Follow my #1 pizza rule-only eat pizza made by people whose first langauge is Italian- and you won’t be disappointed.
Stop it please. The best pizza on the planet? Even if you’re half-joking, that’s ridiculous. Sal’s is fine. But it’s still just the best of a mediocre lot. The problem is, your standards are just too low. Americans standards are too low. Mediocrity is just accepted now. And not just with pizza, but most food.
HAHAHAHAHA.
i ate brother’s pizza last nite. i was in cinnaminson and got a whole pie. the people there are so friendly, too. and it was even more delicious than i remember. sammy, we’re getting it soon because i think you’ll love it.
oh, sammy isn’t around today. he’s meeting a horse.
sammy… verdict?
It was a horse! CONFIRMED!