Have you ever wondered if pan pizza is the same as a hand-tossed one, given that they have unique differences but may appear similar when served in pans?
In simple terms, these two pizzas are entirely distinct in their qualities. Moreover, the essential aspect you should focus on is the manner in which they are made.
Brief Preview
The pan pizza crust is created by pressing the greased dough into a pan or cast-iron skillet using your fingertips. The preparation method for Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza and Hand Tossed Pizza varies.
Before shaping the dough, baking allows it to get air in several times, then it’s tossed. The art of tossing the dough several times in the air distinguishes the hand-tossed crust of pizza, On the other hand.
Take a glance at this condensed table to observe further disparities:
The criteria for the original pan pizza includes hand-tossed pizza, deep dish or Chicago pizza, and other names such as Neapolitan pizza. The dough used is smooth and elastic, made from lean dough. It contains more toppings compared to other pizzas that have fewer toppings. The cooking temperature for this pizza is above 500 degrees Fahrenheit or 260 degrees Celsius, and it is cooked for around 10-15 minutes. The taste and crust of the pan pizza are thick, with a bready crust of about 1 inch. The shape of the pan varies based on its shape and size, but it is typically circular.
Pizza Pan is the brainchild of a group of culinary experts from Hut Pizza, who have perfected the industry icon over the years. It is also known as Chicago-style pizza or the deep dish pizza.
The Pizza Pan Original has a buttery golden-brown color with a perfect ratio of cheese-to-sauce, topped with a crust that is crunchy and crispy on the outside while fluffy and soft on the inside, accentuating its delicious center.
The Pizza Hut Thin & Crispy Crust style is readily accessible in the majority of Pizza Hut stores nationwide. If you prefer a pizza with a smaller and thinner crust, this option is suitable for you. The thickness of the pan pizza can be adjusted according to your preference. This is important information to keep in mind.
[Also included are seasonal temporary crusts at all Pizza Hut outlets, typically containing a blend of five cheeses including fontina, cheddar white, Asiago, mozzarella, and provolone. Additionally, stuffed crusts are available, allowing you to experiment with a thick dough-like crust if desired.]
What Does Hand-Tossed Pizza Mean?
Throughout the process of fermentation, the gas produced is eliminated by tossing or stretching the dough. The dough is thrown through the air to achieve a thin or medium crust, as the term suggests, hand-tossed pizza.
The action of tossing the pizza dough prevents air bubbles from rising, resulting in a medium or thin crust.
The dough should be thick enough to handle the toppings when making this style of pizza. Hand-tossed pizza tends to boast a more blistered and drier crust. The hand-tossed pizza should be as crispy as a pizza pan.
Hut Pizza has introduced a unique style of hand-tossed pizza into the market. Usually, top chefs brush the crust with garlic butter before topping it with mozzarella cheese to give it a flavorful and buttery taste. Pizzas from Hut Pizza have an airier and lighter crust.
Do They Utilize the Identical Dough?
When it comes to the subject of pizza dough, there is a noticeable distinction between pan pizza and hand-tossed pizza.
Pan pizza or Chicago-style pizza utilizes silky and pliable dough. Additionally, the dough possesses increased moisture content.
If you want to make a pizza crust that is softer, you should be aware of how soft the dough should be in most cases. Even though the dough needs to be soft, it should still be firmer than a little hand-tossed dough.
Easy spreading is permitted in the pan, resulting in a thicker and fluffier pizza. The dough for pan pizza has limited room to expand, so this should be anticipated.
The pizza appears crunchy and chewy on the outside, but on the inside, it is bubbly and spongy. The dough in the pizza pan expands in width, not in height, making it more elastic and firmer.
Hand-kneading is necessary for the dough because it needs to be softer than the dough used for a pizza pan. The simple ingredients for the dough may include salt, water, yeast, and flour. Hand-tossed pizza dough, also known as Neapolitan pizza, is made with lean dough to create an authentic pizza.
When the dough is in the air, it will facilitate the process of kneading and tossing it; ideally, the hand-tossed dough should possess a softer, silkier, and more flexible texture.
How Are They Created?
Preparing pan pizza does not necessitate any unique apparatus. In most instances, the simplest to create is pan pizza. The two varieties of pizzas are not crafted employing identical utensils and techniques.
You will need to poke and press the oiled dough with your fingers into the pan. If there is no cast-iron skillet available, you can still make do with a different pan. To make a pancake and prevent it from sticking, you only need two simple tools: a rolling pin and a pancake pan.
When preparing pan pizza, it is crucial to utilize dough balls that are soft as they will spread out more effortlessly in the pan.
The ideal baking time for pan pizza is 15 minutes, and it requires temperatures higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit or 260 degrees Celsius. Additionally, there are different temperature requirements for the two types of pizza.
To achieve the perfect texture, suggested is to repeatedly toss the dough in the air. Here, you knead the dough until it becomes soft. For the hand-tossed pizza, you will need a hot burning stone oven.
Mastering the technique of hand-tossing pizza is not an easy task. Inexperienced pizza makers often end up with misshapen dough. It will take some time before you become a master of this technique.
Hand-tossed pizza necessitates a higher temperature compared to pan pizza. Allow approximately 10-15 minutes for the dough to bake at 260 degrees Celsius or 500 degrees Fahrenheit, while stretching it in the air.
If a pizza peel is not accessible, parchment paper will suffice. When moving pizza in and out of the oven, having a pizza peel will be advantageous.
If you are not good at tossing the dough, you can also shape the dough by using a rolling pin to stretch it without throwing it in the air.
Are There Any Distinctions in Flavor and Crust?
The crust of a pan pizza is typically thick, measuring around 1 inch in thickness. Pan pizzas are known for their bready and thick crust, with variations in taste between hand-tossed pizzas and pan pizzas.
As the dough for pan pizza is sturdier compared to the dough for hand-tossed pizza, it is unable to expand horizontally but instead elevates vertically.
This will be a light and pure meal for your palate. The pizza pan will display full and fluffy bubbles, typically. This leads to a crust that is both chewy and crispy.
The boundaries of the pie, encompassing all the pizza components, will frequently extend over these additional ingredients. It is capable of accommodating a greater amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings due to the robustness of pan pizza’s crust.
The Hand-Tossed Pizza from Favorite Hut is a type of pizza that resembles a favorite hut crust. The classic flavor of Favorite Hut Pizza is enhanced with a blend of Italian herbs such as oregano, basil, and parsley, as well as grated Parmesan and a buttery garlic blend.
If you so desire, it possesses a delightful and zesty taste. Crafted from honey and crimson peppers, you may also acquire the Honey Sriracha variant. Adorned with grated Asiago, there is also the Toasted Asiago alternative.
When the dough won’t rise as high as it should, the fermentation during baking in the oven results in the formation of air bubbles that burst, resulting in a medium or thin crust pizza that features a hand-tossed crust, as mentioned earlier.
Additionally, its thin or medium crust can’t handle too many toppings. The crust often boasts a distinct edge that’s free of toppings.
The pizza crust is crispy and can be hand-tossed or baked in a pizza pan. The crust will have a golden and fried appearance since it is baked in an oiled pan. However, the hand-tossed pizza may have a bubbled and somewhat dry crust in contrast.
What About the Difference in Shape?
When making pan pizza, you spread them in the pan before shaping floury dough loaves with your hands. Hand-tossed pizza and pan pizza have completely different shapes. It’s an easy choice.
To ensure that all sides of the dough touch, shape the dough to fit the surface of the pan. Remember to use an oily pan to shape the dough.
When utilizing a petite skillet, one should anticipate a dense, compressed crust. The contour of the skillet pizza will typically mirror that of the pan.
The stone-baked pizza acquires a perfect circular form as it is hand-tossed and thrown in the air multiple times.
This method of tossing the dough also helps to create air pockets in the crust, giving it a light and airy texture. Additionally, the act of tossing the dough adds a touch of theatrics to the pizza-making process, making it an exciting and interactive experience for both the chef and the diners.
Commonly Asked Questions (CAQs)
Which of These Pizza Varieties Is Pricier?
The place where you purchase your pizza will determine the cost. If you opt for hand-tossed pizza, you can expect to pay more due to the inclusion of additional ingredients. Pizza Hut charges a higher price for pan pizza as it contains more ingredients. The price tends to be higher due to the labor-intensive process involved in making pan pizza. However, this is generally the case.
Which Pizza Crust Is Good for Your Health?
I recommend eating a thin-crust pizza for a better balance of nutrients. A thin-crust pizza usually contains fewer calories compared to a thick-crust one. It allows you to enjoy a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
To be more precise, here are the figures for each slice of Pizza Hut style:
What Does Pizza Hut Utilize to Apply Grease to Their Pans?
Prior to being placed in the oven, on occasion, a butter-flavored food release spray is utilized. Pizza Hut employs soybean oil to avoid the dough from adhering to the pan.
Soybean oil is a renowned variety of plant-based oil due to its extensively documented advantages for health. Some of these comprise:
Has Pizza Hut Altered Their Pizza Pan Recipe?
In 2019, Pizza Hut unveiled a revamp of their renowned crust. The Original Pizza now features a fresh cheese combination and sauce, resulting in a more crispy crust. This modification was made after four decades as rivalry intensifies among major pizza chains, and the improved recipe was perfected over a span of three years.
The purportedly enhanced crust and the previous edition are equally preferred by the customer. Their recent mixture enhanced the ratio of cheese to sauce as a tactical move.
Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza Vs. Hand Tossed: Which Option Is Superior?
If you prefer, it will be great to eat the fried bread. It bakes in a deep dish pizza pan, so it has a fluffier and thicker crust. All boils down to what you want to eat in a battle between Hand-Tossed Pizza and Pizza Pan Hut Pizza.
This will be the perfect pie for those who are more inclined towards the classics. Its crust tends to be crisper and flatter. The pizza is hand tossed on a stone and thrown in the air, while being baked on the other hand.