Is pizza crust considered bread? The answer might surprise you

By: Emma
Date: May 19, 2022
Time to read: 7 min.

Is pizza crust considered bread?

The pizza crust is a controversial topic. It’s not bread, but can it be considered bread?

The general opinion seems to be that pizza crust cannot be considered bread. Some people even go as far as to say that pizza crust isn’t really food at all. But one thing is clear that pizza crust is not considered bread.

This blog post has everything you need to know about pizza crust, bread, and why these two are so different.

Let’s get started!

What is pizza crust?

The pizza crust is a type of bread that is made from flour, water, yeast, and salt. It is usually thicker than other types of bread and has a chewy texture. The first pizza crust was made by a man named Sforno in the 15th century. Sforno was an Italian cook that made a pizza crust as a means of providing the less fortunate with free food.

Pizza crust has been used in Italian cuisine for centuries. One of the main features of Italian pizzas is that pizza crust is not served on its own, but rather it’s covered with other tasty ingredients like tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings.

Pizza crust can be topped with anything from pepperoni to pineapples to vegetarian options. All kinds of delicious ingredients are used to top a “pizza”. And eating pizza has become one of the most popular food trends in America.

What is bread?

Bread, on the other hand, is one of the oldest types of food in existence. The history of bread goes all the way back to the Ancient Egyptians who were able to produce products from grain. They used their expertise in baking and transformed products into something entirely new – a type of food product which we now call “bread”.

Bread is typically made from white flour, yeast, salt, and water – not too different than how it’s made today.

In short, pizza crust is not considered bread because it doesn’t have the same nutritional value as bread does. It’s also made from different ingredients, it’s kneaded for a shorter amount of time, and it’s baked at a different temperature.

All of these differences make the pizza crust its own unique type of food. And that’s why most people would say that pizza crust is not considered bread.

9 Reasons why pizza crust is not considered bread

Type of flour

One key difference is the type of flour. The pizza crust is not made from white flour. Instead, it’s made from a mix of all-purpose flour and semolina. White bread is also made from wheat, but in this case, white bread uses only the endosperm part of the flour whereas pizza crust uses the entire grain – including the germ and bran.

This means that pizza crust has more nutrients than basic white bread.

Number of ingredients

Another major difference between a pizza crust and a piece of bread is that a typical piece of bread has about 4 to 8 simpler ingredients (flour, yeast, water, salt), while your average pizza has roughly 12 to 30 ingredients (and sometimes even more).

The reason behind this huge ingredient difference is that each type of food requires specific amounts of each ingredient depending on what recipe or style you are following.

Pizza crust does not use milk or eggs, which are common ingredients in bread recipes.

Yeast

Another important difference between a pizza crust and bread is the yeast. Pizza crust dough is not allowed to rise as long as bread dough, meaning that it doesn’t have time to develop that yeasty flavor and aroma.

Sugar

The sugar content in bread is also significantly different than that of a pizza crust. Bread has about 2-4% sugar, while pizza dough only has about 1%.

Baking temperature

The baking temperature is also different for a pizza crust than it is for bread. The pizza crust is typically baked at a higher temperature (425-450 degrees Fahrenheit) than bread is (350-375 degrees Fahrenheit). This is because the pizza crust needs to cook quickly in order to achieve that chewy texture.

Time of dough kneading

The dough for pizza crust is not kneaded for a long time like bread dough is. This means that it will not develop gluten as much as bread dough does.

The reason for this is once again because of the different tastes and textures you want to achieve in your finished product.

The nutritional value

Since a pizza crust has fewer ingredients than a piece of bread, it also has fewer calories and carbs.

In fact, a typical slice of pizza crust has about 90 calories and 15 grams of carbs, while a standard slice of bread has around 110-130 calories and 20-25 grams of carbs.

Flavor

Pizza crust doesn’t usually have a sourdough flavor as bread does. This is because the dough isn’t allowed to rise as long, and so doesn’t have time to develop that flavor.

Serving

Lastly, pizza crust is not typically served on its own the way bread is. Bread can be eaten with various spreads, like butter or jam, or it can be used in sandwiches. The pizza crust is always topped with something, whether it be sauce, cheese, meats, or vegetables.

A quick guide to making pizza with bread dough

But here is the fun fact: although you can swap pizza crust and bread, you can make pizza crust with bread dough.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take a pound of bread dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface.

Place the dough on a greased baking sheet and spread your desired sauce over top, leaving a ½-inch border.
Sprinkle with shredded cheese and your desired toppings (if you put too many toppings on here, the dough will not cook through).
Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown.

You can serve pizza crust with various condiments i.e. ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, etc.

In which country bread is consumed the most?

The country that consumes the most bread is France, with about 156.5 pounds consumed per person each year. Turkey is also a big consumer of bread, with about 131 pounds consumed per person each year.

In which country pizza is eaten the most?

The country that eats the most pizza is the United States, with about 24 pounds per person each year. Italy is a close second, with about 23 pounds per person each year.

What is the difference between focaccia and pizza crust?

Focaccia dough is made with olive oil, while pizza crust dough does not contain any olive oil. Focaccia is also typically thicker than pizza crust, and it is usually not topped with sauce and cheese. Instead, it is served with various toppings like olives, tomatoes, or herbs.

What is the difference between a pizza crust and a baguette?

The main difference between a pizza crust and a baguette is that a pizza crust is not as dense as a baguette. A pizza crust is typically chewy, while a baguette is extremely crispy.

What are the two main types of yeast?

The two main types of yeast are active dry yeast and instant, or rapid rise, yeast. Active dry yeast needs to be activated in water before it can be used, while instant yeast does not need any activation at all.

How do you measure bread flour?

Bread flour is typically measured using volume, not weight. This means that you would use a measuring cup to measure out the correct amount of flour needed for your recipe.

Can you make pizza crust with all-purpose flour?

While it is possible to make pizza crust with all-purpose flour, it is not recommended. All-purpose flour is typically not as strong as bread flour. This means that your pizza dough will be stickier and harder to work with, which can make it more difficult to form a crust.

How many calories are in an average slice of white bread?

An average slice of white bread contains around 100-120 calories, depending on what else you may have put on it. There are about 15 grams of carbohydrates in an average slice of white bread.

Is pizza crust and bread, which one can be eaten daily?

Both bread and pizza crust are considered “everyday foods” because they are so common. Bread is typically eaten throughout the day, not just for breakfast or dinner. Pizza can be eaten for any meal of the day, but it is especially popular in the evening when people have time to relax after a busy day at work.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, pizza crust is not considered bread. After all, you can eat pizza crust instead of bread. You can swap out bread for pizza crust in your favorite recipes, but you may find that the texture is slightly different.

If you want to try making pizza with bread dough, just take a pound of pre-made bread dough and spread it over a baking sheet. Add sauce and toppings to that as mentioned above, and here you go.

Is pizza crust considered bread? The answer might surprise you

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