deep dish vs detroit style

Deep Dish vs. Detroit Style: A Pizza Showdown

Deep dish and Detroit-style pizzas, while both thick and satisfying, offer distinctly different experiences. Deep dish, originating in Chicago, is known for its buttery, high-edged crust resembling a pie, while Detroit-style boasts a rectangular shape, crispy, cheesy edges, and a light, airy interior thanks to its unique dough and baking process. This article delves into the key differences between these two iconic pizzas, exploring their crusts, toppings, and overall textures.

Crust: A Tale of Two Doughs

The crust is where deep dish and Detroit-style truly diverge. Deep dish features a tall, buttery crust that’s pressed into a deep pan. This crust acts as a vessel for a generous filling of cheese, toppings, and sauce. According to Wikipedia’s article on Deep-dish pizza, the high sides allow for a large quantity of toppings and a long baking time.

Detroit-style, on the other hand, uses a high-hydration dough that’s proofed twice and baked in a rectangular steel pan, often one originally used for automotive parts. This process creates a light and airy interior with a signature crispy, cheesy edge resulting from the cheese caramelizing against the hot pan.

Toppings: Layering vs. Stripes

Deep dish typically features a layered approach to toppings. The cheese goes down first, followed by toppings, and then the sauce is ladled on top. This layering helps to protect the crust from becoming soggy during the long baking time.

Detroit-style usually involves a “racing stripes” approach to the sauce. After a layer of cheese is applied, dollops of tomato sauce are strategically placed on top of the cheese in parallel lines before baking. Pepperoni is frequently placed underneath the cheese, creating a spicy, crispy layer.

Texture and Taste: A Symphony of Sensations

Deep dish pizza offers a soft, doughy crust, a rich, buttery flavor, and a moist, saucy experience due to the layering of ingredients. It’s like eating a pizza casserole, where each bite is packed with flavor and texture.

Detroit-style pizza provides a crispy, crunchy edge, a light, airy interior, and a balanced combination of cheese, toppings, and sauce. The caramelized cheese edges are the star of the show, offering a satisfying crunch and a burst of cheesy flavor with every bite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of cheese is used on Detroit-style pizza?

Brick cheese is traditionally used on Detroit-style pizza. It has a high butterfat content and melts beautifully, creating the signature crispy edges.

Why is Detroit-style pizza rectangular?

Detroit-style pizza is rectangular because it’s baked in rectangular steel pans, originally used for automotive parts in Detroit’s manufacturing industry.

Is deep dish pizza just a pizza pie?

While deep dish pizza resembles a pie with its tall crust, it’s still considered a pizza. It shares the same basic components: crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings.

Which pizza has more cheese, deep dish or Detroit-style?

Deep dish typically has a larger overall volume of cheese due to its deeper pan and layered construction. However, the cheese is more evenly distributed on Detroit-style pizza.

Is Detroit-style pizza greasy?

Detroit-style pizza can be perceived as slightly greasy due to the high butterfat content of the brick cheese and the oil used in the pan. However, the crispy edges help to offset this, creating a balanced texture.

Summary

Deep dish and Detroit-style pizzas offer contrasting pizza experiences. Deep dish is known for its tall, buttery crust, layered toppings, and saucy interior, while Detroit-style features a crispy, cheesy-edged crust, a light and airy interior, and a unique “racing stripes” sauce application. Ultimately, the best choice comes down to personal preference.