Pizza Hut's New Original Pan: Nationwide Launch

In May 2019, Pizza Hut rolled out a new version of its Original Pan Pizza, changing the recipe for the first time in 40 years. The new recipe features a crispier crust, a chewier interior, and a new blend of cheese and sauce. The pan itself was also redesigned to make the crust more golden and buttery. The updated pizza was the result of a three-year innovation process, during which Pizza Hut focused on combining art, science, and culinary expertise to enhance the taste of the Original Pan Pizza.

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza recipe changes

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza has been a menu staple since the 1980s. However, in 2019, the company announced significant changes to this iconic pizza for the first time in nearly 40 years. The new and improved Original Pan Pizza features a crispier crust and a more flavourful blend of sauce and cheese, all at an unbeatable price.

The Innovation Process

Pizza Hut's culinary engineers spent three years in test kitchens crafting this revamped recipe. The company stated that they focused on combining art, science, and culinary expertise to enhance the taste of the Original Pan Pizza and take it to the next level. This commitment to product innovation aimed to provide a refined take on a beloved classic.

Crust

The most notable change is the crust, which is now crispier and golden-brown. This is achieved through a newly engineered pan that perfects the crust, making it buttery and golden. The new pan technology ensures a consistent result, delivering on the promise of a crispier crust.

Cheese and Sauce

The Original Pan Pizza also features a new blend of cheese and sauce. Pizza Hut's senior director of culinary innovation and strategy, Penny Shaheen, revealed that they now use part-skim mozzarella cheese instead of whole-milk mozzarella. This change allows for a heavier pile of cheese in the middle of the pizza, making each slice gooey and cheesy. The ratio of cheese to sauce is key, so Pizza Hut also adjusted the sauce quantity, adding more to enhance the flavour.

Customer Reaction

The reaction to the new Original Pan Pizza recipe has been mixed. Some customers appreciate the crispier crust and more flavourful blend, while others prefer the original recipe used for nearly four decades. A petition to bring back the original recipe has gained signatures, with fans expressing their preference for the classic taste and citing concerns over new ingredients triggering food allergies.

Pizza Hut's decision to change the Original Pan Pizza recipe after nearly 40 years showcases the company's commitment to innovation and staying competitive in the market. While some customers embrace the new taste, others hold tightly to the nostalgia of the original.

New blend of cheese and sauce

Pizza Hut's new blend of cheese and sauce for its Original Pan Pizza has been designed to enhance the flavour and complement the chewier centre of the pizza. The new blend includes part-skim mozzarella cheese, which replaces the whole-milk mozzarella previously used. This new cheese is piled on a little heavier in the middle of the pizza to make each slice gooey and cheesy. The ratio of cheese to sauce is key to perfecting the pizza, so Pizza Hut has also added more sauce to its pan pizzas.

According to Penny Shaheen, Pizza Hut's senior director of Culinary Innovation and Strategy, the new blend of cheese and sauce ratio has been "perfected" over a three-year innovation process. Shaheen also stated that the company was "excited to roll out this new, state-of-the-art pan technology, combined with our perfected blend of cheese and sauce ratio".

The new blend of cheese and sauce is part of Pizza Hut's strategy to compete with its closest competitors, Domino's and Papa John's. Domino's, in particular, had scrapped its 49-year-old pizza recipe ten years prior and had also rolled out new value offerings and technology for customers to track their orders.

The new blend of cheese and sauce has received mixed reviews from customers. While some customers have expressed their preference for the original recipe, others have praised the new blend for its improved flavour and chewier centre.

Crispier crust

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza has been a menu staple since 1980. In May 2019, the company announced that it was tweaking the recipe for the first time in 40 years. The new recipe includes a crispier crust, a chewier interior, and a new blend of sauce and cheese.

The new and improved Original Pan Pizza is baked in a newly engineered pan, which perfects the golden-brown, crispy, buttery crust. The finished product is the result of a three-year innovation journey, during which Pizza Hut focused on combining art, science, and culinary expertise to bring the taste of the Original Pan Pizza to the next level.

According to Pizza Hut's senior director of Culinary Innovation and Strategy, Penny Shaheen, the company knows that "taste is king for our customers," and they are excited to roll out this new, state-of-the-art pan technology, combined with a perfected blend of cheese and sauce ratio. The new pan technology ensures a crispier crust, a key component of the Pizza Hut experience for many customers.

The enhanced Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza is available for delivery, carryout, or dine-in at Pizza Hut locations nationwide. The company's commitment to product innovation has resulted in a refined take on a classic, beloved pizza, now with an even crispier crust.

New cooking process

Pizza Hut's new cooking process for its Original Pan Pizza involves baking the pizza in a newly engineered pan to perfect the golden-brown, crispy, buttery crust. The new pan technology is combined with a new blend of cheese and sauce to enhance the flavour and complement the chewy centre.

The new cooking process is the result of a three-year innovation journey focused on combining art, science, and culinary expertise to bring the taste of the Original Pan Pizza to the next level. The pan itself was redesigned to make the crust become more golden-brown and buttery as it cooks in the oven.

Pizza Hut's senior director of culinary innovation and strategy, Penny Shaheen, said that the chain is now using part-skim mozzarella cheese, which is piled on a little heavier in the middle of the pizza to make each slice gooey and cheesy. The ratio of cheese to sauce is key, so Pizza Hut is also adding more sauce to its pan pizzas.

Fan reaction to the new recipe

Fan reaction to Pizza Hut's new Original Pan Pizza recipe has been mixed. Some customers have expressed their disappointment with the new recipe, with one fan stating, "there are a majority of fans who do not like the new Pan Pizza and much prefer the original recipe used by Pizza Hut for 39 years." A petition to bring back the original recipe has garnered over 2,650 signatures.

However, others have praised the changes, with one person commenting, "Now, thanks to an unwavering commitment to product innovation from Pizza Hut, Original Pan® Pizza fanatics can enjoy a refined take on the pizza they know and love."

Some fans have also expressed concerns about the inclusion of ingredients like soy and soybean oil, which has caused allergic reactions in some customers.

Overall, the reaction to the new Original Pan Pizza recipe has been divided, with some fans embracing the changes while others long for the return of the original recipe.

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