New Pan Crust: Pizza Hut's Latest Launch

Pizza Hut has revamped its Original Pan Pizza recipe for the first time in almost 40 years. The new recipe was launched in May 2019 and includes a crispier crust, a new sauce, and a new stringier brand of cheese. The new recipe took three years to develop and is cooked in a newly engineered pan. The chain claims that the new recipe features a crispier, buttery crust complemented by improved cheese and sauce. However, the new recipe has received mixed reviews, with some customers expressing their preference for the original recipe.

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza recipe

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza is a menu item that has been around for almost 40 years. In 2019, Pizza Hut decided to change the recipe for the first time. The new recipe features a crispier, buttery crust, complemented by cheese and sauce with improved flavour.

Ingredients:

• For the dough:
• 1 package (.25-ounce size) dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup non-fat dry milk powder
• 1 1/3 cup warm water (105 degrees F)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for dough)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• For the sauce:
• 1 can (8-ounce size) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• Other:
• 9 ounces vegetable oil (3 ounces per pan)
• Butter-flavoured cooking spray
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pizza toppings of your choice

Method:

Make the dough:

• Combine the yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a 2-quart size mixing bowl.
• Add the water and stir to mix.
• Let the mixture sit for 2 minutes or until the yeast starts to bubble.
• Add the oil to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
• Add the flour in one cup increments, stirring after each addition, until a dough forms and the flour is all combined.
• Turn the dough out onto a flat, lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into three equal balls.

Prepare the pans:

• Place about 3 ounces of oil in the bottom of each 9-inch cake pan or cast iron skillet.
• Tilt the pans to spread the oil evenly.
• Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough to a 9-inch circle and place in the prepared pans.
• Lightly coat each dough disk with cooking spray or oil and cover with plastic wrap.

Let the dough rise:

Place in a warm, draft-free location and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until puffy.

Meanwhile, prepare the sauce:

• Combine all the ingredients until blended.
• Let sit at room temperature for at least one hour.
• The sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.

Preheat the oven:

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Assemble the pizzas:

• For each 9-inch pizza: Spoon 1/3 cup of the sauce on the dough and spread to within 1 inch of the edges.
• Sprinkle with 1 1/2 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Place toppings of choice in the following order: thin meats like pepperoni or Canadian bacon, vegetables, ground or cubed meats, additional mozzarella cheese.

Bake the pizzas:

• Place the pizzas in the oven and cook until the outer crust is brown and the cheese is bubbly in the centre (11-15 minutes, depending on how many toppings you use).
• Remove from the oven. Let cool for 2-3 minutes then remove from the pans to a cutting board and cut into wedges using a pizza cutter.

The new recipe

Pizza Hut's new pan pizza recipe is the result of three years of research and innovation, aiming to revamp their nearly 40-year-old classic. The new recipe introduces subtle yet significant changes to the original pan pizza, which first debuted in 1980.

The most notable alteration is the use of a "newly engineered" pan, which is said to create a crispier, golden-brown, and buttery crust. This new pan technology is combined with a new cheese blend and an adjusted sauce-to-cheese ratio. Pizza Hut switched from using whole milk to part-skim mozzarella, resulting in a stringier cheese texture. The sauce has also been tweaked, with some tasters noting that there is now less sauce than before.

The updated recipe also affects the interior of the pizza, making it even chewier and slightly airier than the previous version. The crust, which was already a standout feature of the original pan pizza, is now said to be crispier and butterier, with a light golden colour.

The new pan pizza recipe is part of Pizza Hut's strategy to stay competitive in a tight market, with competitors like Domino's and Papa John's constantly innovating. It remains to be seen whether this new recipe will be a success, as some fans have expressed their preference for the original recipe and even started a petition to bring it back.

The new pan

Pizza Hut has revamped its Original Pan Pizza recipe for the first time in almost 40 years. The new recipe was unveiled in May 2019 and is the result of three years of research and development.

A petition has been started by fans, asking Pizza Hut to bring back the original recipe with its classic sauce, cheese, and buttery crust.

The old recipe

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza recipe, which first debuted in 1980, was a menu staple for nearly 40 years. The old recipe was characterised by its thick, crispy, and buttery crust—often described as tasting "fried" or "buttery" despite containing no butter. The crust was crunchy, like focaccia, and was the standout feature of the pizza.

The original recipe also included a blend of cheese and sauce, with some customers noting that the sauce was a particular favourite. The cheese was made with whole milk, and the sauce-to-cheese ratio was a key component of the pizza's taste.

The original recipe stood the test of time, carrying the brand through the rise of delivery and Instagram, and it was only in 2019 that Pizza Hut decided to update this nearly 40-year-old menu item.

Customer opinions

One customer, Kevin Pang, expressed his loyalty to Pizza Hut and his fondness for the original pan pizza, stating that the crust was what he most looked forward to. He described the new crust as paler, blander, and less crunchy. He also noted that the new pie had a breadier texture and a more airy interior crumb structure. Pang compared the change to New Coke, suggesting that Pizza Hut is altering a classic that brought joy to its customers.

Another customer, Stuart Green, started a petition to bring back the original Pan Pizza recipe, which has garnered over 2,650 signatures. Green and other fans of the original recipe prefer the classic sauce, cheese, and buttery crust that Pizza Hut offered for 39 years. They also raised concerns about the use of soy, soybean oil, soy lecithin, and monosodium glutamate in the new recipe, which can cause allergic reactions for some customers.

On the other hand, some customers have given positive feedback on the new pan pizza. A Delish team that tasted the new pan pizzas had varied opinions, with some preferring the new sauce-to-cheese ratio and others missing the thicker, crispier crust of the old recipe. However, both large pies were quickly devoured, indicating that despite the mixed reviews, the pizzas were still enjoyed.

Overall, while some customers have welcomed the changes, others remain loyal to the original recipe, highlighting the challenge of altering a beloved menu item that evokes nostalgia and taste memories.

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