Hundreds of pizza toppings make up the large variety of choices when ordering or making pizza. Some toppings are universally respectable, like pepperoni or mushrooms. Other toppings are more out there and are available for those with more unique tastes. Among all these kinds of combinations, one topping is by far the most polarizing to get: pineapple.
Pineapple pizza is rarely accepted by everyone at parties. When someone brings up this combo, it creates a divide between those who defend it and those who despise it. The level of both hatred and devotion to one topping is interesting, as other toppings are arguably stranger than pineapple (anchovies, clams, etc.). Is pineapple really that bad on pizza or are people exaggerating?
The idea behind pineapple pizza does make sense on paper. Pineapple is a particularly sweet fruit that is hard to miss when using it with anything. Combining it with cheese and sauce would make for a pizza that is both sweet and savory. These two tastes sound like they would be good together, but it depends on people’s preferences for flavor and texture.
The sweetness of pineapple can be overbearing and weaken the flavors of the pizza itself. The texture of the topping is also jarring when saddled alongside the bread, which can make it feel slimy when chewing it. I love pineapple by itself, but it isn’t something that I think pairs well with pizza. Even so, I do think there is the right amount of pineapple that makes it better. Using smaller slices of pineapple mitigates the texture issue and balances better with everything else on the pizza. Adding a secondary topping like bacon also helps with layering the flavors together. Pineapple pizza is not my cup of tea, but it is not as bad as people think it is. I recommend trying it before jumping on the bandwagon!
