Why is Detroit-style pizza Square?
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on January 21, 2026
Detroit-style pizza is baked in square steel pans, modeled after the pans once used by Detroit's famed automobile manufacturers. The pans were used on assembly lines for small parts and as oil pans in automotive shops.
Is Square pizza a Detroit thing?
The Detroit-style pizza with its perfectly porous crust and crisp, caramelized cheese corners was born. The cult of the square Buddy's pizza spawned numerous spinoffs throughout metro Detroit.What makes Detroit-style pizza different?
The traditional topping for a Detroit-style pizza is pepperoni, but Detroit-style pizza doesn't use just any pepperoni. Instead of the large, flat circular pepperoni that comes on most ordinary pizzas, Detroit-style pizza features smaller, thicker slices of pepperoni that curl up into miniature cups as they cook.Is Square pizza a Michigan thing?
The Detroit-Style Pizza legacy began at Buddy's Rendezvous Pizzeria on Six Mile and Conant street on Detroit's eastside when in 1946 Gus Guerra and Concetta “Connie” Piccinato made their first square-shaped pizza.Is Detroit-style pizza just Sicilian?
According to the pizza makers interviewed, Detroit-style features the rectangular shape and thick dough of Sicilian pizza, but with a Motor City twist: it's baked in a blue steel pan like the ones that used to hold nuts and bolts in auto manufacturing plants.What is Detroit Style Pizza, Anyway? Where did it come from?
Why does Detroit put sauce on top?
Some recipes call for the sauce to be added after the pizza comes out of the oven. The style is sometimes referred to as "red top" because the sauce is the final topping. The cheese is spread to the edges and caramelizes against the high-sided heavyweight rectangular pan, giving the crust a lacy, crispy edge.What does Brooklyn Style mean?
Brooklyn-style pizzas tend to be cut into 6 slices. This is in contrast to other thick-dough pizzas, such as the New York which are cut into 8 or 16 triangular pieces. Moreover, Brooklyn-style pizzas are cut into squares, not triangles. This is because of the thin crust which can break more easily.Why is Sicilian pizza square?
Sicilian pizza is closer to focaccia than a traditional Neapolitan pie. When this option migrated to the United States, it developed more of a square or rectangular shape because of the baking pans used to support the spongy crust. This pizza style offers a thicker crust than you'll find with most other options.What's the difference between Detroit and Chicago style pizza?
A Chicago-style slice is built upon a flaky, thin, deep crust similar to a traditional pie. On the other hand, Detroit-style pizza relies on a thick and fluffy crust reminiscent of focaccia. A Detroit-style crust stands out among other crusts thanks to its airier texture and cheesy, crispy underside.Is Buddy's pizza Detroit-style?
We believe in creating good food that's meant to be gathered 'round – from family dinner, to date night, game night and everything in between. We've always had a way of turning strangers into friends and friends into family. We are The Original Detroit-Style Pizza.What is a square pizza called?
In the United States, "Sicilian pizza" is used to describe a typically square variety of cheese pizza with dough over an inch thick, a crunchy base, and an airy interior. It is derived from the sfinciuni and was introduced in the United States by the first Italian (Sicilian) immigrants.Why is Detroit pizza so good?
Unlike the dough of other types of pizza, the dough of Detroit style pizza is not chewy. Instead, it is light with an airy inside and a crunchy exterior. It is created through the perfect balance of water and flour which helps to keep it hydrated and it can easily be made from home.What is the difference between New York and Detroit pizza?
Detroit-style pizza is defined by that crisp crust, those leftover bits of charred cheese, and its pudgy size. New York-style pizza, on the other hand, feels foreign in comparison. It's flat for one, with a doughy crust, slick with grease, and eaten without silverware.What food is Detroit known for?
- 30 Iconic Foods to Eat in Detroit. ...
- Phoenicia: Dry-Rubbed Ribs. ...
- Ray's Ice Cream: Superman Ice Cream. ...
- Chef Greg's Soul-N-The Wall: Boogaloo Wonderland. ...
- Sweet Potato Sensations: Sweet Potato Pie. ...
- Scotty Simpson's: Fish and Chips. ...
- Al-Ameer Restaurant: Stuffed Lamb. ...
- Buddy's: Detroit-Style Pizza.