A new survey from Black+Decker has found that pepperoni ranks as the favorite pizza topping in the United States with more than three-quarters of Americans eating pizza a few times a month or more. The preference for pepperoni is 67%.
“With endless possibilities, we like to think that every person has a unique point of view on how the best pizza looks, tastes, and when it is enjoyed,” said Kendall Nohe, vice president of product management at Towson, Maryland-based Black+Decker, which manufactures pizza ovens.
Behind pepperoni, the most popular toppings include sausage (44%), bacon (39%), mushrooms (32%) and onions (26%).
Along with anchovies, arugula (2.5%), eggplant (3%), shrimp (3.5%) and pickles (4%) were least popular topping selections.
The most popular dipping sauces for pizza are garlic butter and ranch dressing (both 37%), while 16% of respondents do not dip their pizza in sauce.
The Black+Decker Pizza Pulse Survey found that Friday is the most popular day to indulge in pizza, with 72% of respondents saying they typically eat it to kick-off the weekend. Classic New York Style (29%) and Deep Dish (24%) were in a near tie for the most favored style, while Neapolitan style got the least love (2.5%).
Regional Preferences Vary
Regional consumers across the USA have their opinions on which activities they most associate with pizza night. When sports are at play, the Midwest was the region where pizza and sports paired together was most popular (33%). The Northeast has the most enthusiasm about pairing pizza and board game night (25.2%) and Western states like to eat pizza when they are hosting (19%). More than 40% of those from the South like to pair their pizza with video gaming.
Crust is a Must
Most respondents hold their pizza by the crust (51%) and the least common way is folding in half horizontally, from mid-crust to point (9%). When it comes to grease, if you dab off your pizza often, you’re in the minority – only 16.5% dab their grease frequently.
