pizza
It’s Time To Answer A Very Important Question. What's The Best Way To Eat Pizza?
11.09.2025
10 MINS
10 MINS
It’s Time To Answer A Very Important Question. What's The Best Way To Eat Pizza?
It’s a well-known fact that the way a person eats a pizza says a lot about their personality. This “fact” may or may not be something we just made up, but think about it: have you ever seen someone pick up a knife and fork to tuck into their pizza, and been horrified at what you see? Or how about that friend who removes the toppings and inexplicably eats them separately?
Yep, people have all sorts of quirky ways of tucking into their slices, but what’s the right way to eat a pizza, we hear you ask? Well, we’ve been serving our Papa Johns pizza to customers in the UK since 1999, so you could say we have a lot of insight and expertise in this area.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to eat a pizza, and how we feel about them.
The New York Fold
Think of New York and what comes to mind? Times Square? The Statue of Liberty? Well, folding a pizza to eat it should be up there, because it’s a quintessentially New York habit.
Now, we’re not saying New Yorkers invented this simple technique. But given the oversized, indulgent style of New York pizza and the city’s on-the-go lifestyle, it makes practical sense to fold that delicious slice in half from the crust to the point, and get on with your day. “The perfect self-contained meal on the go”, says one Redditor.
We say: Street pizza is one of life’s greatest gifts, but dropping your topping is a serious concern. The folding solution is a no-brainer.
Classy Cutlery
With cheese oozing and dripping everywhere, and toppings struggling to keep themselves contained, eating pizza isn’t exactly the most dignified of activities. Thank goodness, then, for those who remain civilised at all times, by neatly going at their pizza with a knife and fork. “I'd say in Italy, [it’s] probably about 50-50 on using knife and fork, or using hands,” says one pizza fan in a Reddit thread.
Back in New York, though, another pizza fanatic jokes that New Yorkers were filled with “indignant rage” when the former mayor, Bill de Blasio, was filmed eating pizza with a knife and fork. “It was seen as an affront.”
We say: Pizza can and should be a fine dining experience. Why not go the whole hog by setting the table and wearing your fanciest evening attire? Bon appétit.
Hands-On
We know this one sounds complicated, so let us walk you through the steps. Start by picking up a slice of pizza with your hands. Then guide your hand towards your mouth and eat. Boom. You’re eating pizza with your hands.
In all seriousness, though, the hands-on approach is something that many pizza devotees take incredibly seriously. It’s the correct and only way to eat pizza, in their eyes, and they’ll be seriously offended if you even think about using a knife and fork (see the former mayor of New York, above).
We say: The most direct and straightforward method of all. Sure, it’s messy, but hold from the crust as nature intended, and your fingers will remain grease-free.
The Scissor Cutter
Apparently, the humble pizza cutter isn't enough for some aficionados. So eager are they to feast on their pizza that there’s another implement deemed faster and more efficient. Behold: the kitchen scissor.
To be honest, it’s a pretty logical move, and one we can see cutting through toppings with great efficiency. Supporters of this fringe method say on Reddit that it’s what “any normal person would do”, and that it should be followed up with eating the slices by hand. Plus, from an ergonomic point of view, “scissors are so much more comfortable”, they insist.
We say: Who are we to argue with comfort and precision? Just make sure the scissors are clean, and designated for food use only…
Some other methods to eat a pizza are:
- Cold. Nothing hits better than next-day leftover pizza from the fridge.
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Removing the toppings and eating them separately, as if a starter to the main course.
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Starting with the crust. Reserved especially for those with a “save the best bit for last” mentality.
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Everything but the crust. Hey, some people just don’t like crust, and that’s ok (they’ve probably not tried our famous Stuffed Crust though, to be fair).
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Absorbing some of the oil with a paper towel before tucking in. We may not agree, but if a bit less grease makes you happy, we’ll support you.
So what is the right way to eat a pizza?
Honestly? We’ll leave it to you to decide, because it really is just a personal preference thing at the end of the day. Whether you fold your pizza, dissect it with a fork and knife, or dive in crust-first, it’s all about what feels (and tastes) best to you.
If you’re still not sure where you stand, take a look at our pizza menu and our latest deals and offers. You might discover a new favourite topping, or maybe even a new way to enjoy your slice.
