Ethan Clarke
The plastic piece found in the center of a pizza is called a pizza saver. It is a small, white, plastic tripod that prevents the lid of the pizza box from sagging and sticking to the pizza due to steam. Pizza savers were invented by Carmela Vitale in 1985, and while they are useful for keeping pizzas intact during delivery, they have also been criticized for being wasteful. Some pizzerias have opted for more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as baking a bread ball into the center of the pizza. People have also found creative ways to reuse pizza savers, such as using them as phone holders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pizza saver, pizza table, pizza stool, package saver, pizza lid support |
| Inventor | Carmela Vitale of Dix Hills, New York |
| Year invented | 1985 |
| Purpose | Prevent the lid of the pizza box from sagging and touching the pizza |
| Colour | White |
| Number of legs | 3 or 4 |
| Reusable | No |
| Alternative uses | Phone holder, egg holder |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The plastic piece is called a pizza saver
The plastic piece in the centre of a pizza is called a pizza saver. It is a lightweight, inexpensive device made from heat-resistant plastic. The pizza saver is placed in the middle of the pizza before the box is closed for delivery. It has a tripod design with three or four legs and a flat surface on top. This design keeps the pizza box from collapsing in the centre and sticking to the pizza. It also prevents the cheese and toppings from sticking to the lid of the box.
Pizza savers are typically white and are not reused, often being discarded after the pizza is consumed. However, some people repurpose them for other uses, such as egg holders or phone stands.
The pizza saver was invented by Carmela Vitale from Dix Hills, New York, in 1985. Vitale recognised the need for a device to prevent pizza boxes from sagging and damaging the pizza during storage or delivery. She patented her invention as a "package saver", but it has since been renamed the "pizza saver".
While some pizzerias have eliminated the use of plastic pizza savers, opting for alternative methods like baking a bread ball into the centre of the pizza, the pizza saver remains a common practice for protecting pizzas during delivery.
Maui's Beaches: Plastic Pollution Crisis
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It stops the pizza box collapsing into the pizza
Pizza boxes are typically made from corrugated cardboard, which is stiffer than most other takeout containers and keeps food warm. However, when a hot pizza is placed inside, the steam causes the top centre of the box to sag and droop. The longer the pizza is in the box, the steamier and softer the cardboard becomes, resulting in the box sinking and attaching itself to the pizza, causing the cheese and toppings to stick to the lid.
The plastic piece in the centre of the pizza, commonly known as a pizza saver, is designed to prevent this issue. It is placed in the box before the lid is closed, providing support to the box and ensuring that it does not collapse into the pizza. The pizza saver is typically made of plastic and has three or four legs. It is not reused and is usually discarded, although some people find alternative uses for it, such as an egg holder or phone stand.
Carmela Vitale of Dix Hills, New York, invented the pizza saver in 1985. She recognised the need for a lightweight, inexpensive, and heat-resistant device to prevent pizza boxes from sagging and damaging the pizza during storage or delivery. The tripod design keeps the pizza saver's footprint small, minimising damage to the pizza while effectively preventing the box from collapsing.
While some people appreciate the functionality of the pizza saver, others view it as unnecessary plastic waste. Some pizzerias have eliminated its use by baking a bread ball into the centre of their pizzas instead. Despite the varying opinions, the pizza saver remains a common practice to ensure the pizza arrives in good condition, with toppings intact and cheese untouched by the box.
Cleaning Your Wii Remote: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was invented by Carmela Vitale in 1985
The plastic piece found in the centre of pizzas, often referred to as a pizza saver, pizza table, pizza stool, or package saver, was invented by Carmela Vitale of Dix Hills, New York, in 1985. Vitale's patent application expressed the need for a device that would prevent the pizza box from sagging and damaging the pizza during storage or delivery. She called her invention a "package saver", but it has since been renamed the "pizza saver".
The pizza saver is typically made of plastic and has three or four legs. It is placed in the centre of the pizza to prevent the lid of the pizza box from collapsing and sticking to the pizza due to steam. This device keeps the cheese and toppings in place during delivery, ensuring the pizza is in good condition when it reaches the customer.
While some people discard the pizza saver after use, others have found secondary uses for it, such as using it as an egg holder or a phone stand. Despite its convenience, the pizza saver has faced criticism for being a non-biodegradable plastic item used to protect a single-use cardboard package or pizza.
Vitale's invention has sparked creativity, with variations on the device invented by others, such as a disposable plastic spatula with a handle that holds the box top up, or a plastic tripod with one serrated leg for easy cutting of stuck cheese and bread. Some pizzerias have even returned to the traditional method of baking a bread ball into the centre of their pizzas to avoid using plastic savers.
How Waste Management Recycles Plastic
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is usually thrown away after use
The plastic piece found in pizza boxes, officially known as a "pizza saver", is typically discarded after use. It is designed to be lightweight and inexpensive, made from heat-resistant plastic. The pizza saver is usually a flat surface supported by three or four vertical legs, resembling a miniature table. Its purpose is to prevent the pizza box lid from sagging and sticking to the pizza due to steam, thereby protecting the pizza's toppings and cheese from damage.
While some people dispose of the pizza saver after use, others have found creative ways to reuse them. For example, the savers can be turned upside down and used as egg holders or phone stands. Some people have even used them as tables for their children's dollhouses. However, the majority of these plastic pieces end up in the trash, contributing to environmental concerns.
The single-use nature of pizza savers has sparked debates about their necessity. Some individuals choose to opt out of receiving them with their pizza orders, expressing concern for the environment over the minor inconvenience of occasional stuck cheese. This has led some pizzerias to eliminate the use of plastic pizza savers altogether, returning to traditional methods like baking a bread ball into the center of pizzas.
Despite its intended purpose, the pizza saver's disposability has become a point of contention. While it serves a functional role in preserving pizza presentation during delivery, its single-use nature adds to the growing problem of plastic waste. As a result, some consumers actively avoid or discourage the use of these plastic pieces, highlighting the tension between convenience and environmental responsibility.
Choosing the Right Size for Your White Plastic Water Line
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It can be reused as a phone stand
The plastic piece that comes with a pizza, often referred to as a pizza saver, pizza table, or pizza stool, can be reused as a phone stand. This plastic piece, usually white and three-legged, was designed to prevent the lid of the pizza box from collapsing due to steam and sticking to the pizza. However, its use is not limited to just that.
The pizza saver can be flipped upside down to serve as a phone holder or stand. This allows you to prop your phone between its prongs and have a hands-free experience while following recipes or cooking videos, or even reading a book while enjoying your pizza. For an unobstructed view of your phone, some people suggest cutting one of the legs a little more than halfway down using scissors or clippers.
While the pizza saver has proven useful for many, some people choose to refuse it due to its environmental impact as non-biodegradable plastic. As an alternative, some pizzerias have returned to baking a bread ball into the center of their pizzas to prevent the lid from sagging.
Despite the debate, the pizza saver has found a place beyond its original purpose, with creative individuals reusing it as a handy phone stand, showcasing its versatility and giving it a second life beyond the pizza box.
White Plastic Signs: What Material Is It?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It's called a pizza saver, pizza table, pizza stool, or package saver. It's used to prevent the lid of the pizza box from sagging and touching the pizza.
Pizza savers are used to prevent the toppings from sticking to the lid of the pizza box and to keep the pizza in good condition during delivery.
Some people discard the pizza saver after use, but others find secondary uses for it, such as using it as a phone holder or an egg holder.
