Is Cold Pizza Better Than Hot Pizza?

Hot pizza vs leftover cold pizza?  This article lays out this question and provides some science-ish support.

"Scientists speculate on why this group prefers chilled pizza. Chilling foods mellows the flavors, particularly those that are bitter or sweet. Meanwhile, the taste receptors for saltiness are stronger in cold temperatures. This mutes the sweetness of the tomato sauce, causing the pizza to taste saltier. Other, more delicate flavors, such as the herbs in the sauce, can also come through stronger."

While the melding of flavors is important, however I think there are factors that are more important.  First, we must recognize that not all pizza is the same, and there are big differences on which will be better cold or better reheated.  

The dough is a major factor.  A very thick dough can be overly chewy when cold and is better on reheating.  And if that thick dough was overly doughy initially, reheating it can make it better than it was initially.  

As for cheese, it depends on the type of cheese.  Some cheeses are better hot, while some may be better cold.  I am not the cheese expert (our cheese expert retired), but as a pizza aficionado (grew up in NE PA, pizza capital of the world, and worked for a real pizza shop (not one of these cookie-cutter chains) for 4 years (age 15-18)), I have seen some pizza cheese turn from excellent hot to nothing more than rubber when cold.  This is not only a textural issues, but flavors as well.

The beverage served as a lot to do with this as well.  You can pair hot pizza with beer or wine, but with cold pizza, I just don't see it.  I like my cold pizza with milk.

So do you have a favorite pizza joint and is that pizza good when cold?


Morning Clips
https://www.morningagclips.com/does-cold-pizza-actually-taste-better-the-science-of-leftovers/
Does Cold Pizza Actually Taste Better? The Science of Leftovers
Leftover pizza may be best served cold, but most other leftovers require reheating

PUBLISHED ON September 24, 2025

WASHINGTON — The best way to eat pizza is an ongoing debate. In Pizza Hut’s second annual Pizza Trends Report, 57% of Americans prefer their leftover pizza cold, and science suggests there might be something to the claim. From the oxidation of food molecules to the role of starch, here’s what happens to leftover food in your fridge and how to make the most of it.

FDA Issues Warning Letter to NJ Firm for FSVP Issues Brought to Light by Supplier-related Salmonella Outbreak

FDA issued a Warning Letter to DingMoo LLC, doing business as (DBA) Dingman’s Dairy, Paterson, NJ after finding issues with compliance to the FSVP requirements.

The inspection was initiated in response to a multistate outbreak investigation involving Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to a food item manufactured by the company's foreign supplier.  Although not stated in the Warning Letter, the foreign supplier was Sweet Cream, whose mini pasties were responsible for 18 cases of Salmonella infection, posted in January of 2024 (https://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2025/02/salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-imported.html).

So DingMoo was importing from a company that just had a Salmonella outbreak.  FDA found that DingMoo 

• Did not establish and follow written procedures to ensure that you import foods only from foreign suppliers you have approved based on an evaluation of the foreign supplier’s performance and the risk posed by the food
• Did not establish and follow adequate written procedures for ensuring that appropriate foreign supplier verification activities are conducted with respect to the foods 
• Must conduct a written hazard analysis for each type of imported food to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a control
• Did not provide documentation that the foreign suppliers’ performance was evaluated including the risk posed by the food.

To summarize, the company should have had a FSVP in place for each imported food.  It is also important that the company  know that their supplier was just involved in a Salmonella outbreak.  This would call for a review of the hazard analysis, if they had one, to determine if their plan captures the risk associated with that supplier.  At the very least, knowing that their supplier was involved in an outbreak, they should expect a regulatory inspection.


https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/dingmoo-llc-dba-dingmans-dairy-705186-08072025
DingMoo LLC DBA Dingman’s Dairy
MARCS-CMS 705186 — August 07, 2025

NJ Firm Expands Recall of Sauce Pouches Due to Elevated Lead Content

Sprout Organics is expanding its September 16, 2025 recall of Sprout Organics® Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach, due to potentially elevated lead levels, to include additional lots.

No additional information was posted in the notice on which ingredient may have had the lead contamination.  

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sprout-organics-expands-voluntary-recall-sweet-potato-apple-and-spinach-include-additional-lot-codes
Sprout Organics Expands Voluntary Recall of Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach to Include Additional Lot Codes
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 23, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  September 23, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead
Company Name:  Sprout Organics
Brand Name:  Sprout Organics
Product Description:  Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach, 3.5-ounce pouch

NY Firm Recalls Kimchi Product for Undeclared Milk and Shrimp

Lee K of NY INC of Flushing, NY, is recalling it’s 57-ounce packages of “Stewed Aged Kimchi w/ Mackerel” in black bottomed plastic container because it contains undeclared milk and shrimp.   The recall was initiated after New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors have found out the label for “Stewed Aged Kimchi w/ Mackerel” does not display the allergen milk and shrimp.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lee-k-ny-issue-allergy-alert-undeclared-allergen-milk-and-shrimp-stewed-aged-kimchi-wmackerel
Lee K of NY Issue Allergy Alert on Undeclared Allergen (Milk and Shrimp) in “Stewed Aged Kimchi w/Mackerel”
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 08, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  September 23, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Milk and Shrimp
Company Name:  Lee K of NY INC
Brand Name:  Pinocchio
Product Description:  Stewed Aged Kimchi w/ Mackerel

Costco Issues Recall for Prosecco Due to Bottle Shattering

Costco issued a recall notice for Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene between April 25, 2025 and August 26, 2025 due to potential shattering of the bottles, even when those bottles are not being handled or in use.

Prosecco is not bottle fermented like Champagne.  Rather, it uses he tank method, aka the Charmat method where the fine receives the secondary fermentation in a pressurized tank keeping the gas in in the wine.  The wine is then filtered and bottled under pressure (Wine Enthusiast).  So this is either an over-pressurized wine or there are issues with the bottles (not properly rated for the pressure).  Another possibility is there is a dosage added to the bottle at the filling step and this may have been off.    We're going to bet on a bottle issue.

Product was distributed in IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, and WI.

Health Alert Issued for RTE Turkey Wrap Product After Food Contact Surface Tests Positive for Listeria

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert for a ready-to-eat (RTE) turkey wrap product produced by WCD Kitchen - Minooka, Minooka, IL, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that food contact surface samples associated with this product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of this product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-turkey-wrap-product-due-possible-listeria
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Turkey Wrap Product Due To Possible Listeria Contamination

WCD Kitchen - Minooka

WASHINGTON, September 19, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a ready-to-eat (RTE) turkey wrap product due to concerns that the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

Another Recall of Frozen Shrimp Due to Linkage to FDA Warning for Potential Cesium Contamination

AquaStar (USA) Corp of Seattle, WA is recalling various shrimp products under the Kroger and Aquastar brands due to potential Cs-137 contamination.  This product was linked to the August 19, 2024 FDA Warning for frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) of Indonesia after U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) alerted FDA to the detection of Cs-137 in shipping containers at four U.S. ports.

"FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection (CBP), but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, to recommend that firms conduct a recall. In conjunction with other information, FDA determined that product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-kroger-frozen-raw-ez-peel-kroger-mercado-frozen-cooked-shrimp-and-aquastar
Aquastar (USA) Corp Recalls Kroger Frozen Raw EZ Peel, Kroger Mercado Frozen Cooked Shrimp, and Aquastar Raw Shrimp Skewers Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 20, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  September 21, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Shellfish
Reason for Announcement:  Due to possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination
Company Name:  Aquastar Corp
Brand Name:  Kroger, Kroger Mercado, AquaStar
Product Description:  Raw Shrimp, Cooked Shrimp, Shrimp Skewers

WA Firm Recalls Tuna Poke with Potentially Listeria Contaminated Green Onions

Western United Fish Company dba Annasea Foods Group of Kent, WA is recalling 3,314.7 lbs. of Kirkland Signature brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke, Costco Item Number of 17193, with the Sell By Date of 9/22/2025, because the green onions used in the product have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This recall was initiated after being notified by our green onion supplier of a Listeria monocytogenes positive test result in the green onions which were used only in Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke on 9/17/2025. The company is working with the green onion supplier to determine the root cause.

Poke is a mixture of diced raw fish, in this case Ahi tuna, tossed in sauce with onions, sesame, etc.  In the case of adding contaminated green onions, the fish containing mixture would be a great matrix for Listeria growth.

Product was sold at the deli section from Costco Warehouse stores in the following states on 9/18/2025: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/western-united-fish-company-recalls-kirkland-signature-brand-ahi-tuna-wasabi-poke-because-possible
Western United Fish Company Recalls Kirkland Signature Brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 20, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  September 20, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Western United Fish Company dba Annasea Foods Group
Brand Name:  Kirkland Signature
Product Description:  Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke

New Ebola Outbreak in Africa with 81 Confirmed Cases

This is not a food related issue, but of interest from a microbiology / communicable disease perspective.  

There is a new Ebola outbreak that has been identified in the Republic of the Congo.  "This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became infected and died. By September 15, there were 81 confirmed cases and 28 deaths, including four health workers."

"Why are health authorities worried?  The largest Ebola epidemic on record began in Guinea in 2013 and spread into Liberia and Sierra Leone. It infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-2025-symptoms-africa-congo-b2827210.html
A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know
This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital and died five days later
C Raina MacIntyre The Conversation Ashley Quigley Mohana Priya Kunasekaran Noor Jahan Begum Bari
Tuesday 16 September 2025 05:00 BST

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province. It’s caused by the most severe strain: the Zaire Ebola virus.

This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became infected and died. By September 15, there were 81 confirmed cases and 28 deaths, including four health workers.

The DRC has had 15 prior Ebola epidemics, with the largest in 2019 and the most recent in 2022.