One of the biggest questions in the pizza world over the last few decades has been: Is it acceptable to put pineapple on pizza, or does pineapple belong on pizza? As one can see from the video below, my opinion is clear.
These two questions, though similar, are actually quite different. The first asks whether pineapple intrinsically belongs on pizza—should it be considered a classic topping? The second asks whether it should be a topping at all.
My answer to the first question is non-controversial: pineapple doesn’t intrinsically belong on pizza. It’s not a topping that any traditionalist would use. When the pizza was first made—think of the Margherita pizza with tomato sauce, cheese, and basil—it was all about simplicity and local ingredients. Pineapple was likely unknown or inconceivable as a pizza topping back then. I can’t imagine pineapple on a margherita pizza ever tasting good to anyone, to be honest. The foundational toppings that intrinsically belong on pizza are tomato sauce, cheese, and basil.
Now, the second question: Can you put pineapple on pizza? Is it acceptable? I think, yes, it is acceptable because I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be. Whenever someone tells me it’s not acceptable, I ask them why. If they say it’s because pineapple is a fruit, I point out that tomatoes are also a fruit, and they obviously belong on pizza. I don’t think the issue is that pineapple is a fruit.
I feel the main reason people who’ve tried pineapple on pizza and decided it shouldn’t be a topping is because it’s sweet. They might not like the sweet and salty combination that you get with pineapple on pizza. That’s fair—it’s a matter of personal taste. However, many people have never tried pineapple on pizza but still insist it shouldn’t be on pizza. This is likely because they’ve always been told it doesn’t belong; thus, they have always believed it without questioning. Perhaps they’re afraid that trying it might challenge a belief they’ve held for so long.
Personally, I like sweet and salty combinations. I don’t use ham with my pineapple because I don’t think ham is salty enough; I much prefer pepperoni. (I also don’t eat bacon, but that’s a topic for another post.) I find the flavour profile quite tasty, as do many of my friends. In Latin America (where I’m from), it’s much more acceptable to put pineapple on pizza than in North America or Europe—it’s a very normal thing.
In conclusion, yes, pineapple can be a topping on pizza, but it doesn’t intrinsically belong there.
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