# How are places like Little Caesars HOT-N-READY pizzas made so quick? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160 "2012-10-28T22:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/61 "2012-11-01T03:03:11Z")
I haven’t been to Little Caesars for a few years, although they always seemed almost as “good” (for whatever that’s worth) as Dominos or Pizza Hut, but if you told them you would like a fresh pizza cooked to order, would they still sell it to you for 5 bucks, assuming it was the same toppings that were offered on the $5 special? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/62 "2012-11-11T03:11:17Z")
I’ve picked up a LC Hot n ready as an I’m-dead-tired-and-dead-hungry dinner. Not bad. The other times I have commonly met up with LC is kid birthday parties. 10 pizzas can feed 20+ kids plus give their parents a bite or two for $50. A word of advice, though, if you need 10 pizzas give them at least a few hours notice, out of common courtesy. ---
**Author:** ![Sundrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sundrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sundrop)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/63 "2012-11-13T01:49:04Z")
I would turn down free LC. Unless the alternative were CiCi’s or this sort of local chain called Village Inn. Village Inn is the fucking bottom of the pizza barrel. I refuse to join our local Mountain Biking club because the only place they meet for socializing is at the Village Inn. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/64 "2012-11-13T05:00:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Put it this way: If you were offered free pizza, and it was Little Caesar’s, would you turn it down? Speaking of which, when I worked at the soup kitchen in DC, Little Caesar’s came by with a big truck and served lunch one day. I have a warm spot in my heart for them for that. Just how bad is Ceci’s $5 all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta bar? Should I get over my longing for them to come to my town? ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/65 "2012-11-13T06:15:33Z")
Growing up, my mom always ordered Domino’s or Pizza Hut…usually the latter. But at slumber parties/birthday parties etc. that I attended it was always Little Ceasar’s. I always assumed it was low-rent pizza because I only ever saw it served in bulk but I ate it anyway. (The same way that kids’ parties never had name-brand soda. It was always store brand. Tasted different but not bad. There is no such thing as bad soda or pizza when you’re six years old.) I never ate it again til I moved in with my husband, who will occasionally stop for a Hot-N-Ready on his way home. It’s pretty bland and reminds me of cafeteria pizza, but when it’s hot and you’re hungry, it’s tasty. It’s five bucks. You get your money’s worth. You could put cheese and pepperoni on just about anything and it would be edible here at the Levins kitchen table. ---
**Author:** ![prettydorky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/66 "2012-11-13T07:34:21Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Just how bad is Ceci’s $5 all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta bar? Should I get over my longing for them to come to my town? Their pre-mixed and dressed salad is pretty tasty, IMO. Everything else tastes like flour, water, and salt. I think the cheese might even be “cheese food”. And certainly not worth visiting for the ambiance. Our local Cici’s has been here maybe 5 years and it already looks 40 years old. That said- in the pros column, kids LOVE it. There is an arcade at most of them too. If you can handle the shouting-in-a-cafeteria style atmosphere, it’s a great family night out alternative to the zillion dollars movie theater experience. Ours even has a clown who does balloon animals and a bouncy house on Friday evenings. The other thing is, you can actually order a pizza, whatever kind you like, and they will make it fresh and bring it to your table. I’ve never had this done, but after learning that, I think it’s pretty cool for a $5 buffet to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/67 "2012-11-13T09:20:46Z")
In Michigan we have the option of the $7 hot and ready thick-crust pizza. Much closer to the Detroit style, and not a bad pizza for $7 if I want pizza and I’m passing by an LC. Otherwise my pizza snobbery is willing to wait for a really good pizza at any price. Baseline would be Jet’s, preferred would be Buddy’s, and if I don’t want carryout, Cloverleaf (which isn’t a chain and so you won’t be able to try it). These days, though, the only pizza available is Pizza Hut, and so I tend to make my own pizzas. Oh, sometimes the Italian restaurants have pizza, but I hate Italian (non-Sicilian) pizza. Cracker crusts and tomato paste. ---
**Author:** ![Pizza\_Pizza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pizza\_Pizza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pizza_Pizza)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/68 "2017-05-05T06:43:35Z")
LC is able to compete with major pizza chains. This has been proven. How do they do it. Very simple really. Without saying to much, here’s some things you need to know. - they’re fresh! Dough and sauce are made throughout the day. Never frozen or pre-cooked. - only a select few items are hot n ready. - custom orders are made from scratch, from name brand and fresh products. - there are hot and ready hours. Sometimes you’ll wait. Waiting for food is a good thing. - cost varies depending on your location. In some states and countries the $5 pie may cost $10.99 - this puts LC pizza on par with the national average. A former employee. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/69 "2017-05-05T07:58:44Z")
Love me some Little Caesars pizza. And Crazy Bread is AWESOME. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/70 "2017-05-05T11:11:41Z")
The crust on this pie is a bit dry and stale. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/71 "2017-05-05T12:28:15Z")
> [@Pizza\_Pizza](#): > > LC is able to compete with major pizza chains. > … I hope so, since LC _is_ a major pizza chain. But yeh, I’m a lifelong fan. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/72 "2017-05-05T14:52:57Z")
In my opinion Little Caesar’s is fine hot and ‘fresh’ but the moment it gets cold, it’s done for and even reheated, it’s absurdly terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/73 "2017-05-05T15:48:58Z")
I wonder how 5 year old Little Caesar’s pizza tastes reheated. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/74 "2017-05-05T16:27:21Z")
The best deal in town right now(Michigan) is Hungry Howie’s, who run an online-only deal. $8 3 Toppings and flavored crust. Large pizza No charge for online order and while I like Little Caesars, Hungry Howies is my favorite chain pizza. (I thought HH was nation-wide, but was informed on the Dope it is not). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/75 "2017-05-05T16:30:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The crust on this pie is a bit dry and stale. A little lotion and Febreze should freshen up that pie. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Hungry Howies is my favorite chain pizza. (I thought HH was nation-wide, but was informed on the Dope it is not). We used to have a HH in town and they were my go-to delivery pie. They had the best crust. But they have since moved on. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/76 "2017-05-05T17:22:28Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > In my opinion Little Caesar’s is fine hot and ‘fresh’ but the moment it gets cold, it’s done for and even reheated, it’s absurdly terrible. I used to freeze it after I ate the first 3 slices and then warm in the microwave when I wanted pizza. It was quite good like that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/77 "2017-05-05T17:22:34Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > A little lotion and Febreze should freshen up that pie. > > We used to have a HH in town and they were my go-to delivery pie. They had the best crust. But they have since moved on. I love learning new things after the age of 35(which, of course, I am). I really believed Hungry Howies was nation-wide, at least the 48 states. Very surprised it is somewhat limited. I have traveled the country, but it is actually not that widespread even in Michigan and other states. It’s pretty spread out and easy to miss that they are around. Still, best chain pizza. I prefer them over: Little Caesars - love, but #2 by a lot. Dominoes - Bad Pizza Hut - Horrendous - How is this a big chain? Jet’s - Really only good with tons of toppings Cottage Inn - the love of the early 1990’s, but I quickly came to my senses and learned it is only average. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/78 "2017-05-05T19:16:31Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I wonder how 5 year old Little Caesar’s pizza tastes reheated. It’s great if you knew to order the zombie topping mix in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/79 "2017-05-05T19:24:41Z")
People really like Little Caesars pizza? I thought it was pretty much widely considered the crappiest of all the chains. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160/80 "2017-05-05T20:48:09Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > People really like Little Caesars pizza? I thought it was pretty much widely considered the crappiest of all the chains. It’s cheap, and it’s edible. I can’t deal with the pizza though, their sauce makes me nauseous after only a slice or two. If I find myself getting anything there, it’s the italian cheesebread (or italian grease square, I like to call it) with garlic dipping butter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-places-like-little-caesars-hot-n-ready-pizzas-made-so-quick/639160.md?page=5)