# Why the vehement opposition to pineapple on pizza? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 27, 2021, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875 "2021-02-27T07:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/1 "2021-02-27T07:55:16Z")
As someone who enjoys pineapple on pizza (but only when paired with things like ham or bacon; it doesn’t go along with most other toppings), I am bemused and baffled by the rage that many people express against pineapple on pizza. Some Internet comments have joked that it ought to be regarded as a war crime against humanity. Is it that they don’t like sweet toppings on what ought to be a salty food? But I’ve never heard people complain about the special dessert pizzas that feature things like baked apple, chocolate or sugar-cinnamon glaze. BBQ sauce is sweet, and many people don’t mind it when it’s offered as a Papa John’s substitute for tomato sauce. Just what is so bad about the humble pineapple? ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/2 "2021-02-27T08:10:27Z")
Nothing. Some people were just born wrong and can not understand that pineapple is best on pizza. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/3 "2021-02-27T08:17:42Z")
I don’t mind the taste of pineapple on pizza so much, but I have to admit the difference in texture between the pineapple chunks and the pizza dough makes for a disconcerting gastronomic experience; more so if the chunks are large relative to the other toppings. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/4 "2021-02-27T08:30:26Z")
I’ve never had a dessert pizza, but I believe that they are not generally savory — they seem closer in intent to cinnamon toast or a waffle. BBQ sauce pizza is borderline strange but acceptable: savory with a touch of sugar. But pineapple is about the closest thing to a plant-grown SweeTart. I have to be in a peculiar mood to want a SweeTart, or a hunk of pineapple. An Hawaiian sundae is fun (mixing sweet with sweet), and bits of pineapple in a sweet, hot curry is a nice sensory experience. I’m not much of food/drink purist, and people can eat what they wish (no live baby ducks pretty please), but if you’re ordering for the whole group, I’d rather not get a SweeTart pizza. Or aluminum foil shards. Or pineapple. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/5 "2021-02-27T08:46:59Z")
I think it’s because the combination still seems jarring and weird to many people. It brings to mind the odd food combinations women supposedly crave when they’re pregnant. That said, I do like pineapple on a pizza. In terms of accompanying meat, however, I prefer pepperoni over Canadian bacon mainly because I like the mix of sweet and hot/spicy. On a side note, how do people feel about pineapple as a Mongolian BBQ ingredient? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/6 "2021-02-27T09:02:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > {…} BBQ sauce is sweet, and many people don’t mind it when it’s offered as a Papa John’s substitute for tomato sauce. {…} That would be because _Papa John’s_ is not pizza. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/7 "2021-02-27T10:04:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Is it that they don’t like sweet toppings on what ought to be a salty food? But I’ve never heard people complain about the special dessert pizzas that feature things like baked apple, chocolate or sugar-cinnamon glaze. That’s precisely why I’m opposed to pineapple on pizza. Sweet toppings do not belong on pizza. I would not eat chocolate, apples, or sugar cinnamon glaze on one, either. But some people won’t eat anchovies, either, although that’s my preferred topping. It’s all just a matter of personal taste. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/8 "2021-02-27T10:39:18Z")
A significant number of people just don’t like pineapple. Combine that with number of people who don’t like anchovies, and even in share house with hungry teenagers, there was limited demand from people welcoming a slice of my preferred topping of garlic pizza, pineapple and anchovies. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/9 "2021-02-27T10:43:45Z")
I’d say it’s just a meme people like to play around with. I seriously doubt there are many people that give a that’s ass what others like on their pizza. New Yorkers tend to take their pizza a little too seriously because it is an icon of their state. But really, good pizza can be found in just about any big city. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/10 "2021-02-27T10:55:58Z")
I think its the salt vs sweet thing. Last Friday we had pizza from a new place and the sauce was sweeter than usual. People said it was good. Yesterday, we had pizza from a different pizza place and the sauce was saltier. I’m a little sensitive to salt as I don’t use it, but everyone thought it was good also. TL;DR - It’s different, but sometimes different is good. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/11 "2021-02-27T11:35:33Z")
category: Recreational Outrage subcategory: Things I Personally Don’t Like the Taste Of With a dash of Pugnacious Local Food Loyalty (“that’s not how it’s SUPPOSED to be made”) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/12 "2021-02-27T11:46:15Z")
I don’t say that pineapple does not belong on pizza. I won’t eat pizza with pineapple but far be it from me to dictate what you eat on your pizza. Neither will I eat the “dessert pizzas” nor one with barbecue sauce. I don’t even care if you eat a hot dog with ketchup. Eat your food the way you like it. Just don’t expect me to eat it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/13 "2021-02-27T12:08:33Z")
You said it better than I did. If you like pineapples on pizza, have at it, but I’ll politely decline. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/14 "2021-02-27T12:44:49Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I think it’s because the combination still seems jarring and weird to many people. Considering it’s been around since the early 60s, I think it’s reached the point where people should be used to it by now. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/15 "2021-02-27T12:53:08Z")
Although Freud didn’t have a pizza chain, he did come up with the idea of the [“narcissism of minor differences.”](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-narcissism-of-minor-differences/) So how do you mark yourself as a better pizza lover than your neighbour? Be the pizza lover with arbitrary standards deriding one of the 20 or 30 odd toppings that most pizza chains offer. Personally I think the only toppings allowed, other than sauce and cheese, should be **Melbourne** ’s garlic, pineapple and anchovies. With the addition of onions and olives of course. And maybe mushrooms and red/green peppers - I know people that pick them off. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/16 "2021-02-27T13:08:38Z")
It is simple, if you’re from the North East you take great pride in Pizza, real Italian-American Pizza. Now the Chicago Deep Dish thing is one thing, that is friendly rivalry, but to have Californians pollute our food in such a way is a offense. It is no longer pizza but yet another West Coast insanity. Do you know what state has the most Italian-Americans? New Jersey. If you’re actually from The City, then you’re automatically a little Italian (and a Little Jewish). So all New Yorkers, even those of Asian descent know California can’t make a real pizza, but something closer to frozen at best. The above is somewhat true, but in the end, almost no one really cares. Though it is true NYC has the best Pizza in the world. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/17 "2021-02-27T13:15:32Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Personally I think the only toppings allowed, other than sauce and cheese, should be **Melbourne** ’s garlic, pineapple and anchovies. With the addition of onions and olives of course. And maybe mushrooms and red/green peppers - I know people that pick them off. Scoot over make room for me, I’ll take slice if that anchovy pineapple pie ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/18 "2021-02-27T13:17:43Z")
It tastes terrible. There is no worse flavor combination then salty and sweet. People who put pineapple on pizza are the same sort of taste bud deprived people who eat salted caramel. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/19 "2021-02-27T13:22:54Z")
I like it in the right combination. Chefs know that your tongue detects five tastes and they concoct all sorts of ways to stimulate two or more of those tastes in the same dish. Salty and sweet is no more offensive than sweet and sour, or sweet and bitter. Whether you like salty and sweet in the same bite or not is strictly a matter of taste (figuratively and literally). But the problem comes when people don’t just criticize the taste of pineapple on pizza, they criticize other people who like it. If it’s not the taste, I think it’s about preserving some sort of cultural purity. There are certain things some people just see as “wrong” like mustard on hamburgers, ketchup on eggs, or bacon on ice cream. But there is nothing objectively wrong about any of those. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875/20 "2021-02-27T13:33:50Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Though it is true NYC has the best Pizza in the world I mean taste is subjective, but I’m 100©% confident this statement would hold up to a blind taste test. I can get the exact same pizza New Yorkers get right here in Dallas TX. At a number of places. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-vehement-opposition-to-pineapple-on-pizza/933875.md?page=2)