Do you love thick pizza? You have a new choice today. Domino’s now has a Detroit-style pie. It is a small pan pizza. We will compare this new pie with the real thing.
This guide looks at Domino’s Domino Pizza vs Detroit-Style Pizza. We show you the changes. You will learn about the crust. You will learn about the cheese. Let us find your next meal.
Many people love a thick crust. Some want a soft center. Others want a crispy cheese crust. Both styles offer these great parts. But they are not the same. Let us look at why.
What Is Detroit-Style Pizza?
This style of pizza started in Michigan. It began in the year 1946. Cooks used blue steel pans from car plants. These deep pans gave the dough a unique shape. It became a famous local food.
A real Detroit pie has a thick crust. The dough is very light and airy. It is like focaccia bread. The bottom of the crust gets crisp. This happens because cooks oil the pan very well.
This style uses Wisconsin brick cheese. This cheese has a high fat content. It melts down the sides of the pan. It creates a dark, crispy cheese crust. This is called a frico cheese edge.
The sauce goes on last. Cooks pour it in thick stripes. This keeps the dough from getting wet. It also looks very nice. Is Detroit style pizza deep dish? Yes, it is a type of deep dish.
What Is Domino’s Detroit Style Pizza?
Domino’s has a new menu item. They call it the Domino. It is a personal Detroit-style pie. This is the first time they made a pizza in this shape. It looks like their famous logo.
How does Domino’s make Detroit style pizza? They use their buttery pan dough. They put real Parmesan cheese in the pan first. This cheese melts to form a crispy cheese crust. It tastes very rich.
The pizza is a rectangular pan pizza. It is small and made for one person. It has two large slices. It is topped with cheese, sauce, and toppings. They finish it with a garlic herb drizzle.
This new option joins other Domino’s crust styles. It is different from their thin crust. It is also different from their hand-tossed dough. It is a fun choice for a quick lunch or dinner.
Domino’s Handmade Pan Pizza vs Detroit Style
You might know the Domino’s handmade pan pizza vs Detroit style options. Both use thick dough. But they have key differences. The classic pan pizza is round. The new Detroit style is a rectangle.
What is the difference between Detroit style and pan pizza? It comes down to the edges. A classic pan pizza has cheese on top. But a Detroit pie has cheese baked into the very edge of the pan.
Domino’s classic pan pizza comes in a medium size. The new Detroit style is a personal size. It is much smaller. It is like a Domino’s personal pan pizza. It is perfect for one person.
The cheese is also different. The classic pan uses mozzarella. The new Detroit style uses a blend. It also has Parmesan on the bottom. This gives the Detroit style a much more crispy bite.
Detroit Style vs Chicago Deep Dish
Many people get these two styles mixed up. Let us look at Detroit style pizza vs Chicago deep dish. Both are thick. But they do not taste the same. They use different pans and dough.
Chicago deep dish is round. It has a crust like a pie. The crust is dense and buttery. It holds a mountain of toppings. You often need a fork and knife to eat a Chicago slice.
Detroit style vs deep dish from Chicago is about air. The Detroit crust is light and full of air bubbles. It is easy to hold. You do not need a fork. It is crispy on the outside.
The cheese placement is different too. Chicago puts cheese at the bottom. Then they add meat and sauce. Detroit puts cheese all the way to the edge. The sauce goes on top in stripes.
How Domino’s Makes “The Domino”
How does Domino’s make Detroit style pizza in their shops? They start with a small, deep pan. They coat the pan with oil. Then they press their buttery pan dough into the corners.
Next, they add a layer of real Parmesan cheese. This cheese goes around the bottom. It helps form a crispy cheese crust. It makes the bottom of the pizza taste like garlic bread.
Then they add the sauce and mozzarella cheese. They put your favorite toppings on top. You can choose up to three toppings. Finally, they bake it in a very hot conveyor oven.
After baking, they drizzle garlic seasoning over the top. They cut it into two square slices. The result is a hot, thick pizza. It is ready for you to enjoy in minutes.
The Story of the Detroit Blue Steel Pan
The pan is the secret to this pizza style. In the 1940s, Detroit was a major car city. Factory workers used blue steel trays to hold small parts. They were very strong.
A local pub owner decided to cook pizza in these trays. The deep shape was perfect. The steel held heat very well. It made the dough rise high and get very crispy.
Today, bakers still use these special pans. They are seasoned like cast iron. This gives the pizza its unique taste. It is why the crust is different from any other style.
Domino’s uses a similar rectangular pan for their new pie. But it is made for fast-food kitchens. It helps them bake the pizza quickly. It still gives a nice square shape.
Why Cheese Edges Matter: The Frico Edge
The best part of a Detroit pie is the frico cheese edge. This is a ring of crispy cheese. It forms where the cheese meets the hot metal pan. It is dark and crunchy.
To get this edge, cooks must put cheese all the way to the side. There should be no bare crust. As the pizza bakes, the cheese melts down. It fries against the steel.
This creates a deep, savory flavor. Many people only eat the corner slices because of this edge. It is the signature feature of this style. It sets it apart from other pies.
Domino’s tries to copy this with their crispy cheese crust. They use Parmesan on the bottom to help. It is not quite a true frico edge. But it still gives a great crunch.
Detailed Comparison Table
We made a simple table for you. It shows the main differences. You can compare the new Domino’s pie with real Detroit pizza. You can also see how they compare to Chicago deep dish.
| Feature | Real Detroit Style | Domino’s Detroit Style | Chicago Deep Dish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Rectangular | Rectangular | Round |
| Crust | Light & Airy | Buttery & Thick | Dense & Flaky |
| Cheese | Wisconsin Brick | Mozzarella & Parmesan | Mozzarella |
| Sauce | On Top (Stripes) | Under Cheese | On Top (Chunky) |
| Edge | Frico Cheese Edge | Parmesan Crust | High Dough Wall |
This table shows how each style is built. The real Detroit style is unique. Domino’s tries to match it. But they make some changes to fit their fast-food kitchen. Let us look at those changes.
The Domino Pizza Review
We tried the new personal pie. This is our honest review. The Domino pizza review shows some good points. It also shows some bad points. It is a fun item, but it is not perfect.
First, let us talk about the crust. It is very thick and soft. The Parmesan cheese on the bottom is a great touch. It gives the crust a nice crunch. The garlic drizzle adds great flavor.
But is it a real Detroit pie? Not quite. It does not use Wisconsin brick cheese. The sauce is under the cheese, not on top. It feels more like a small, thick pan pizza.
The size is also very small. It only has two slices. It is good for a quick lunch. But it will not feed a family. You might need to buy more than one if you are very hungry.
Pros and Cons of Each Style
Let us look at the pros and cons. This will help you choose. Each style has something special. You might prefer one over the other based on your taste. Here is what we found.
Real Detroit style has a perfect frico cheese edge. It has a light, airy crumb. The brick cheese tastes amazing. But it is hard to find. It can also be very expensive to buy.
Domino’s Detroit style is cheap. It is easy to order. You can get it fast. It is a great personal size. But it is not authentic. It can sometimes feel a bit too greasy.
If you want real flavor, go for the classic. If you want speed and a low price, choose the chain. Both options will satisfy your craving for a thick, cheesy slice of pizza.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
We compared Domino’s Domino Pizza vs Detroit-Style Pizza. Both are tasty options. The real Detroit style wins on flavor and crust texture. It is a masterpiece of baking. It is worth the search.
But the new Domino’s pie is a good try. It is cheap and fast. It gives you a crispy cheese crust without a long wait. It is a great choice when you eat alone.
Now you know the differences. You can make the best choice for your next pizza night. Go out and try both. See which crust style you like best. Enjoy your next slice of pizza!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Detroit style and pan pizza?
Detroit-style pizza is baked in a rectangular pan with cheese spread all the way to the edges, creating a caramelized cheese crust (frico). Standard pan pizza is typically round with cheese kept on top of the crust.
Is Detroit style pizza deep dish?
Yes, Detroit-style pizza is a type of deep-dish pizza because it has a thick crust and is baked in a high-sided pan. However, it is lighter and airier than a Chicago deep-dish pizza.
Does Domino’s use Wisconsin brick cheese?
No, Domino’s does not use authentic Wisconsin brick cheese for their Detroit-style pizza. They use a blend of mozzarella and provolone, along with Parmesan to create the crispy edge.
What is “The Domino” pizza?
“The Domino” is a personal-sized, rectangular Detroit-style pizza launched by Domino’s. It features a crispy Parmesan crust, buttery pan dough, and is cut into two slices.
