Pizza Toppings Under or Over Cheese?

Hey pizza lovers, are you wondering if you should layer pizza toppings under or over cheese?

Generally, toppings that can burn easily should go under the cheese, while toppings that resist the pizza oven’s high temperature should go over the cheese. Also, having the toppings over the cheese makes the pizza more visually appealing than having them buried under the cheese.

So let’s dive into which toppings should go under the cheese and which should go over the cheese for the perfect pizza!

Let’s get started!

Do You Like Your Pizza Toppings Under Cheese or Over?

Generally, if you like your pizzas topped with vegetables, they should go under the cheese. On the other hand, if you add meats to your pizzas, it should go over the cheese.

When to Layer Toppings on a Pizza

Putting toppings on a pizza depends on what type of toppings you use. Pizzas with toppings on top tend to get baked at a faster rate than those with no toppings.

In general, the tomato sauce goes on top of the pizza dough, then the cheese and toppings follow, but this is not always the case.

Many regional styles of pizza are made differently.

For example, the tomato sauce is applied first, then the toppings in Italy. This order makes it easier to spread the sauce.

However, the deep-dish pizzas are an entirely different story in Chicago.

The Chicago style pizza or deep dish pizza is when the mozzarella slices go on top of the pizza dough, and beneath the sauce, the cheese slices enhance the final product’s deliciousness while protecting it from becoming a soggy mess when baking pizzas.

The best time to put the toppings on a pizza depends on the type of cheese.

Meats on top of the cheese will get baked faster than those without. Depending on the topping, you can put the meat on top of a pizza or add it to it before baking the pizza.

Check the chart below for more on the best order of toppings for different pizzas.

Pizza toppings under or over cheese infographic — Pizza Toppings Under or Over Cheese?

Vegetable Toppings

Generally, you should pre cook vegetables when using them because the last thing you want is a soggy pizza.

Adding toppings to a homemade pizza depends on what you like to eat.

Although vegetables are mostly water, they can add flavor to the pizza, they can become a soggy mess if not treated correctly. Generally, vegetable toppings should be placed underneath the cheese.

Although certain vegetables contain more water than others, most vegetables are made up of water. Much of the vegetable’s toppings’ moisture evaporates when you pile them on top of the cheese and bake the pizzas at a high temperature.

All the moisture generated when vegetables are layered beneath a layer of cheese and baked at a high temperature gets retained between the cheese and the sauce.

When you cut the pizza, all that moisture is suddenly released into the pizza crust, giving it a soggy bottom, particularly in a thin crust pizza. The crust’s flavor and texture have practically been watered down by the excessive wetness, making it less pleasurable to consume.

If you like potatoes on your pizza, don’t forget that pre cooking root vegetables is a must. Precooking potatoes in olive oil is a great choice and will make your pizza tastier.

If you are using canned vegetables, like carrots or black olives, make sure to completely drain all liquid from the can before you cook the pizza.

Mushrooms

For example, there are two factors to consider when putting fresh mushrooms on a pizza. A very thinly sliced mushroom placed on top of the cheese while being heated to a high temperature can quickly dry up, turning it into tasteless cardboard.

The mushrooms should be buried under the cheese long enough to protect the thinly sliced mushrooms from heat while cooking them just enough.

Mushroom Pizza — Pizza with Mushrooms Under Cheese

If the idea of buried mushrooms bothers you, try drizzling the sliced mushrooms with olive oil before placing them on top of the cheese. Most of the time, fresh mushrooms are cut into thicker slices, and canned mushrooms will survive the heat without any problems.

This way, they will not overcook and lose their flavor. Another tip is to put your pizza toppings under the cheese if you don’t like meat.

Placing toppings on homemade pizzas depends on what you want to put on top. If you plan on adding fresh spinach to your pizza, you can precook it to prevent it from wilting.

Onions

Onions are best for a topping when sliced thinly. Onions will dry out during the cooking process and should be placed under the cheese.

Vegetables also get sweeter and soft when you cook them.

Tomatoes

Another option is adding tomato slices. Tomatoes add thickness to your pizza; you can use them to flavor the sauce and provide color and texture.

To add thickness, you can use tomato paste. If you’re unsure about the taste, experiment with a small amount first. Tinned tomatoes typically contain water, so drain the extra liquid before using them.

Another good option is cornstarch. You can use a teaspoon to make your pizza sauce thicker.

Tomato sauce can be made using extra virgin olive oil, butter, or flour. Then, you can add a pinch of salt and stir until combined. You can also use bread crumbs for a thicker sauce.

Bread crumbs are spongy and absorb excess water from tomato juice. They also do not affect the taste of your pizza.

However, baking soda is more suitable because it neutralizes tomato sauce’s acidity and alkalizes your pizza.

Diced tomatoes are a good option if you don’t have time to peel the tomatoes. You can also make a puree with the seedy tomato pulp.

You can cook it down in a pot until it reaches the desired consistency. You can also use passata, a pureed tomato that’s been strained. It is a thicker form of tomato. In the US, it’s called tomato puree.

Meat Toppings

Generally, meat toppings should go on top of the cheese.

If you like meat, you should place it on top. However, if you are unsure what goes on top of the cheese, don’t forget to cook the toppings first.

Generally, you should not use raw meat as a topping, as it will not have enough time to cook before the rest of the pizza cooks.

Pepperoni

When fresh or dry-cured pepperoni is baked beneath layers of cheese, the flavor is comparable to that of the product as it comes out of the package.

However, pepperoni crisps up, and the edges curl when you put the same pepperoni on top of layers of cheese and bake it in a pizza oven at a high temperature.

Pepperoni Pizza — Pizza with Pepperoni Over Cheese

It emphasizes the subtle smokiness and highlights the traces of pepper in the meat when you spread it over the cheese in the high-temperature pizza oven.

After baking the pizza in a pizza oven, the pepperoni becomes crispy, giving your bite of crispy pizza a delicious crunch.

The identical pizzas will bake, taste, and feel drastically different if the pepperoni is positioned beneath the cheese.

Herbs and Green Toppings

Generally, herbs and green toppings should be placed underneath the cheese or after the pizza is cooked.

However, if you put baby spinach, fresh basil, or another delicate leafy green, the leaves will not hold up to a hot oven and may turn mushy when cooked.

If you’re using fresh spinach, you can place them under the cheese or place them after the pizza is cooked.

Herbs Pizza — Pizza with Herbs over Cheese

The order of toppings on a pizza can vary greatly depending on your personal preference, what you make, and where you’re making it.

Having the cheese on top may cause you to overcook the cheese, and will curdle and become less pungent, making it difficult to cut and ruining the appearance of the toppings.

Furthermore, baking the pizza dough before placing the toppings will save time.

As a result, they are the perfect topping for a delicious pizza. In addition, you can use the vegetables that you like and put them on top of the pizza as well.

You can layer the vegetables on top of the pizza for a more flavorful dish.

Fresh Mozzarella

Fresh mozzarella should go last on your list; it should be the cheese on top of your pizza. Fresh mozzarella has a lot of moisture and may make your pizza crust soggy.

The Last Slice

We hope you have learned how to layer pizza toppings under and over the cheese.

When layering and baking pizza, play around with the pizza’s toppings. Have cheese on the top and bottom and check the difference.

Get inspired by flavors and textures, and experiment with each component’s layers, flavors, and textures until you are confident that what you have produced is a great pizza. Remember, making pizza is a culinary art.

We can honestly say it doesn’t get much better.