When the craving for pizza comes up suddenly, the solution often comes from the freezer. More and more people are buying frozen pizzas in Italy.
According to a recent survey carried out by Italian Frozen Food Institute in collaboration with Doxa, the frozen products market experienced a strong expansion during the Covid-19 pandemic and pizza, along with seafood and vegetables, was one of the most purchased frozen products.
A Altroconsumo decided to test 14 frozen Margherita pizzas, among the most popular on the market. The results are surprising.
The Altroconsumo test on frozen pizzas
Altroconsumo's team of experts analyzed and tested 14 Margherita pizzas selected from the most popular brands in large-scale distribution.
As brands analyzedSpecifically, they were: A Pizza, Artepizza, Bofrost, Buitoni, Cameo, Carrefour, Conad, Esselunga, Italpizza, Mamamia, Pam, Roncadin, Tre Mulini (Eurospin).
The samples were acquired in May 2022 and were taken to the laboratory for analysis and tasting in June 2022. Prices were researched in July 2022.
The pizzas were subjected to two series of tests: one to give a vote on the “composition” of the product (during which the type of ingredient and its quality, the amount of seasoning and the nutritional balance of the dish were verified) and one related to the appearance, texture and flavor (the evaluation was carried out “in the dark”, that is, without knowing the name of the brand).
Initially, the pizzas were presented to the judges while still frozen, in order to allow them to evaluate the raw appearance.
Subsequently, the pizzas were baked, checking the accuracy of the instructions on the label regarding times and temperatures and, if necessary, modifying one or both parameters to find the ideal baking conditions to present them for tasting (in general, however, the instructions given on the label were considered correct). After they were baked, the judges examined them and tasted them again.
Testing showed that all products contain mozzarella (and no other cheese), tomato pulp or puree, olive oil (simple olive oil or sunflower oil), flour, yeast (from beer and/or mother yeast) and salt. The main defects, in general, were identified in the excess of calories and the fact that they are very salty.
Altroconsumo also assessed the environmental impact of packaging: Most of the pizzas analyzed were wrapped in plastic wrap and then packed in large cardboard boxes. The latter, highlighted Altroconsumo, is secondary packaging that, in terms of sustainability and waste reduction, could very well be avoided.
The best frozen pizzas according to Altroconsumo
In the tasting test by the Altroconsumo team of experts, 3 pizzas (those from bofrost, Esselunga e The Pizza) received the highest ratings (5 stars).
The reasons: “Esselunga stands out above all for the quality of its tomatoes and cheese; A pizza for the quality of the aroma, structure and flavor of the dough; Bofrost for the good relationship between dough and filling and the intensity of the aromas”.
In the general classification, the Esselunga Margherita Pizza came first with 69 points, earning the label “Best in the test” (regardless of cost) and “Best buy” (value for money, 4,84 euros per kg).
They follow, with 65 points, the Maxi Margherita by Tre Mulini (Eurospin), Margherita from The Pizza and Pizza Margherita Verace (Bofrost). The other special mention for “Best Buy” went to the Margherita, two pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven from Conad (61 points), thanks to its price of 4,65 euros per kilo.
At the bottom of the Altroconsumo ranking, on the other hand, with 48 points, are Pizza Regina Extra Large di Cameo (rectangular format) and the Bella napoli, the classic pizza Margherita Buitoni. Both, in the tasting test, obtained 3 stars.
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