Pizza vs. Calzone — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 23, 2024
Pizza is an open-faced dish with toppings on a yeast-leavened bread base, widely enjoyed globally; a calzone is a folded version of pizza, encapsulating similar fillings within its dough.
Difference Between Pizza and Calzone
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Pizza is traditionally flat, featuring a spread of tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings like vegetables, meats, or seafood. Whereas a calzone is essentially a pizza that's been folded before baking, enclosing its fillings in a pocket of dough, often served with sauce on the side.
While pizzas are baked open and come in a variety of styles and sizes, calzones are more uniform in their presentation, resembling a large dumpling and are usually intended for individual servings. On the other hand, calzones are typically designed for single servings, and their edges are crimped to seal in the ingredients, making them portable and less messy.
Pizzas offer a crispy base that can range from thin to thick crust depending on the style (like New York thin crust or Chicago deep dish). Conversely, calzones have a consistently thicker crust to contain their fillings, which can make them denser and more bread-like.
The cooking times and methods for pizzas and calzones differ; pizzas generally cook quickly due to their open-faced nature, allowing direct heat to melt the cheese and crisp the toppings. Calzones require a longer cooking time to ensure the dough is fully cooked through and the fillings are hot, often leading to a softer outer crust.
Comparison Chart
Presentation
Open-faced
Folded and sealed
ADVERTISEMENT
Serving
Can be individual or shared
Generally individual
Crust
Varies from thin to thick
Consistently thicker
Toppings
Exposed on the surface
Enclosed within the dough
Cooking Method
Quick baking, toppings directly heated
Longer baking, contents are enclosed
Compare with Definitions
Pizza
Popular worldwide, adapted to many regional tastes and ingredients.
In Japan, pizza toppings often include squid and mayonnaise.
Calzone
Served often with marinara sauce on the side.
Her calzone came with a small bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.
Pizza
A dish of Italian origin consisting of a flat round base of dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and various other ingredients.
We ordered a large pepperoni pizza for dinner.
Calzone
Resembles a folded pizza but with a sealed edge.
The calzone's edges were crimped to hold in all the savory fillings.
Pizza
Can vary in style from thin crust to deep dish.
He prefers Chicago-style deep dish pizza with its thick crust.
Calzone
Ideal for a portable, mess-free meal.
Calzones are perfect for eating on the go without worrying about toppings falling off.
Pizza
Typically cut into slices and served hot.
The freshly baked pizza was sliced and served steaming.
Calzone
Generally denser due to its enclosed nature.
The calzone was satisfyingly filling, with its bread-like crust and hearty insides.
Pizza
Known for its customizable toppings.
She loves her pizza with extra cheese and black olives.
Calzone
An Italian pastry of pizza dough folded over and filled with cheese, meats, or vegetables.
He ordered a calzone stuffed with mozzarella and ham.
Pizza
Pizza (Italian: [ˈpittsa], Neapolitan: [ˈpittsə]) is an Italian dish consisting of a usually round, flattened base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as anchovies, mushrooms, onions, olives, pineapple, meat, etc.), which is then baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven. A small pizza is sometimes called a pizzetta.
Calzone
A calzone (UK: , US: , Italian: [kalˈtsoːne]; "stocking" or "trouser") is an Italian oven-baked folded pizza, often described as a turnover, made with leavened dough. It originated in Naples in the 18th century.
Pizza
A baked pie of Italian origin consisting of a shallow breadlike crust covered with toppings such as seasoned tomato sauce, cheese, or sausage.
Calzone
A baked or fried Italian turnover of pizza dough filled with vegetables, meat, or cheese.
Pizza
(uncountable) A baked Italian dish of a thinly rolled bread dough crust typically topped before baking with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients such as meat, vegetables or fruit
A slice of pizza
A pizza pie
Want to go out for pizza tonight?
Calzone
A baked Italian turnover made of pizza dough and stuffed with tomato, cheese and other toppings.
Pizza
(countable) A single instance of this dish
He ate a whole pizza!
Should we cook a frozen pizza for dinner?
Pizza
Italian open pie made of thin bread dough spread with a spiced mixture of e.g. tomato sauce and cheese
Common Curiosities
What is a pizza?
Pizza is a popular dish made with a flat, round base of dough topped with sauce, cheese, and various other ingredients, baked in an oven.
Which is healthier, pizza or calzone?
The healthiness depends on the ingredients used; however, calzones might have more dough per serving, potentially increasing calorie content.
Can you customize a calzone like a pizza?
Yes, like pizzas, calzones can be customized with a variety of fillings to suit personal tastes.
What are the origins of pizza and calzone?
Both dishes originated from Italian cuisine, with pizza from Naples and calzone also from southern Italy.
Is a calzone essentially just a folded pizza?
Essentially, yes, a calzone is a pizza that has been folded over and sealed before baking.
How should you eat a calzone?
Calzones are typically eaten with a fork and knife, especially if served with sauce on the side for dipping.
What is a calzone?
A calzone is a type of Italian turnover made with pizza dough, filled with typical pizza toppings, folded over, and sealed before baking.
How do the ingredients of a pizza and a calzone compare?
Both pizza and calzone use similar ingredients like dough, cheese, tomato sauce, and various fillings, but calzones enclose their fillings.
Why might someone choose a calzone over a pizza?
Someone might choose a calzone for its portability, less mess, and because it can retain heat longer due to its enclosed nature.
Which is more popular globally, pizza or calzone?
Pizza is more widely recognized and popular globally compared to calzone.
What variations exist within pizzas that are not applicable to calzones?
Variations such as crust thickness, shape (like square or round), and cooking method (like wood-fired) are more pronounced in pizzas than in calzones.
What's the best way to serve pizza at a party?
Pizza is great for parties as it can be made in large sizes, easily shared, and customized to cater to different tastes.
Do pizzas cook faster than calzones?
Yes, pizzas generally cook faster because they are open-faced, allowing the heat to directly cook the toppings and melt the cheese.
Can both pizza and calzone be vegetarian?
Absolutely, both can be made vegetarian by choosing toppings or fillings that don't include meat.
Can calzones be frozen for later use?
Yes, calzones freeze well and can be reheated, making them convenient for meal prep or quick dinners.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Internet vs. Interweb
Next Comparison
Penchant vs. PensionAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
