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Which supermarkets make the most delicious ready-to-bake pizza?

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In a quest to help you buy the best, the Sunday Times put 12 pizzas from top SA retailers to the taste test

HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST

It's free and fair!

We know that taste is a subjective thing, but when you gather a group of pizza lovers together for a blind tasting, you're bound to get an idea of which ready-to-bake supermarket pizzas are the best buy.

For a fair comparison, like needs to be judged with like and as retailers stock a wide range of different pizzas, we opted not to do a competitive tasting. Instead we selected 12 popular types of pizza from four different retailers. We asked our taste testers to rate each pizza out of 10, judging the appearance, taste, base and topping, as well as to say whether they would buy that product.

Each pizza was prepared exactly as per package instructions by a group of chefs at HTA cooking school in Randburg, Joburg, sliced and served to the tasters without any packaging or branding. In many samples the heating instructions weren’t sufficient to give a good crispy base and could have done with extra baking.

To ensure we had professional input, we asked two chefs to join the panel: Chef Heinz Brunner, previous vice president of the South African Chefs Association and a great lover of this Italian original, and Chef Mkhacani Richard Baloyi, pizza expert and owner of La Mama’s Pizzeria in Randburg.

THE RESULTS

Mince Bolognaise Pizza.
Mince Bolognaise Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

1. MINCE BOLOGNAISE PIZZA

From: SPAR Freshline

Price: R53.99 for 515g

Judges' comments:

  • Peter: Not bad for a shopbought pizza. Pleasantly surprised.
  • Henry: Juicy and tasty, maybe a little more mince.
  • Matthew: Not a disappointment, good standby to have in the fridge.

Score: 8/10

 
BBQ Chicken, Bacon & Mushroom Pizza.
BBQ Chicken, Bacon & Mushroom Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

2. BBQ CHICKEN, BACON AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

From: Pick n Pay

Price: R75.99 for 525g

Judges' comments:

  • Jakkie: A winner, would be lovely as a meal. The toppings complement each other.
  • Bev: Appearance good, enjoyed the toppings and the peppadews. Would buy it.
  • Annika: The perfect convenient pizza for any event. Impossible to have just one slice.

Score: 9/10

 
Caprese Pizza.
Caprese Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

3. CAPRESE PIZZA 

From: Woolworths

Price: R74.99 for 475g

Judges' comments:

  • Portia: Loved it. Has a generous topping. I would definitely buy it.
  • Peeyush: Nice crispy base, generous topping with excellent herbs and great taste.  Would buy it in a heartbeat.
  • Julian: Very basic pizza but real tomato adds to the great appearance and taste.

Score: 9/10

 
Spinach & Feta Pizza.
Spinach & Feta Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

4. SPINACH AND FETA PIZZA

From: Woolworths

Price: R74.99 for 400g

Judges' comments:

  • Pam: Not sure about filling, it left an aftertaste. Too salty.
  • Satch: Tastes bland, needs extra topping and seasoning.
  • Richard: The base is not cooked through. There’s no tomato and topping not nice. Spinach doesn’t taste good.

Score: 5/10

 
Peri Peri Chicken Pizza.
Peri Peri Chicken Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

5. PERI PERI CHICKEN PIZZA

From: Pick n Pay

Price: R75.99 for 570g

Judges' comments:

  • Duke: I enjoyed the spiciness and, yes, I would buy it.
  • Farida: This could be from a reputable pizza outlet, I like it.
  • Carla: Looks underbaked, very hot chilli and too much sauce.

Score: 7/10

 
Margherita Pizza.
Margherita Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

6. MARGHERITA PIZZA

From: Checkers Bella Vita

Price: R54.99 for 410g

Judges' comments:

  • Annika: Will appeal to kids. I found it bland and a bit doughy.
  • Takondwa: Base too thick. Tomato flavour comes through strongly.
  • Michelle: Too boring. Bland, needs something more.

Score: 6/10

 
Spinach & Feta Pizza.
Spinach & Feta Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

7. SPINACH AND FETA PIZZA

From: Pick n Pay

Price: R68.99

Judges' comments:

  • Pam: Generous and tasty. Toppings go well together. Edge nice and crunchy, but
    dough in middle a bit soggy.
  • Richard: Pizza nice, but base not cooked through. Topping is quality ingredients.
  • Zenelda: Good balance of flavour. Generous topping, good appearance and great vegetarian option.

Score: 8/10

 
Chicken & Peppadew Pizza.
Chicken & Peppadew Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

8. CHICKEN AND PEPPADEW PIZZA

From: Checkers Bella Vita

Price: R59.99 for 420g

Judges' comments:

  • Heinz: Pale base, could have cooked longer. Rich in taste, although a bit doughy. A thinner base would be better.
  • Fungiwe: The topping is good but the base is doughy.
  • Bev: Appearance great; base too soft. Enjoyed the peppadews.

Score: 6/10

 
Margherita Pizza.
Margherita Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

9. MARGHERITA PIZZA

From: SPAR Freshline

Price: R45.99 for 415g

Judges' comments:

  • Rakee: Very average; nothing to rave about.
  • Tshepo: Not enough topping.
  • Portia: Tasteless, topping almost insignificant.

Score: 5/10

 
Club Pizza.
Club Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

10. CLUB PIZZA

From: Checker's Bella Vita

Price: R59.99 for 455g

Judges' comments:

  • Peeyush: Visually appealing, really tasty and more-ish. Generous topping, yummy.
  • Sylviane: Will definitely buy it; very generous.
  • Jacelyn: Loved the combo of bacon, mushrooms and peppers, I could have eaten
    another slice. Base a bit soft and doughy.
  • Farida: Looks great; tastes fresh and homemade.

Score: 9/10

 
Spanish Chorizo & Olive Pizza.
Spanish Chorizo & Olive Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

11. SPANISH CHORIZO AND OLIVE PIZZA

From: Woolworths

Price: R79.99 for 365g

Judges' comments:

  • Matthew: Fair pizza but needed more chorizo and olives.
  • Jenny: Not bad for a home bake, but topping a bit sparse.
  • Peter: A little on dry side, needs more cheese.

Score: 7/10

 
Ham & Mushroom Pizza.
Ham & Mushroom Pizza. 
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

12. HAM AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

From: SPAR Freshline

Price: R47.99 for 430g

Judges' comments:

  • Mohini: Base too thin and papery. Ham is spongy and dry. Not enough sauce.
  • Loraine: Base could be more crispy. Filling nice but very spare.
  • Jacelyn: Overall taste bland, lacked flavour. Base doughy and rubbery. Dry. Needs more sauce and spices.

Score: 5/10

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