BETA
Chapter 1
The physics of the fold
Chapter 2
The chemistry of the water legend
Chapter 3
The technology and design of the slice
YOUR GOAL
Master of Secrets of New York pizza
Ch 1 · The physics of the fold
dash Fold floppy slices to discover how crust physics and tap water shape New York pizza.
dash Folding a slice creates a dual-layered, drip-free channel that concentrates the toppings.
dash High-gluten spring wheat flour gives the crust its characteristic chew and extreme stretchability.
Fun Fact
Pizza physics: Folding a pizza works because of a 19th-century math theorem by Carl Friedrich Gauss showing that flat sheets can only bend in one direction at a time.
Glossary
gaussian curvature (noun)
An intrinsic measure of the curvature of a surface at a given point. Carl Friedrich Gauss used this mathematical concept to explain why a folded pizza slice resists drooping.
An intrinsic measure of the curvature of a surface at a given point. Carl Friedrich Gauss used this mathematical concept to explain why a folded pizza slice resists drooping.
Quiz
What is the name of the mathematical theorem that explains the structural rigidity of a folded pizza slice?
Quiz
Which 19th-century mathematician's theorem explains why folding a New York pizza slice keeps it stiff?
Quiz
What specific type of wheat is primarily used to produce the high-gluten flour for New York pizza?
Quiz
Which geometric shape does a folded New York pizza slice mimic to prevent the tip from drooping?
Quiz
Which New York City borough was home to the first licensed pizzeria in the United States?
Quiz
What protein content percentage is typical for the high-gluten flour used in classic New York pizza dough?
Quiz
How does folding a New York pizza slice help manage the liquid toppings during transport?