Buzz
There are two types of people: those who blot pizza oil with a napkin, saving a few calories, and those who find the whole idea laughable. But how much of a difference does it really make?
Mental Floss gathered some estimates, with Food Detectives claiming 35 calories per slice and Popular Science suggesting a range from 20 to 50 calories.
With access to both a high-precision scale and an unrelenting love for pizza, I decided to gather some more data. (Here’s how I did it: weigh the napkin, blot the pizza, weigh again, then calculate the extra weight at 9 calories per gram).
From an 18” New York-style cheese pizza, delivered slightly cooled but still oily, with 130 square centimeters of cheese per slice (I also own a ruler), I managed to remove 20-40 calories with the first napkin, and a steady 20 with a second. The flavor difference between the blotted and unblotted pizza was noticeable, but only just.
The difference may seem minor, but it adds up when you have a few slices of pizza. For instance, if you eat three slices, you can absorb around 120 fewer calories, which is roughly the same amount found in a scoop of light ice cream. However, it's important to remember that pizzas and personal preferences vary, and those who are dedicated to blotting may end up with a napkin stuck to the hot cheese. So, blot if you want, but do so carefully.
Photo by Jenn Durfey.
