by Margaret S Garrett - Published 6 months ago

Homemade Pizza: Worth the Effort? Pros & Cons

Welcome to “Is It Worth It?”, a MyFitnessPal series that explores the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing ready-made meals compared to preparing them at home. This series aims to provide you with the information you need to make informed dietary choices that align with your lifestyle, budget, values, and health objectives.

Pizza is undeniably my favorite food. In fact, it was the centerpiece of my wedding reception dinner. However, when pizza night rolls around, many face a dilemma: should they prioritize convenience with a store-bought pizza or embrace the culinary experience and create a pizza from scratch?

For those prioritizing health and budget, this choice goes beyond mere taste. It involves considering cost, environmental impact, health benefits, and the investment of time and effort.

Therefore, let's carefully examine the pros and cons to determine: is homemade pizza truly worth the effort?

Homemade Pizza vs. Store-Bought Pizza: Healthier Option?

Homemade Pizza: Making pizza at home grants you complete control over the ingredients you consume. You can select whole grain flours, fresh vegetables, and homemade sauces without added sugars or preservatives. This presents an opportunity to increase your intake of healthier ingredients while reducing fat, sodium, and overall calorie count.

Store Bought Pizza: The nutritional content of store-bought pizzas can vary greatly. While there are healthier choices available, many frozen pizzas are high in sodium, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Pizzeria pizzas, although fresh, often contain more cheese and fatty meats than you would use at home. Additionally, the amount of oil used in their preparation may be higher, leading to increased calories and fat content.

MyFitnessPal makes it easy to log food or ingredients in advance, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether homemade or store-bought pizza is the better choice for your next pizza night.

Homemade Pizza vs. Store-Bought Pizza: Which Is More Affordable?

Homemade Pizza: While the initial cost of ingredients for homemade pizza might seem high, these supplies can be used to make multiple pizzas over time. Flour, yeast, and basic toppings like cheese and tomato sauce are generally inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk.

Store Bought Pizza: Store-bought pizza options range from affordable frozen varieties to more expensive gourmet or organic selections. Ordering from a local pizzeria is convenient, but the cost per pie can quickly add up, particularly when feeding a crowd or opting for delivery with additional fees.

To illustrate the serving size comparison, consider making a large 14-inch pizza at home versus ordering a similar size from a local pizzeria:

A homemade pizza can serve four to six people, based on how it is sliced. With the cost of ingredients for a basic cheese pizza being low, each person may spend $2 to $3.
On the other hand, a 14-inch pizza from a local pizzeria usually costs around $18 to $25, resulting in a cost per person (assuming the same four to six servings) of approximately $4.50 to $6.25.

This comparison highlights both a cost advantage and the fact that homemade pizza offers similar serving sizes, potentially resulting in significant savings and the ability to customize toppings according to individual preferences.

Homemade Pizza vs. Store-Bought Pizza: Environmental Impact

Homemade Pizza: Although making pizza at home can reduce packaging waste compared to store-bought options, many ingredients like cheese, meats, and dough are often individually packaged. However, you can minimize your environmental impact by using local produce and opting for ingredients with less packaging whenever possible.

Store Bought Pizza: Frozen pizzas come in cardboard boxes, often wrapped in plastic, which contributes to landfill waste if not recycled properly. Fresh pizzas from a store or restaurant also typically come in cardboard boxes, raising similar environmental concerns.

If reducing your environmental footprint is important, homemade pizza provides chances for more eco-friendly choices, considering you can carefully select ingredients with minimal packaging and support local food producers. This leads us to…

You might also likeHigh-Fiber, Gluten-Free Chickpea Pizza Crust >

Homemade Pizza vs. Store-Bought Pizza: Time and Effort

Homemade Pizza: Making pizza from scratch demands time and effort. You need to acquire ingredients, knead the dough and let it rise, prepare the toppings, and then assemble and bake. If you enjoy cooking, this can be a fulfilling process. And choosing pre-made pizza doughs or meats can save time. But, no matter how you look at it, homemade pizza will likely always take longer than warming up a store-bought version or ordering from your local pizzeria.

Store Bought Pizza: Convenience reigns supreme with store-bought pizzas. Frozen pizzas can be put in the oven with minimal effort, and fresh pizzas are just a phone call or an online order away. If time is limited or you’re not in the mood to cook, store-bought provides a quick and easy alternative.

You might also likeEasy 5-Ingredient Tortilla Pizza >

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, your decision boils down to your priorities and health goals. Do you prioritize controlling nutritional content? Or does the convenience of a quick, pre-made meal fit your needs better? Regardless of your choice, both options lead to delicious results. After all, when is pizza ever a bad idea?