At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.
What is a Pizza Burn?
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Although the painful injury known as a pizza burn can be caused by other hot foods, many people associate it with a piping hot pizza served straight out of the oven. An overly enthusiastic diner places a slice in his or her mouth, and the bubbling cheese or tomato sauce instantly sears the roof of his or her mouth. The resulting lesion and occasional dangling flap of skin is officially called a pizza burn.
A pizza burn is generally caused by foods which retain a significant amount of heat, such as melted cheeses, sauces, gravies and deep-fried items. A commercial pizza oven can often reach temperatures of 800 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This means several minutes can elapse before the cheese and other ingredients cool down sufficiently for safe consumption. If those searing hot ingredients should touch the roof of a diner's mouth, serious damage can occur in seconds. The hot food may continue to stick to the extremely thin tissue covering the palate area.
The burned tissue may pull away from the roof of the victim's mouth, leaving a flap of damaged skin dangling. Mouth lesions may also form, which often resemble second degree burn blisters. The injured area could remain very sensitive and tender for at least a week to ten days following the initial pizza burn. The burned area also becomes more prone to opportunistic infections, so a visit to a dentist could be in order if the pizza burn is severe.
There are other foods which can cause pizza burn, either because of their heat-retaining ingredients or the nature of their preparation. Any hot dish featuring a layer of melted cheese should be consumed carefully, and only after enough time has elapsed to render it safe. Hot beverages such as tea and coffee can also cause scalds to the upper palate area if consumed too quickly. Deep-fried foods such as breaded mushrooms or jalapeno poppers can also retain heat and steam, so they should be eaten with caution. Foods prepared in microwave ovens may also have unseen hot spots capable of causing serious pizza burns.
The best first aid for pizza burns is an immediate application of ice, followed by a week of careful eating and salt water rinses.
Michael Pollick
A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.
Learn more...
Michael Pollick
A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![A pizza in an oven.]()
By: SerenethosA pizza in an oven. -
![Taking a bite of hot pizza can burn the skin in the mouth, causing it to shed.]()
By: Kayros StudioTaking a bite of hot pizza can burn the skin in the mouth, causing it to shed. -
![Hot, fresh pizza can cause burns on the roof of the mouth.]()
By: Stephen CoburnHot, fresh pizza can cause burns on the roof of the mouth. -
![Salt water rinses can help treat a pizza burn.]()
By: Orlando BelliniSalt water rinses can help treat a pizza burn. -
![Pizza burns may require an immediate application of ice.]()
By: Gray wall studioPizza burns may require an immediate application of ice.
Discussion Comments
I'd say that it is safe to apply some ice directly to a pizza burn for immediate pain relief, but I wouldn't use ice for the long term. The pizza burn has most likely caused soft tissue damage already, and sometimes keeping that area moist with ice or water can slow down the healing process. Some burns respond better if the tissue is allowed to dry out a little and form a protective scab or shell. Eating a frozen treat or applying an ice cube to the burned area may give you temporary relief, but the added sugar, or impurities in the ice cubes, may aggravate the tissue over time.
Is it safe to put ice right on the burn? I eat pizza a lot, so these instructions are good to know -- I'll probably need them sooner or later.
@seHiro - Maybe instead of experimenting with the risk of painful burns, you should try the way to prevent pizza burn that works best for me: eat your pizza with a fork and knife. I know, it sounds bizarre, but the time it takes to cut off each piece gives the pizza a bit longer to cool -- I've been eating my pizza this way for years, and I've never burnt myself.
Hey, do you think you could prevent getting a pizza burn by drinking something cold right before eating the pizza? The roof of your mouth might be cold, making it take a bit longer for the palate to heat up...it sounds reasonable, but I'm kind of afraid to try it.
Post your comments