February 12. A Banner Day In The History Of Pizza!
Happy birthday to The Pizza Saver! Turning 35 this year!
(c) Can Stock Photo / CrispyPhotos
It was first patented in 1985 by Carmela Vitale of, New York, who saw a plastic divider as a way of preventing the tops of pizza boxes from bowing inwardly and pressing against the top of the pizza, which can happen when steam from a hot pie weakens the cardboard. As a result, the top can fuse to the cheese, ripping off the entire upper portion of the pizza when the box is opened.
Vitale opted for a three-legged pizza saver to keep the box top raised and to minimize damage to the pie itself. Vitale never produced the pizza savers in great quantities herself; that was left to major plastics manufacturers who could roll them out for as little as one cent apiece. After her patent expired in 1993, anyone was free to produce them.
So the next time you order a double pepperoni, try to remember the woman who made a cheesy box top a thing of the past. NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES!
