Hello and welcome back to Life’s Biggest Questions, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey.
At times, we here at LBQ like to tackle some of life's most important mysteries, whether
we're diving into black holes, or theorizing about the big bang.
But sometimes, there's a question of essentially no importance, that just about everyone has
heard at some time or another: Why the heck do round pizzas come in square boxes?
It seems like such a waste, but is there a reason behind it?
Let's find out.
Hint: There is.
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Now get ready, it’s time to ask the question: Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
Just as a side note, I'm aware that technically a round pizza box would be considered cyllindrical,
but I'll just be saying round in this video for the sake of ease.
Why use four syllables when you can use just one?
Now, back to the question.
While the reasoning behind the square box may seem obvious to you, it's a question that
can be seen just about everywhere online.
People around the world seem to be befuddled by the apparent lack of sense on the part
of pizza sellers.
But, to those who have wondered, there are a few rather simple reasons for it.
First of all, pizza boxes tend to be stored at a pizza place in an unfolded form.
This allows them to be laid flat, making them take up far less space when stacked.
Rectangular boxes, or cuboid boxes for the sticklers, can be formed rather easily using
just one sheet of cardboard.
If the folder is experienced, this can be done in a matter of seconds.
I speak from experience.
However, if you were to try to make a round pizza box, it would likely require the use
of several separate sheets of cardboard, for logistical reasons.
It's true that you could make boxes that are more round than a square, like the patented
octagonal boxes you see at certain joints, but to make it truly round requires a great
deal more effort.
Another reason the boxes are square is that square boxes stack much easier.
While round boxes would technically take up less space, the diameter would still be the
same.
This means we would be able to fit the same amount of boxes in a certain area with round
ones as square ones, making it at best a non-improvement, and at worst a decrease in functionality.
This is particularly relevant to frozen pizza.
Square boxes allow them to be stacked and shipped the easiest, taking up as little room
as possible and allowing better optimization of space in transit.
It also makes it easier to display at a grocery store, with the flat edges allowing boxes
to be stored flush to each other, which helps to prevent shifting or falling.
Really, this concept applies to pretty much anything that comes in a box.
We don't keep couches in a couch-shaped box; they come in a rectangular one.
If you buy a pair of shoes, they don't come in a perfectly-molded container to fit their
shape and size; they come in a shoebox.
Straight lines and right angles simply make storage and shipping much easier.
But wait, you might be thinking, If square boxes are better, why, then, don't we make
pizzas square to fit the BOX better?
Well, setting aside the fact that many party-sized pizzas are square, there are a few reasons
that most pizzas remain round, despite the square box they come in.
For one, that is simply the way it's always been done.
For years, pizza was flattened and stretched out by spinning it in the air, utilizing centrifugal
force.
As a quick science side note, centrifugal force is where an object's rotation creates
a force pushing OUT from the centre, while centripetal force is the force that pulls
INTO the centre.
Yay science.
This centriFUGAL force inevitably gave the dough a round shape, with the dough being
pushed outwards as it spins, and this has stuck to this day.
If that isn't enough reason for you, many claim that the square box makes it easier
to get the pizza out of the box, since the extra room around the edges gives your fingers
more space to reach in.
So making all pizzas square would both break tradition, and potentially make it harder
to eat.
And now we return to our question: Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
Well, it's rather simple: it's more convenient to use square boxes.
It's easier to store unfolded, easier to fold, easier to stack together, and it even just
fits on surfaces better.
Plus, given the round shape of pizzas, the extra space gives the pizza some breathing
room, and makes it easier to remove from the box.
At the end of the day, pizza boxes, like most boxes, are round, because it's just a better
shape for a box.
Thank you for watching Life’s Biggest Questions, I hope this was interesting and informative,
and maybe even inspired you to look into it further on your own.
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While you’re down there, let me know what other weird questions like this you've always
wanted to know the answer to.
Until next time, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey with Life’s Biggest Questions, wishing you
the best of luck, on your quest for answers.