The US Military Is Developing High-Tech Pizza That Lasts For Three Years

The dream of everlasting pizza may, finally, be within reach.

This is a prototype slice of pizza, developed by the US Army's research division. It can survive for up to three years without freezing or refrigeration, and still be edible.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Military researchers have been working on the goal of long-life pizza for years. It's described as their "holy grail."

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Scientists at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, in Natick, Massachusetts, have been trying to combat pizza's inherent tendency to go soggy - and, as a result, mouldy.

Pizza has been one of the most requested additions to the army's MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) roster.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Food scientist Michelle Richardson (above) says of the pizza prototype: "You can basically take the pizza, leave it on the counter, packaged, for three years and it'd still be edible."

The key has been finding a way to stop the dough getting moist.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

This includes adding ingredients that bind to water in the tomato sauce and toppings, preventing it from migrating to the dough, and altering the acidity of the ingredients so bacteria are less likely to grow.

They also add "oxygen scavenger" packets of iron filings to the pizza's packaging.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

The pizza is still undergoing development, but could be ready for deployment very soon.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Although you'll probably have to join the US Army to find out what it tastes like.