Here's what that little plastic table inside pizza boxes is for

You know the tiny table that comes in the middle of your take away pizza? What is it? Why is it? What lessons can we learn from it?

Just the one actually.

Amanda, who goes by the Twitter handle @mmandy01 recently ordered take away pizza, and it came without the table.

Suddenly all became clear.

The little bit of white plastic, which we all so calously throw aside, it plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of your dinner.

Disaster.

As can be seen, the toppings and much of the cheese stuck to the roof. This is probably caused by steam from the pizza, which makes the cardboard above sag and fall onto the topping.

Damn the hot, heavy, soggy, delicious pizza. Now you know the value of the little table, our topping saviour.

According to Eater, It was invented in 1983 by Carmela Vitale, a 46 year old from Long Island, New York.

The patent for what Vitale called a 'Package saver' was approved two years later on 12 Feb 1985.

Picture:

Vitale had no background in science, but designed the simplest, and most effective of inventions.

According to her patent, the table can withstand up to 500 degrees fahrenheit.

Her patent lapsed in 1993 when Vitale did not pay a patent renewal fee after being reminded in 1992.

Since then countless patents have been filed in her place.

It's known to some as the 'Package saver', but here at indy100, we prefer to think of it as 'Atlas', holding up the cardboard sky to keep our food safe.

So next time you throw scorn upon the table, just think, what if Atlas shrugged?

HT Eater

More: Scientists have created a video that will make people hallucinate​

More: Porn sites to get secure connections so no-one can spy on what you're watching