In short, you can use the microwave, oven, skillet, or air fryer to reheat pizza. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, depending on how you like your pizza crust and cheese.
This Italian delicacy is adored all over the world, and there’s almost no person who doesn’t like pizza. But what we expect from a pizza is crispy dough, warm tomato sauce, and perfectly melted mozzarella.
As soon as the pizza cools, it becomes more a source of frustration than pleasure. With cold, gummy dough and hardened cheese, it’s a real punishment for one who eats it. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are some tips on how to reheat the pizza to keep it fresh and delicious again.
Reheating Pizza in the Microwave (the fastest way)
Seriously, a microwave is the fastest and easiest way to heat anything. There are two ridiculously easy steps on average:
Step 1 – Place the pizza on a plate
First, place the desired slice of pizza on a plate. The only downside is that you can’t put just too many pieces at once. It is by no means advisable to put one on top of the other as it will not heat up nicely.
Step 2 – Heat it up
The second step is to turn on the microwave and heat for a minute or two to the desired heat.
Result: If you’ve ever tried this before, then you know for sure that reheating pizza in the microwave creates a gooey mass of dough. The dough will heat up but will be soft, and the pizza will generally lose flavor.
Also, microwave ovens sometimes heat food unevenly, so the cheese may get very hot, but the sauce underneath stays cold. All in all, after the microwave you won’t have a pizza to enjoy.
Tip for a better result: rather use a lower temperature and shorter heating intervals. Open and test if it’s warm enough and then turn on an extra minute of heating. This way, you’ll heat the pizza more evenly. A microwave pizza isn’t the optimal cooking method, so check the other ways below for better outcomes.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven
This method is cost-effective if you have several pizza pieces to heat up, otherwise waiting for the oven to warm up for one slice can be inefficient. You can use a toaster oven, a convection oven or a conventional oven for this job.
Step 1 – Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 350-375 F. It’s important to put the pizza in an already preheated oven because otherwise, it could harden more.
Step 2 – Place the pizza on foil or a Hot Tray
Place the pizza on aluminum foil or baking tray and directly on the oven racks. So it will be heated equally on all sides.
Step 3 – Bake it for 10 minutes
Bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese has melted, and the dough has warmed up.
Result: Heating in the oven probably won’t bring the happiest results either. Often the cheese and ham are simply dried and, although you have a warm meal, it’s certainly not what you have hoped for.
Tip for a better result: you can also put the pizza on a tin baking tray if you have several pieces, and it’s inconvenient for you to manipulate them on the foil. In that case, put the pan to heat together with the oven, and then add a few leftover slices. You can add extra cheese on top.
Warming Up Pizza in a Skillet
You’ve perhaps never thought of this before, but an iron pan and lid is all you need for your cold pizza to be perfectly heated and taste the same as the day before. Besides, this method is ideal if you only have one slice of pizza to reheat. You can use a hot pan or a stainless steel skillet to do this.
Step 1 – Place the pizza in a pan
Simply put the pizza, without adding oil or any other fat, in a pan and heat it on the stove. The key to success is to warm it up on medium heat. You shouldn’t overheat the pan because the pizza could easily burn, or it will not heat up evenly and nicely.
Step 2 – Heat it up for a few minutes
Heat it so for a few minutes until the bottom of the pizza becomes crispy
Step 3 – Add a few drops of water
Add a few drops of water to the pan, reduce the heat, and put the lid on. This will create steam inside the pan and beautifully melt the cheese and heat the pizza. Leave it like that for another minute or two.
Result: You’ll have a perfectly crispy crust and a delicious pizza with melted cheese in less than a minute. You can also use aluminum foil instead of a lid; all that matters is that the pieces of pizza are covered so that they don’t dry out.
Tip for a better result: use a non-stick bottom pan (Teflon or some similar material) so that the pizza would not stick and so that the dough would be finely crispy.
Heating Up Cold Pizza Using an Air Fryer
This method helps avoid having soggy crust and soggy slices, therefore, it’s the best way to reheat leftover pizza.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Add the old pizza slices inside the air fryer basket, but make sure it is not overcrowded.
Depending on the size and thickness of your pizza, set the timer for 2-4 minutes.
Check the pizza every 2 minutes, rotating the slices with tongs to ensure even heating. You can add extra cheese on top to make it tastier.
Remove and serve.
FAQs
Should I keep the pizza in the fridge?
The shortest answer would be yes. Although probably you’ve eaten leftover pizza at least once in your youth that stood at room temperature from the day before, experts agree that these ventures are for those with a stronger stomach.
Is week old pizza still good?
Sorry to disappoint you, but NO. So old pizza will be a significant risk for stomach ache.
How long can a pizza last?
Experts warmly recommend that you put the leftovers in the fridge if you haven’t eaten all the pizza pieces in an hour or two. That way, it can last a few more days, but it would be safest to eat the leftovers within a day.
What is the best temperature to reheat pizza in the oven?
Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Just before the end, you can raise the temperature to 450 °F to bake further. And be sure to preheat it thoroughly. Do not put the pizza in the semi-cold oven.
Can you reheat pizza in the box in the oven?
No, that’s not a good idea. It doesn’t have to mean that the cardboard box will catch fire, but on pizza, you always have fat from the cheese, and it can easily end up on the box. At best, you will have a lot of smoke in the apartment.
How long do you heat leftover pizza in the oven?
It will take you about 10 minutes, usually at a recommended temperature of 350 °F—probably no more than that. You can extend that time if you want a stronger roast.
Is it OK to reheat cold pizza?
Yes, it is safe to reheat cold pizza. You can use methods like microwaving, oven, or stovetop to warm it up, but using the oven generally provides better results, as it helps maintain the crust’s texture.
Conclusion
You can reheat the pizza leftovers in the microwave, in the oven or on the stove. But the best results were brought by heating in a pan on the stove. In this way, the pizza’s juiciness was retained, the dough was crispy, and the cheese melted nicely.
Be sure to try this method the next time you have a slice or two of pizza left. You may just discover a way to enjoy this delicious meal as if it had just arrived from a pizzeria.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
