Eating leftover pizza is really one of those little pleasures in life, right? But, let’s get real, if you don’t reheat it properly, it can go from being finger-licking good to a soggy, rubbery, or even desiccated disaster in a flash. Whether you’re attempting to rescue that last night’s deep-dish masterpiece or restore the wonderful flavors of that burnt Neapolitan slice, the way you warm it up truly makes all the difference.
Reheating pizza is all about keeping that crispy crust, the cheesy goodness, and the overall vibe of the slice intact. In this guide, we will take you through the do’s and don’ts of reheating pizza. And as a bonus, we’ll share expert tips so your leftovers taste as good as when they arrived.
The Worst Ways to Reheat Pizza (And Why You Should Avoid Them)
All reheating is not equal. Some are fast but catastrophic, resulting in your slice being lifeless, limp, or charred. Below are the most typical pizza reheating errors and why you should never do them:
Microwaving Without Modification: A Quick Route to Disappointment
Microwaving is among the simplest and fastest ways to get your pizza warmed. But it has rather unsatisfactory outcomes. The microwave heats things so quickly that it forms vapor, which then remains in the crust. This makes the crust limp and rubbery rather than sweet and crispy. And don’t even mention the cheese! It tends to end up as this greasy, hard sheet that completely fails to deliver the creamy goodness you were expecting.
So, if you do find yourself in a position where microwaving is your only choice, here’s a little trick: add a cup of water to it with your pizza. It helps dry out some of that excess moisture and prevents the crust from becoming a complete sog-fest. It’s worth a shot!
Baking at High Temperatures: The Overcooked Disaster
You may consider turning the oven up to 450°F or more to heat your pizza again in a flash, but that only dries out the cheese and incinerates the crust before the middle of the slice has a moment to heat through. The consequence? A rock-hard, burnt slice with scorch marks along the edges and a lackluster bite.
Rather, oven reheating calls for slow and low: about 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes keeps the cheese even and preserves the crunchiness of the crust. Covering the pizza with aluminum foil or placing a small pan of water in the oven helps retain moisture, preventing it from drying out.
Working with a Toaster: A Messy, Ineffective Shortcut
Trying to warm up pizza using a standard vertical toaster may seem like a smart trick—until the melted cheese begins dripping down onto the heating coils, leaving a charred mess and potential fire risk. Not only won’t this trick heat the pizza uniformly, but it will leave you with undercooked, partially burnt toppings, too. Much better is to use a toaster oven, which warms up uniformly while retaining the crust crisp without creating a mess.
Reheating on a Dry Pan: A One-Dimensional Solution
A pan may appear to be a good reheating solution, but without modifications, using a dry skillet can lead to bad heating, a crispy crust, and cheese that melts very slowly. Adding a little splash of water into the pan and covering it with the lid is the stovetop reheating strategy. Grilling the pizza upside down also keeps the heat so that the cheese softly melts and the crust stays crisp.
Using a Grill Without Proper Control: A Recipe for Burnt Pizza
Grilling old pizza may appear to be a creative approach, but if done improperly, it can burn the crust while leaving the interior unheated. Strong flames and inconsistent heat conduction tend to dry out the cheese and turn the base as hard as a rock.
If you want to grill your pizza, go for indirect heat. You will surely want to keep those slices away from the fire. It’s all about keeping the lid down—this helps the heat spread evenly.
Avoiding these common reheating mistakes helps guarantee that your pizza still has its delicious blend of crispy crust, gooey cheese, and savory toppings.
How Long Can Leftover Pizza Be Safely Stored?
Ascertaining the most suitable way to reheat the pizza is no more relevant than knowing how long you can let it sit before you do so. If you have pizza sitting at room temperature, you shouldn’t really leave it out for more than two hours. Conversely, if you put those pieces in the refrigerator, they will usually be good for around four days, but afterward, they begin to lose their delicious flavor and lovely texture.
Wrapping your pizza in aluminum foil or putting it into an airtight container before refrigerating it helps to preserve it. Long-term storage calls for freezing. If wrapped tightly to prevent freezer burn, it will stay fresh and flavorful for up to two months.
When you’re all set to warm up that frozen pizza, dodge immediately using high heat. That will give it an odd consistency and inconsistent heating, which nobody wants, right? Allow it to thaw out in the refrigerator; then you can reheat it using a more controlled technique such as an oven or an air fryer. Then it will taste nearly as good as fresh!
Pair your reheated pizza with some beer or homemade wine and your weekend will be heavenly! Dig deep into more about pairing ideas with pizza.
The Best Way to Reheat Pizza
When it comes to properly reheating the pizza without drying it out, selecting the correct technique is vital for preserving the crispy crust, gooey cheese, and tasty toppings of a pizza.
Best for large batches, how to warm up pizza in the oven
Among the top means for recovering its initial texture is to bake the pizza once more in the oven. The slow, even heating guarantees perfect melting of the cheese and that the crust stays crispy.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Get the oven preheated to 375°F (190°C).
- Put the pizza on a baking sheet or pizza stone to help even heat.
- To stop too much drying, put an oven-appropriate small dish of water inside the oven.
- Cook the pizza for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is burned and somewhat golden.
- Let one minute pass before you relish it without the pizza.
Pros: crispy crust, gooey cheese, even heating. Cons: Not as quick as other techniques.
Pro tip: A pizza stone distributes heat evenly and eliminates sogginess.
Not so sure about using a pizza stone? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at this article which discusses the appropriate techniques of using a pizza stone.
Enjoy Your Weekend Pizza Party with Manny & Olga’s
Bid adieu to soggy, rubbery, or dry remaining pizza! You can revive your slices with crispy crusts and gooey cheese if you use the optimal reheating technique whether it’s the oven, stovetop, or air fryer. Give these suggestions for reheating a shot and improve your next leftover pizza encounter.
Prefer to avoid reheating and have hot, fresh pizza instead? Our tasty, hand-made slices will always satisfy your cravings whether it is a late-night desire or a weekend party host. We know that with the ever-increasing traffic, pizza delivery in Washington D.C. has become quite a herculean affair! So, whether you prefer ordering through our website, via phone, or using a third-party app, our process is seamless.