Takeout pizza is a fast, easy, and ooey-gooey delicious treat, and having leftover pizza afterward might just be the best part. Knowing how to reheat pizza is a lifesaver on those days when you just can’t be bothered to put together a healthy lunch (or breakfast!), but if you don’t know the best way to reheat pizza, it can turn into a soggy snack. Don’t worry, though — we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out how to reheat pizza so it’s just as tasty the next day!
The Best Way to Reheat Pizza
Whether your pizza preferences lie with Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Domino’s, or Little Caesar’s (or even your grandma’s secret pizza recipe!), knowing how to reheat a pie is something that all pizza-lovers want to know. And just like pizza preferences, the “best” way to reheat pizza depends on what you want from your slice. If you want your pizza and you want it now, the microwave is probably the best way to reheat pizza for you. But if you want to feel like you’re eating pizza straight from a restaurant, knowing how to reheat pizza on the stove in a pan or in the oven is key.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best ways to reheat pizza, and we cover everything from how to reheat pizza in the oven to how to reheat frozen pizza — and everything in between. Wondering how to reheat deep dish pizza? The following methods will work just as well on deep dish as they will for thin crust.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven
Like reheating a steak or reheating a rotisserie chicken, reheating pizza in the oven is the best option if you want a crispy, crunchy crust. You’ll have to wait a bit for the oven to preheat and for the pizza to warm up, but the result will be a delicious slice that’s almost as good as it was on day one. Not sure how long to reheat pizza in the oven? Don’t worry — we’ve done the research for you. Here’s how to reheat pizza in the oven in four easy steps.
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. (In order for reheated pizza to have a crispy crust, you’ll need to crank up the heat. Professional pizza ovens can get as hot as 900 F.) Make sure your baking pan is in the oven while it is preheating.
- Remove the baking pan from the oven when it has reached 450 F, (be careful, it’s hot!) and put your pizza on it.
- Return the pan to the oven and let the pizza bake for 10 minutes.
- Pull out your slices from the oven and let them rest on the hot pan for five minutes before enjoying.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Microwave
Reheating pizza in the microwave is the best option if you’re short on time. It’s also a great option for reheating frozen pizzas; simply thaw the slices in the microwave and then use any of the above or below heating methods. The microwave is usually our go-to when it comes to warming up leftovers — but many people complain that reheating pizza in the microwave leaves them with a chewy, slimy hunk of bread, sauce, and meat with a texture that resembles cardboard. No bueno!
Fortunately, some creative minds came up with a way to reheat pizza in the microwave without it getting soggy. The secret is adding a mug of water when you zap your ‘za. How does this help? Well, the general thinking is that having a cup of liquid in the microwave with your pizza reduces the amount of energy the pizza absorbs — meaning it takes longer to warm up and it won’t get squishy. Here’s how to reheat pizza in the microwave in four easy steps.
- Place a sheet of parchment underneath your pizza on the plate. (This is to absorb extra moisture and ensure your pizza is nice and crispy.)
- Fill a ceramic mug with water; it should be about two-thirds full.
- Position your plate so that it is sitting on the mug.
- Microwave on 50-percent power in one-minute intervals until your pizza is at your preferred temperature.
How to Reheat Pizza in a Pan
Reheating pizza in a pan or skillet is the best option if you want all the deliciousness of reheating a pizza in the oven but you don’t want to wait. According to expert Anthony Falco, the head pizza maestro at Roberta’s in Brooklyn, New York, this is the best method for reheating pizza. Opinions are divided on whether it’s better to use a cast iron skillet or a nonstick skillet, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Want to learn how to properly reheat pizza? Listen up, because here’s how to reheat pizza in a skillet in five easy steps.
- Warm your pizza in a pan on medium-low heat.
- Cook for two minutes or until the bottom is crunchy.
- Turn the heat to low and add two drops of water to a section of the pan away from the pizza.
- Cover the skillet for one minute so that the cheese gets nice and melted.
- Chow down on your perfect piece of pizza.
How to Reheat Pizza in a Toaster Oven
Reheating pizza in a toaster oven is the best option if you only want to warm up one slice. (Why share your pizza, anyway?) Toaster ovens are handy kitchen appliances because they’re like little ovens without all the fuss. Leftovers are all about ease, so the last thing you want to do is use a lot of electricity to heat a big appliance. And in the summer heat, a hot oven can make the kitchen unbearable. Fortunately, you can stay cool this summer and still enjoy a slice of cheesy goodness. Here’s how to reheat pizza in a toaster oven in five easy steps.
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350 F.
- Bake your slice on medium heat for three to four minutes, depending on its thickness.
- Look for melting cheese — this is a sign that your pizza is ready to be removed.
- Use a spatula or tongs to remove your pizza from the toaster oven. Be careful, as it will be very hot.
- Let it cool for five minutes before eating.
How to Reheat Pizza on a Grill
One method we haven’t yet covered and that some pizza aficionados swear by is reheating a pizza on the grill. If you like a little char on your pizza crust, using the grill to reheat will give you that perfect smokey taste. It might seem a little silly to fire up the grill just to reheat some pizza, but if the weather’s nice, why not? (The grill is also a great place to bake a homemade pizza pie.) Here’s how to reheat pizza on the grill in five easy steps.
- Fire up your grill to medium-high heat and let it warm up for a few minutes.
- Throw your pizza right on the grate — no oil, no pan, and no added ingredients needed.
- Let it cook for about six minutes.
- Check the crust to make sure it’s crispy enough and that the cheese is bubbling.
- Remove from the grill using tongs or a spatula, let cool, and enjoy!
Walking to the fridge and discovering there’s leftover pizza — especially when you’re starving and don’t feel like cooking — is one of the best feelings ever. Don’t waste your time eating mediocre pizza. Day two, three, or even five pizza can taste just as good as when it was delivered. So, what are you waiting for?
