The Best Ways to Reheat Pizza

Now, don’t get us wrong, pizza tastes great when it is fresh out of the oven. But, it tastes better when you are eating it cold out of the fridge the next day. In the space of an evening, pizza has the ability to age like a fine wine. However, what you might not know is that it tastes even better when you reheat it.

That being said, the method in which you reheat your pizza will have a massive impact on how enjoyable it will be to eat. There are actually 5 different methods that you can use to reheat your pizza, all of which will be better suited depending on the quality or convenience that you desire.

In this handy guide, we’ll be taking a look at the 5 different methods that you can use to reheat your pizza, how to follow these methods, and which is the best. So to find out more, keep on reading.

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Reheat Your Pizza in the Microwave

First up, we have undoubtedly the most popular method for reheating your pizza, and this is, of course, in the microwave. Most of the time, when you are enjoying your pizza the day after you bought it, you are looking for convenience when it comes to reheating, and the microwave is the best option for this.

Sure, pizza reheated in the microwave is alright, but it definitely isn’t amazing. This is mainly because microwaving your pizza will cause the base to become soggy.

Even if you aren’t reheating a thin and crispy base, a deep pan base will still go soggy in the microwave. This is because of the build-up of heat and condensation that occurs in the microwave. If it just made the crust soggy it wouldn’t be so bad, but microwaving also causes the dough to become claggy, and difficult to enjoy.

But, reheating your pizza in the microwave isn’t all bad. If you want a quick fix, then it is great, and you will have hot pizza ready to eat in under a minute.

How to do it:

Place your desired amount of slices on a microwave-safe plate.
Heat on high power for between 30-45 seconds, keeping a close eye to check when the cheese has melted.
Sit back and enjoy! (Preferably with a knife and fork).

Reheat Your Pizza in the Air Fryer

Alternatively, you can reheat your pizza in the air fryer if you prefer. This is actually a pretty good method, but we haven’t ranked it any higher because an air fryer isn’t a very common kitchen utensil.

The great thing about reheating your pizza in the air fryer is that it is still a pretty quick method, but it is still slower than reheating your pizza in the microwave. However, it is definitely worth it, especially if you want crisper pizza.

The difficulty with reheating your pizza in the air fryer is having the patience to wait. This is because the cheese on your pizza will melt within just a couple of minutes of being in the air fryer.

This might make you think that it is ready to eat, but if you take it out too early, you will be disappointed. While the cheese might be melted, the crust of your pizza will still be soggy. So, it is very important that you wait a little longer.

Like we have said, an air fryer is something that a lot of people do not have, but if you do have one, this is a much better way to reheat your pizza than the microwave.

How to do it:

Set the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and place your slices of pizza into the tray.
Leave your pizza in the air fryer for 4 minutes, then check on it. The cheese will likely have melted, but the crust will still be soft.
Continue checking your pizza every 30 seconds-1 minute until you are satisfied with the crispness of your crust. This can take anywhere between 5-9 minutes.

Reheat Your Pizza in the Oven

When it comes to reheating food, you might not immediately consider using the oven. This is primarily because reheating is an action that we mainly associate with the microwave. The oven is mainly used for cooking, whereas the microwave is used for reheating, so you might not have thought about reheating your pizza in the oven. However, this is actually one of the better methods. If you have patience.

While the methods that we have looked at so far are pretty convenient, this next method isn’t so convenient. This is mainly because reheating your pizza in the oven takes a long time.

So far, the methods we have looked at both take less than 10 minutes to reheat your pizza, but the oven will take closer to an hour to reheat it.

If you are just looking to eat your leftover pizza as a snack, then this isn’t the best choice. But if you have patience, and the desire for your pizza to taste like new, then this is the perfect method.

Due to the amount of time that this method takes, it is probably best for you to only use this method if you have a lot of pizza to reheat. It really isn’t that efficient if you just want to reheat a single slice.

How to do it:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and leave it to warm up.
Place a sheet pan in the oven to preheat for a couple of minutes to ensure an even reheat across the base.
Remove the pan from the oven, and place your leftover pizza on top of the hot pan.
Place the pan back in the oven for around 10 minutes. Check if it has warmed through, if it has not, leave it in the oven until you are satisfied with the finish, then enjoy.

Reheat Your Pizza in a Pan

The methods that we have looked at so far are great, but the best methods for reheating your pizza involve using your stove. The great thing about reheating pizza on your stove is that you can easily see it, so it is effortless to monitor your pizza’s progression from cold to heated. This allows you to easily see if it is done, so you will never have to take it off the heat too early.

The first method that you can use for reheating your pizza on the stove is to reheat it in a pan. If you only want to reheat a couple of slices of pizza, then this is a great method.

But, if you want to reheat a whole pizza, it might be a bit more difficult (or you’ll need a bigger pan at least). This method is incredibly easy to follow, and it doesn’t require a lot of effort, making it the perfect choice for an afternoon snack.

How to do it:

Place a pan on your stove, and set it to a medium heat.
After a minute, add your pizza slices to the pan, ensuring that the entire crust makes contact with the pan.
Leave your pizza to reheat. This will take anywhere from 1-2 minutes, and you will know that your pizza is ready when it is warm.

Reheat Your Pizza in a Skillet

Finally, the best method for reheating your pizza is to use a skillet and reheat it on the stove. This is very similar to reheating your pizza in a pan, but it allows you to achieve better results and a crisper finish. It is able to do this because this method requires you to place a lid on the skillet. This keeps the heat trapped inside with your pizza, and allows it to heat through a lot quicker.

For the best results when using this method, you should use a cast-iron skillet. Cast iron is an amazing heat conductor, and it allows for a very even bake and reheat throughout the slices, no matter what kind of pizza you’re working with.

So, if you are looking for the best way to reheat your leftover pizza, this is the method to follow.

How to do it:

Place your cast iron skillet on your stove, then set it to a medium heat.
Allow the pan to warm up, then add your slices of pizza, followed by the lid.
Leave your pizza to reheat while covered for around 6 minutes. Then remove the lid, turn off the stove, and enjoy your pizza.

I hope this guide helped you figure out the best way to warm up that leftover pizza you have in the fridge. While all of these methods are great, my favorite method is using a skillet. It takes a little longer, but the wait is definitely worth it.

Do you have a favorite way to reheat pizza? Or any tips you like to use? Please leave a comment below and let us know!