What Temp To Reheat Pizza In The Oven
There are many thoughts on the best way to reheat cold pizza, what temp to reheat pizza, and how to maintain that crispy crust, achieve the perfect level of cheese melts, and get the most out of your leftover slice of pizza. We've outlined the easiest way to reheat pizza using both a conventional oven, convection oven, air fryer, and toaster oven. While not the best method, we've also included how to reheat pizza in the microwave.
Do you LOVE pizza? Read on! You don't want to miss out on maximizing your leftover pizza potential for the next day. Pizza crust on day 2 (or 3) is just as good as day 1, as long as it is reheated correctly to the best temperature.
Aluminum Foil vs Baking Sheet vs Pizza Stone
Reheating pizza is not just about "warmed" or "not warmed." It's really more about texture, temperature, and the best way to heat it up. As a general rule, a pizza that has been sitting in a box for more than 2 hours is safe to eat. However, you may want to reheat it depending on the type of crust and toppings used.
Reheating pizza in the oven can be done on a baking sheet or directly on the rack, but you should always use aluminum foil to catch any cheese spills.
This method works best if you have a pizza stone, but can also be done using a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
If you have a pizza stone, you can also use a toaster oven.
How To Heat Leftover Pizza Slices In A Pizza Box
A pizza box is sturdy enough to be reused. This means you can put the leftover slices in it and reheat them without transfer sheets or aluminum foil to hold them. However, heating them in a pan will leave the bottom of the slice soggy and unappetizing, so we came up with a method that uses just the box.
The pizza box has two functions in this method: it's a way to hold the slices together so they heat more evenly, and it shields the bottom of the slice from absorbing moisture while sitting in the steam that builds up inside during cooking. It also keeps little bits of cheese or pepperoni or other toppings contained rather than scattering them all over the oven.
This method works best if you've got a box with a little handle (like our Napolitan pizza box). If not, use two boxes and only open the top one partway during cooking to shield yourself from any escaping steam – or wear an oven mitt.
1. What temp to reheat pizza? Preheat your oven to 350 F.
2. With a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut the top flaps off the pizza box so one side has an open seam and the other remains intact with solid sides. The top flap can be discarded or reserved for another use (like lining a baking dish).
3. Open your box about halfway and place it on a baking sheet. Arrange the slices inside in a row across the box.
4. With the top flap open about halfway, place that side in your oven and cook for 5 to 7 minutes (longer if you use multiple slices in bigger slices like pepperoni). The cheese should be melted and maybe bubbling a little bit, but not too much. You can check the bottom of the slices (but be careful, some steam will escape), and if they appear to be getting crisp you can slide your tray out to close the box completely.
5. Close the box and let it sit for about 2 minutes. After that time has passed, open up your pizza box and slide the slices onto your plate. Enjoy!
Will A Pizza Box Catch Fire In The Oven?
Most pizza boxes are designed to withstand high temperatures in the oven. That said, when it comes to how much heat, even good pizza boxes can't usually handle more than about 450°F (230°C) or so, and most household ovens can reach that temperature when set on "bake". The best practice is to always check the reheating instructions for where you purchased pizza from for specifics.
What Is The Fastest Method to Reheat Pizza?
People who love cold pizza can be divided into two groups: those who fear microwaves and those who don't. While the microwave oven is certainly the fastest way, it is not the right way to reheat pizza unless you want a softer crust. A better option is to take that day-old pizza and use one of our methods outlined below.
Different Ways To Reheat Pizza
For best results on how to reheat either a single slice or an entire pizza, read below.
How to Reheat Pizza Using A Convection Oven
Our favorite way to reheat pizza is in a convection oven. This method takes less time and achieves the perfect level of crispiness on the crust.
If you have a convection oven, we recommend following these steps: 1) Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) 2) Place slices directly on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil to catch any cheese drips 3) Heat for 7-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is crispy.
How To Reheat Leftover Slices Of Pizza - Regular Oven Method
We love baking pizza from scratch in the oven. Even using homemade pizza crust proofed in the Instant Pot. Whether you are making pizza from scratch or reheating pizza, the oven is a winner.
You can use the same reheating method here to heat up One Pan Beef Enchiladas. Just make sure to NOT preheat the oven if you're using a casserole dish that could shatter.
We find the best temperature to reheat takeout pizza in the oven is 400 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom rack of the oven, but some people also use 425 or 450.
If you don't have a convection oven, a conventional oven works just fine. It may take slightly longer to reheat pizza in a conventional oven. We recommend following these steps, just the same: 1) Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) 2) Place slices directly on aluminum foil on the oven rack 3) Heat for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is crispy.
Deep-dish pizza will take longer.
How To Reheat Cold Slices Of Pizza In Air Fryer
Air Fryers use high temperatures combined with circulating air to achieve the best results when reheating pizza. This method requires little effort but can take slightly longer than other methods to achieve a crispy crust.
So, what temp to reheat pizza? If you have an Air Fryer, we recommend following these steps: 1) Preheat Air Fryer to 370°F (188°C) 2) Place slices in the air fryer and cook for 8-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
How To Use A Toaster Oven & What Temp to Reheat Pizza
If using a toaster oven, follow your toaster oven's instructions for reheating food (most recommend 450°F). It doesn't take much time.
How to Reheat Pizza In The Microwave
We don't recommend that you use the microwave to reheat leftover pizza. Microwaving heats unevenly, which can result in a soggy crust and half-frozen cheese. However, if you don't have time to use one of our recommended heating methods, you can zap room-temperature pizza for 15 seconds. Just lay it on a paper towel before putting it into the microwave.
