This Is the Absolute Best Way to Reheat Pizza, According to Chefs
Rest assured, it's not time to throw your leftover pizza in the garbage just yet. Whether you enjoy your pizza hot or cold, there's no better feeling than waking up the next morning to realize you have some leftover slices in the fridge. There are tons of creative ways to revive your slice, but what is the best way to reheat pizza in order to keep that fresh, cheesy taste that you can't resist?
We spoke with pizza experts Dave Anoia, Chef and Owner of Pizzeria Davide, and Chef Tony Galzin, owner of Nicky's Coal Fired, to find out the inside scoop on how to reheat pizza. Say goodbye to soggy slices and reheat your pizza so it's as tasty and crispy as when it first got delivered!
What is the best way to reheat pizza?
"First, you want to avoid soggy crust by starting with a skillet. You can perfectly crisp your crust by putting the leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on high heat and leaving the flame on for one minute," says Anoia. "After you've crisped your crust, throw the pizza in a 400-degree oven until the cheese is re-melted. The oven will thoroughly reheat the rest of the pizza."
The oven seems to be the true key to properly reheating slices.
"We recommend you reheat pizza in a 400-degree oven for about 5-8 minutes. Transferring to a stone or sheet pan is great, but if you don't have one, right on the bottom of the pizza box works," Galzin adds. "Turning your oven to low broil, and reheating from the middle rack is a great way to get all the cheese gooey again."
Can you reheat pizza in the microwave?
It's apparent that a professional chef will rarely recommend using a microwave to heat the pizza up. "A microwave is definitely the fastest, but I feel like you give up all the crispiness with that, so I don't recommend it," warns Galzin.
However, if you do plan on microwaving the pizza, follow these steps for the ultimate hack because it's been said that microwaving the slice next to a cup of water will prevent the crust from getting soggy.
- Place a slice on a ceramic or glass plate.
- Place a (microwave-safe) mug of tap water in the microwave right next to the plate.
- Heat the pizza on high power for about 45 seconds until it's hot.
How should you store leftover pizza?
"The cardinal rule of leftover pizza is proper storage. Don't just throw the pizza box in the fridge and call it a day," advises Anoia. "Instead, wrap each slice in paper towels and plastic wrap to preserve the flavor and freshness."
After proper storage, reinvent your pizza by adding fresh, high-quality ingredients and seasonings that are already in your kitchen, like parmesan cheese and oregano. Now, enjoy your crispy slice of pizza that tastes just as good as it did the first time around!
