It’s one of life’s most disappointing certainties, the pizza you put in the refrigerator last night will never the same! The cheese develops a rubbery texture, the crust lacks the same crunch, and you can never really get the whole pizza at the right temperature. Some people are supporters of cold pizza. They would rather eat pizza out of the fridge. Those people are wrong. Literal hot takes out of the way, these are the best ways you can reheat pizza.
Method 1: The Microwave
Honestly and shamefully, reheating pizza in the microwave is the method that I use the most. In terms of actual time, it’s the fastest way to get pizza to mouth as soon as possible. All you do is throw the cold pizza on a paper towel or plate and you let it fire away for about a minute or two. A lot of microwaves even have pizza buttons, where all you have to do is choose however many slices you want.
The main problem you have with microwaved pizza is that it just isn’t the same. The crust gets hard really fast and turns to cardboard before you even get to it and the cheese turns into rubber almost instantly. Microwaved pizza belongs in a college dorm. The only thing that a microwave is good for is for making your pizza hot and ready, which are the same things that Little Caesar’s can promise. If that’s your benchmark, then it’s maybe time to reevaluate.
Method 2: The Oven
Now we’re getting somewhere. Reheating pizza in an oven is a far superior alternative to using a microwave, it’s also just as easy. All you have to do is set the oven to 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit and you’re ready to go. Throw the pizza directly on the rack if you want to keep it simple, but it has been said that putting foil on a baking pan can make the crust a little crispier. Then there are those fancy people who purchase a pizza stone to keep in their home; This is fine, but it essentially serves the same purpose.
However, the oven does have its downsides. It takes a lot of energy (maybe off of your gas bill) to get your oven going for a couple slices of pizza. Another downside is that it takes longer than your regular microwave. The microwave takes about two minutes all of the way through, while your typical oven takes more than twice the time, just to get preheated. Most pizza experts say that you shouldn’t even put the leftover pizza in the oven until it’s completely preheated – so you’re looking at about 10 minutes for the whole process. Sounds like nothing right now, but just wait until crunch time at 2 a.m. when you need pizza more than air.
Method 3: On The Stove
While I, personally, have never tried reheating pizza in a pan on the stove, I’ll plan on it the next time I order pizza. The best way to do it is to throw your pizza in a frying pan on medium heat for a couple minutes. After this, spray a couple drops of water to the side of your pizza and cover the pan to cook for an additional few minutes. This will melt the cheese on top of your pizza to add to your crispy, crunchy base. All in all, this probably takes about ten minutes to get your skillet ready to go plus the whole cooking process but creates the most realistic replica of your original fresh pizza.
There are some downsides to this however. Firstly, take notes of all the things you have to do. This process is much more hands-on than cooking the pizza in an oven or microwave. Secondly, you can only cook a small amount at a time. Microwaves and ovens can fit a plethora of pizza to cook at the same time; Sadly, you’re pretty much confined to one at a time with a frying pan.
Take your pick from these methods and tell us what your favorite strategy is.
