Costco Shoppers Share Their Favorite Hacks For Improving a Food Court Favorite
We get it. You miss Costco's Combo Pizza. In a highly unofficial but likely highly accurate recent straw poll on Reddit about most-missed "retired" Costco food-court items, the Combo Pizza racked up the most mentions. One Redditor even decided that the pandemic isn't over until the fan-favorite pizza with a combo of toppings like green peppers, pepperoni and sausage returns.
Despite the strong words, Costco sadly hasn't announced plans to bring back the Combo Pizza. One Redditor took to the platform to air their feelings about the current state of Costo pizza.
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"Why don't they cook pizzas longer for to-go?" lamented u/leviathan65 in the Costco subreddit. "The pizza tastes so much better when you order by the slice because they cook a little bit more under the heat lamps. Everything is crispy and delicious. When you order a whole pizza, it's not nearly as good."
The poster wasn't done. However, apparently, the pizza hasn't been done when served — which is sad because they believe the pies have potential.
"All of the components are there," the Redditor said. "The sauce is good. The toppings are good (RIP Combo). The crust has good flavor, but the limp, not-crispy, slightly undercooked execution knocks the whole thing down a peg or three."
In times like these, the Internet is your friend. Sympathetic Redditors hopped in and shared ways to improve your Costco food court pizza. It might not be perfect, but it will help you keep up your energy as you attempt to get the Combo out of retirement.
Related: Listen Up — Here Is the *Only* Way to Take Food Samples at Costco
How to Make Costco Food Court Pizza Crispier, According to Fans
1. Call ahead and ask for it well done
A little foresight can go a long way, according to a poster who claims they used to work at Costco's food court.
"If you call in and request a well done, we’ll have it ready for you," the person said.
However, the plan-ahead hack doesn't stop when you hang up the phone. Factor in your commute and any other shopping you need to do so you can show up when the well-done pizza is, well, done, for the best results.
"Seventy-five percent of the time, when we tell people 20 minutes from the time of the phone call, they show up late, and by then, the pizza is not as warm and fresh," the commenter explained. "It’s been in a box on a warmer. The condensation from the box has caused the dough to get soft."
2. Or request it well done in person and practice patience
Listen: Guaranteeing you will get to the food court in 20 minutes is rough, especially when you walk through the Costco aisles spotting the Ajinomoto Yakisoba Stir Fry you didn't know you needed. You can still get crisp pizza by ordering in person — just remember that kindness to the staff is free.
"I would ask for the pizza well done when you order in person," the one-time Costco food court employee advised. "Be patient [because] they may tell you a wait time, and keep in mind, it’s not as easy when the food court is super busy."
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3. Reheat it in the oven
Redditors also shared some tips to finish the job and make Costco's pizza crispy at home. One: Reheat it in the oven. You can even optimize your time by doing it as you put away all of your groceries, a genius move considering that a Costco haul usually requires tons of re-stocking and storing.
"By the time you drive pizza home, it's usually getting cold," pointed out a shopper. "Throw it in the oven for a few minutes...Either finish putting your groceries away or set the table, and your pizza should be done."
The poster also added a bonus tip on how to make the food-court pizza more like a Combo.
"If [you want] a 'Combo,' have your toppings ready to throw on it prior to heating," the person said.
4. Try a countertop appliance
Have an air fryer or a toaster oven? Both serve as alternatives to reheating in a traditional oven.
"Air fry that bad boi FTW," said one fan.
"Put it in your air fryer — reheats to perfection," wrote another.
A classic countertop device also works if you're one of the few people who didn't buy an air fryer during the pandemic.
"Old skool toaster oven does it just as good," wrote a shopper.
Shoppers note they can get two to four slices into a traditional toaster oven at a time.
Related: Costco Is Changing the Way You Receive Free Samples—Here's What You Need to Know
5. Pan-fry it on the stove
This tip takes a little more work, but home chefs will love it.
"Pan-fry it dry at home," suggested one person.
Another agreed, and shared ways to spice things up a bit.
"When you get home, put a slice on a frying pan," the person said. "[The] bottom crisps up perfectly. I also add oregano, basil and thyme to improve the flavor."
