How to Reheat Pizza So It Tastes Like It Was Just Delivered — Pizza Master Reveals His Surprise Hack
Takeout pizza is fast and easy — not to mention absolutely delicious. And having leftovers the next day is part of the fun. While cold pizza has its own allure, sometimes you want to to enjoy that melty cheese goodness and warm crust. Trouble is, reheating pizza can turn your slice into a soggy mess. That's why we asked a top pizza pro for advice, and his easy trick is simply genius! Read on for how to reheat pizza and get ready to be deliciously surprised:
The best way to reheat pizza? Try this skillet trick
Pizza may be first baked in an oven, but the skillet is actually the best way to reheat a slice. That's according to world-renowned pizza expert Anthony Falco, author of Pizza Czar: Recipes and Know-How from a World-Traveling Pizza Chef. The heat from the pan helps the crust crisp up nicely as it warms. But the real secret is adding a few drops of water toward the end of reheating — that creates the perfect amount of steam so the cheese melts beautifully.
"I like a nice cast iron that's well-seasoned so it's naturally nonstick," says Falco. "But make sure it's big enough so that when the water is added, it doesn't touch the pizza." Here are his five steps to reheating pizza in a skillet:
Drizzle a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil in your skillet.
Heat pan over medium.
Put the pizza in the skillet, and check the bottom periodically to see if it's turned golden brown.
Once the bottom is crispy and golden brown, put a couple drops of water in the pan, away from the pizza, and cover with a lid to create steam.
Once the cheese has melted, take the pizza out and enjoy.
According to Falco, this method guarantees "a crispy bottom and melty cheese, and the crust will be tender, not dried out." But if you'd prefer not to pull out a skillet, read on for more tricks to reheat pizza.
Short on time? How to reheat pizza in microwave
Reheating pizza in the microwave is the best option if you need your slice extra fast. But while the microwave is usually our go-to when it comes to warming up leftovers, many people complain that reheating pizza in the microwave leaves them with a chewy hunk of bread, sauce and meat with a texture that resembles cardboard.
Fortunately, some creative minds came up with a way to reheat pizza in the microwave without it getting soggy. The secret is adding a mug of water when you zap your pizza. How does this help? Well, the thinking is that having a cup of liquid in the microwave with your pizza reduces the amount of energy the pizza absorbs — meaning it takes longer to warm up and it won't get squishy. Here's how to reheat pizza in the microwave in four easy steps:
Place a sheet of parchment underneath your pizza on a microwave-safe plate. (This is to absorb extra moisture and ensure your pizza is nice and crispy.)
Fill a ceramic mug with water; it should be about two-thirds full.
Position your plate so that it is sitting on the mug.
Microwave on 50% power in 1-minute intervals until your pizza is at your preferred temperature.
Want an extra-crispy crust? How to reheat pizza in oven
Like reheating a steak or reheating a rotisserie chicken, reheating pizza in your oven is a great option if you want a crispy, crunchy crust. You'll have to wait a bit for the oven to preheat and for the pizza to warm up, but the result will be a delicious slice that's almost as good as it was on day one. The one secret that makes all the difference? Preheat your baking pan while you're preheating the oven. Placing the cold pizza on a hot surface helps make sure the bottom reheats properly. Here's how to reheat pizza in oven:
Place your baking pan in the oven, then preheat your oven to 450°F. (In order for reheated pizza to have a crispy crust, you'll need to crank up the heat. Professional pizza ovens can get as hot as 900°F.)
Using pot holders, remove the baking pan from the oven when it has reached 450°F (be careful — it's hot!), and put your pizza on it.
Return the pan to the oven and let the pizza bake for 10 minutes.
Pull out your slices from the oven and let them rest on the hot pan for five minutes before enjoying.
Just having one slice? How to reheat pizza in a toaster oven
Reheating pizza in a toaster oven is the best option if you only want to warm up one slice. Toaster ovens are like little ovens without all the fuss — they use less electricity than a regular oven and keep your kitchen cooler too. Here's how to reheat pizza in a toaster oven in four easy steps:
Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F.
Bake your slice for 3 to 4 minutes, depending on its thickness.
Once cheese has melted, use a spatula or tongs to remove your pizza from the toaster oven. Be careful, as it will be very hot.
Let it cool for 5 minutes before eating.
Like char on your crust? How to reheat pizza on the grill
Some pizza aficionados swear by reheating a pizza on the grill. If you like a little char on your pizza crust, using the grill to reheat will give you that perfect smokey taste. It might seem a little silly to fire up the grill just to reheat some pizza, but if the weather's nice, why not? (The grill is also a great place to bake homemade pizza.) Here's how to reheat pizza on the grill in five easy steps:
Fire up your grill to medium-high heat and let it warm up for a few minutes.
Throw your pizza right on the grate — no oil, no pan and no added ingredients needed.
Let it cook for about 6 minutes.
Check the crust to make sure it's crispy enough and that the cheese is bubbling.
Remove from the grill using tongs or a spatula, let cool and enjoy.
Want more on how to enjoy pizza? Check out these stories:
Pizza Perfect: Bake Homemade Pizza Pies in a Cast Iron Skillet for the Crispiest Crust Ever
10 Unique Pizza Recipes That’ll Take Your Pie to the Next Level
This 2-Ingredient Pizza Dough Will Make You Say Goodbye to Delivery
