How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven: Get a Fresh-Baked Taste from Yesterday’s Slice
Whoever coined the phrase, “There’s no such thing as bad pizza,” has probably never reheated last night’s leftover slices in the microwave. We’ll explain five methods for how to reheat pizza that make your favorite leftover pie taste like you just ordered it. Even microwave pizza.
STORING LEFTOVER PIZZA IS KEY FOR HOW TO REHEAT PIZZA
Pizza night is a win! Fewer dishes, time saved on the cooking, and everyone is happy. The kids might have even eaten veggies on that slice. That’s the magic of pizza. You’ve just finished all you can eat, and several pieces are still left to enjoy the next day. That’s an awesome feeling.
In preparation for reheating pizza, it must be stored properly. Every great recipe starts with top-notch ingredients, and that includes how to heat up pizza (or any leftovers). The key to storing pizza leftovers is in airtight containers. The worst possible storage is in the refrigerator in the original box. That way leads to dried-out, stale crusts, mushy toppings, and sadness.
Proper storage is fairly simple; place your leftover pizza into resealable plastic bags and press as much air out as possible. You can also wrap the slices in cling wrap, then follow that with foil. Lidded storage containers should be avoided because they aren’t airtight. They’re not much better than the pizza box.
5 METHODS FOR REHEATING PIZZA THAT TASTES FANTASTIC
These five methods won’t surprise most of us, but we’ve added tweaks to reheat leftover pizza that gives your slices a fresh-from-the-box taste even the next day!
How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven
The oven is the tried-and-true method to most reliably produce the freshest results and crispy crust. It’s not the fastest, and not all of us have access to an oven, like in the workplace lunchroom. But the oven is king at getting perfectly crispy crust so your leftovers taste just delivered.
Tip #1:
Preheat your oven to 350℉ simultaneously with a foil-lined baking sheet or pizza pan (not a pizza stone, which takes longer to heat through). Place your pizza slices onto the already-hot pan when everything reaches temperature for maximum crispness. Bake for 10 minutes for nice and melty cheese.
Tip #2:
Put a cold pizza slice on a cold, rimmed baking sheet, then cover the whole thing tightly with foil, taking care not to let the foil touch the toppings. Place on the lowest rack in the oven while it preheats to 275℉ and set the timer for 25-30 minutes. The pizza will slowly warm through and taste fresh.
How long to reheat pizza in the oven is a matter of preference. For a crispier pizza crust, go longer. For a softer crust, place the pizza on a cold baking sheet and warm the recommended 10 minutes.
Tools You’ll Need
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Oven mitts or tongs
Cook time: About 10 minutes
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheet
Choose a baking sheet large enough to fit all your slices without overlapping. Line it with aluminum foil (or parchment paper for an eco-friendly alternative). This makes cleanup easier and helps distribute heat evenly.
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Pro tip: For extra crispiness, place the foil-lined tray in the oven before preheating — you’ll get a sizzling-hot surface.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 450°F (232°C) with the empty tray inside. Heating the tray first ensures the crust starts crisping the moment your pizza touches it.
Step 3: Add Your Pizza
Once preheated, carefully remove the baking sheet using oven mitts and place your leftover pizza slices directly on the hot foil. The contact with the hot surface helps restore that original crunch.
⏱️ Step 4: Bake Until Perfect
Return the tray to the oven and bake for
8–10 minutes, or until the cheese starts bubbling and the crust feels firm.
You can check doneness by gently lifting a slice — if it sags, give it another 1–2 minutes.
Bonus Tips for the Best Reheated Pizza
- Use a pizza stone or steel: If you have one, place your slices directly on it. It mimics the effect of a pizza oven and gives unbeatable crispness.
- Add moisture for balance: If your pizza is thin or looks dry, place a small oven-safe cup of water on the rack below your pizza. It adds a touch of steam to prevent over-drying.
- Try the “foil tent” method: Lightly tent foil over the slices for the first half of baking to keep toppings from over-browning.
- Reheat frozen pizza leftovers: Thaw first for 15 minutes at room temperature, then follow the same oven method for consistent heating.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer
Air fryers are great for crispness. They’re much faster than ovens, so they’re a great way to reheat pizza.
- Place one or two slices in the middle of the air fryer basket, and set the temperature to 375℉.
- Set the timer to 2 minutes and press start.
- Halfway through, check the pizza to ensure it’s not overdone and remove if necessary.
Crust thickness and quantity of toppings will affect the time in the air fryer, so adjust accordingly.
Air fryers are great for how to reheat frozen pizza because the pizza preset buttons on many air fryers are calibrated for frozen pies.
- PROS: Cracker-like crust and perfectly warmed toppings; super fast re-heating time
- CONS: Can often only heat one slice at a time.
- WHAT TO DO: Set your air fryer to 350 F and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bottom is crispy. Cooking times may vary by air fryer.
- BONUS TIP! Be sure your pizza slice is lying flat and in the center of the air fryer. Begin checking for doneness after 2 minutes to be sure the pizza isn't burning.
How to Reheat Pizza in a STovEtop/Skillet
This method uses a surprise tip: steam. It gets the crust nice and crisp while achieving that gooey, melted cheese perfection. However, reheating pizza in a skillet can go south quickly, so it’s important to do it carefully.
- Prep: Use a non-stick pan with a lid you can grab quickly. Some using this method call for a cast iron pan. Have a cup of water ready. You can use a teaspoon for measuring or your fingers.
- Place your single slice of cold pizza in the center of your non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium-low.
- Heat for two minutes, both for a crisp crust and to heat the pan’s surface to create steam.
- With either your teaspoon or your fingers, sprinkle few water drops beside the pizza. It will sizzle on the hot surface, so be ready to quickly capture the steam and trap heat with the pan lid.
- The steam heats and moistens the cheese fast, so turn from medium heat to low for one more minute.
- Plate the slice. Repeat for as many slices as needed.
A thin-crust pizza takes less time than a thick crust, so adjust times accordingly.
- BONUS TIP! Try warming the slices for a few minutes uncovered, then add a teaspoon or two of water to the side of the pan before covering until the cheese is fully melted. Some people swear by this variation for superior cheesiness.
How to Reheat Pizza in a Toaster Oven
For toaster ovens, low heat is sweet. No preheating is required because toaster ovens are preprogrammed to warm food without browning. Here’s how to reheat pizza in one:
- Choose the Reheat or Leftovers function on your toaster oven, whichever yours has
- Select 325°F with the convection fan on if your oven has it
- Place your slice or slices in the oven and start reheating for crispy crust, hot toppings, and melted cheese, between 5 and 8 minutes
- Thin crust and fewer toppings take less time, so it’s wise to check around the 4-minute mark to see where your pizza stands.
- Toaster ovens vary and so do pizzas, so your times and preferences may need adjustment
How to Reheat Pizza in the Microwave
We get it — the microwave isn’t the ideal way to reheat pizza. It tends to make the crust floppy and the cheese rubbery. But sometimes, it’s all you’ve got — whether you’re in a dorm room, office break room, or just craving a quick fix.
Microwaves cook food from the inside out by heating water molecules, which effectively steams the food. That’s why pizza crust often turns soft and chewy while the edges get hard and dry. Still, if you follow a few smart tips, you can make microwave pizza taste surprisingly decent.
The Microwave: Quick but Tricky
I know, I know — you’ve probably been told to forget about soggy microwaved pizza. But truthfully, if you just want a warm slice fast or don’t have an oven, skillet, or toaster oven handy, the microwave is the way to go. If you’ve got a paper towel, you don’t even need a plate!
Is it the best method? No. Does it get the job done? Absolutely.
- PROS
- Quick and easy — ready in under a minute
- Melts the cheese beautifully for a gooey texture
- CONS
- The crust won’t get crispy
- The edges can become chewy or hard as they cool
- What to Do
- Place your slice on a microwave-safe plate or paper towel.
The paper towel helps absorb excess moisture and prevents sogginess. - Put a microwave-safe mug or cup of water next to the pizza.
The water absorbs some of the microwaves, allowing the pizza to heat more evenly while keeping the crust from turning rubbery. - Microwave on HIGH for 30–60 seconds, depending on your pizza thickness and microwave wattage.
The goal is melted cheese and warm toppings — not scorching hot crust.
BONUS TIP
If you have a toaster oven, oven, or skillet, try this hybrid method:
- Step 1: Microwave the slice for 30 seconds with a mug of water.
- Step 2: Transfer it to another appliance for 1–2 minutes to
crisp up the crust.
This gives you the best of both worlds — speed and crunch.
There you have it! How to reheat pizza that tastes fantastic the next day. To try any of these methods, If looking for the best pizza in Ohio, Plaza Pizza is ready to take your order by phone or online.
You can order a pizza in Newark or, order a pizza in Heath.
How to Reheat Pizza for a Crispy Crust
When reheating pizza, the goal is often to recapture that delicious, crispy crust and melty cheese that makes it feel freshly baked. Using an oven is one of the best ways to bring out the original texture and flavor of pizza, creating a satisfying, restaurant-quality slice. A popular approach is to set your oven to around 375°F and allow the pizza to reheat just until the cheese bubbles and the crust reaches your desired level of crispiness.
This method helps keep the crust crunchy while warming up the toppings evenly, making it a go-to technique for pizza lovers everywhere. Whether you’re a fan of thin or thick crust, the oven can revive your slice to near-perfection, no matter how long it’s been sitting in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions on Reheating Pizza
Is it better to reheat pizza on foil or parchment paper?
Both work well, but aluminum foil gives you a slightly crisper crust because it conducts heat better. Parchment paper is a good choice if you want to prevent sticking or prefer an easier cleanup. For extra crispness, use foil — for gentler reheating, go with parchment.
How do you reheat pizza in the microwave without it getting soggy?
To keep pizza from turning soggy in the microwave:
Place your slice on a microwave-safe plate.
Put a cup of water in the microwave next to the plate.
Heat for 30–45 seconds on medium power.
The water absorbs some of the microwave energy, preventing the crust from becoming chewy or rubbery. It’s not oven-level crisp, but it works in a pinch!
What’s the secret to reheating pizza perfectly?
The secret is high, even heat and a hot surface. Always preheat your oven with the baking tray inside so the crust starts crisping immediately. Avoid covering the pizza or using low temperatures — those create steam, which softens the crust. Bonus: reheating at 450°F for around 10 minutes usually restores that just-baked flavor.
What’s the Best Way to Reheat Pizza for a Crisp Crust?
Using an oven around 375°F and letting the pizza heat just until the cheese bubbles and the crust crisps up works wonderfully to recapture a fresh taste and texture.
How Long Should I Reheat Pizza at 375°F?
Reheating pizza at 375°F usually takes about 5 to 9 minutes, depending on crust thickness. Keep an eye on it—when the cheese starts bubbling, it’s ready to eat!
How Long Does it Take for an Oven to Reach the Ideal Temperature for Reheating Pizza?
Typically, an oven takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach 375°F. Preheating ensures that your pizza reheats evenly and the crust turns out crisp.
What’s the Best Temperature to Reheat Pizza, According to Pizza Enthusiasts?
Many pizza enthusiasts recommend between 350°F and 400°F for reheating pizza, with 375°F being a popular choice. This range helps the pizza maintain its flavor and texture, avoiding any chewiness.
