I love cold pizza. But let’s face it, it’s simply not as good as a hot crunchy crust with soft, warm dough and gooey cheese on top.
If you’re reading this because you want to reheat your takeaway pizza to make it as good as when it was first delivered, you’re in good hands.
Whether your pizza was from the local kebab house, pizza place, or a national chain such as Dominos, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, or Papa Johns, the reheating methods in this post will put the crunch back in your crust and the stringiness back in your cheese.
Can you reheat takeaway pizza?
You can reheat takeaway pizza at home to make its base and crust crispy again, with steaming hot toppings with gooey cheese.
You just need to make sure it wasn’t left out all night and was reheated to a temperature high enough to kill any harmful bacteria (75°C).
How to reheat takeaway pizza in the oven
To reheat a takeaway pizza in the oven, preheat your oven to 180°C.
Transfer the pizza onto a baking tray (or slide it directly onto the shelf if you don’t mind the mess), and heat the pizza for 10-15 minutes.
You’ll know it’s done when the crust starts to get darker, the cheese is melted and starts to bubble, and the sauce and bread are steaming.
You can double-check that it’s reached a safe temperature by checking it’s reached 75°C with your kitchen thermometer.
The oven is usually my go-to for reheating a whole delivery pizza. If I only have a few slices to reheat, I use the convection oven setting on the microwave (combi-oven) to save power.
If you’re using a convection oven, 160°C is enough.
How to reheat takeaway pizza in the air fryer
If you’re only reheating a slice or two and don’t have a combi-oven, the air fryer is the next best thing.
The air fryer is also the easiest method and takes the least time and prep.
To reheat a slice of leftover takeaway pizza in the air fryer, simply drop it into the air fryer basket and heat it up at 180°C for 4 minutes. Do not overcrowd the basket. Air needs to be able to circulate for the air fryer to work.
If your pizza has a very thick crust, lower the temperature to 160°C and heat for a bit longer. This will prevent the cheese from overcooking before the base is warmed through.
The air fryer tends to dry the pizza out more than the other methods, so if your pizza has already been in the fridge a few days and has started to go stale, you’re better off with the frying pan method.
How to reheat takeaway pizza in the frying pan
The frying pan is an excellent way to reheat your takeaway pizza as long as you follow the following instructions carefully. You also need a lid or something to cover the frying pan.
To reheat takeaway pizza in the frying pan, preheat the pan over medium heat. Then, drop in your leftover slices and spread them out.
Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the pan (around the pizza, not on it), then quickly cover with a pan lid. Cook for about 5 mins until the cheese has melted.
Pro tip: Optionally, you could spray the pan with Frylight before adding the pizza if you want extra crunch to the base.
How to reheat takeaway pizza in the microwave
The microwave is the last resort when it comes to reheating takeaway pizza.
Sometimes there’s no other choice, maybe you’re in the work canteen, and all you have is a microwave and a kettle.
We’ll work with what we have. The instructions below will help you reheat your pizza as well as possible in a microwave.
To microwave leftover takeaway pizza, transfer it to a microwaveable plate. Place a mug half-filled with water in the microwave with it.
Heat for 1 minute. If the pizza is not yet hot enough, cook for further 30 seconds bursts until it reaches 75°C (steaming hot).
Why does adding a cup of water help the pizza cook?
The cup of water absorbs microwaves and acts as a heat sink that stops the water inside the bread from heating too quickly and collecting at the surface, which would make the crust soggy. Yay, science!
The best way to reheat takeaway pizza
The best way to reheat takeaway pizza is by putting it on a baking tray in a conventional oven that’s been preheated to 180°C and heating for 10-15 minutes.
Leftfield idea for reheating takeaway pizza
Feeling adventurous? Try a “leftover pizza toastie”, as I call it, or “toasted slice sandwich“, as they call it, at Domino’s Australia.
Making a leftover pizza toastie is simple. Take two slices of leftover pizza and put them together, cheese to cheese.
Cook them into your toastie maker (or waffle maker or panini press) and enjoy the crispy, cheesy goodness.
Related: How to reheat a doner kebab and How to reheat fish and chips
FAQ
How do you store takeaway pizza?
To store takeaway pizza safely, take it out of the box, transfer it to an airtight container or bag (or wrap it in cling film), and put it in the fridge within 2 hours of reaching room temperature. If you need to stack multiple slices, put baking parchment between them to prevent sticking. Eat within 4 days or freeze.
Can you reheat takeaway pizza the next day?
You can reheat and eat takeaway pizza the next day. However, you must have put it in the fridge within 2 hours of reaching room temperature to prevent harmful bacteria from growing on it. You can eat it cold or reheat it to at least 75°C.
Can you reheat takeaway pizza 2 days later?
You can reheat and eat takeaway pizza two days later if you put it in the fridge within 2 hours of reaching room temperature. If it’s at room temperature for any longer than that, harmful bacteria can grow on it. You can eat it cold or reheat it to at least 75°C.
How long does takeaway pizza last in the fridge?
If you put your takeaway pizza in the fridge within two hours of it reaching room temperature, it’s good for about 4 days.
Can you reheat takeaway pizza twice?
It is not advised to reheat takeaway pizza more than once because every time it heats or cools, it has to pass through the “danger zone”, a temperature range where harmful bacteria can rapidly grow on food. Reheating your pizza multiple times multiplies the risk of it making you sick.
Can you freeze a takeaway pizza?
You can freeze takeaway pizza. Put it in an airtight container or tightly wrap it in cling film. If you’re freezing multiple slices, add baking parchment between them or freeze them separately. Your frozen pizza will be good for 2-3 months.
Can you freeze takeaway pizza in the box?
You should not freeze your takeaway pizza in the box. Transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it tightly with cling film before you freeze it.
Can you reheat a frozen takeaway pizza?
To reheat a frozen takeaway pizza, defrost in the fridge for 4-5 hours and then reheat it in a preheated oven for 10-15 mins at 180°C.
Can you reheat a takeaway pizza in the box?
You should not reheat takeaway pizza in the box. Firstly, it would make the pizza go soggy as the steam can’t escape, and secondly, the box could give off toxic fumes or even catch on fire when it gets very hot.
