Do you have some leftover pizza that has been in the refrigerator, and want it to return to that delicious, warm, greasy pie that it was when you first got it? When it comes to reheating a leftover delivery pizza, it can be hard to get back that initial texture it had when it arrived fresh from the local pizzeria.
The good news is that you can get the perfect texture back. Or even improve upon it.
And it is not even that hard to do.
All you need is a stovetop and a pan.
*Reheated slice used in photographs is from Warpath Pizza of Round Rock Texas.
Why this method works
The problem with some other reheating methods is that they try to warm the entire piece at once. This causes the bread to soak up moisture from the tomato sauce, creating an unpleasant texture and flavor.
Our method, on the other hand, heats the bread first. We then slowly bring the upper toppings to the appropriate warmth, which preserves a lot of the flavor and prevents the soggy bread.
Depending on the pizza you start with, this method can yield incredible results. This recipe is geared toward the typical American-style delivery pizza which is either Chicago style or New York style. Places like Dominoes, Papa Johns, and Cici’s or any place that sells those giant NY style slices. It works with other kinds of pizza as well, but your mileage may vary.
With this kind of pizza, you can either heat it slowly to regain that exact initial texture, or you can accelerate the process to yield a slightly crispier bottom crust which can sometimes improve the flavor.
The pan method for delivery-quality crust
Start by removing the leftover pizza from the refrigerator. Hopefully it was covered so it didn’t pick up any flavors or odors from the other items in the fridge. I like to use the box the pizza came in. If that won’t fit in my fridge, I use a baking pan covered with plastic wrap. As a last resort I’ll just put it on a plate and wrap it with cling wrap.
Start by grabbing a pan large enough for the entire piece of pizza to lay flat. Place the pan on the burner and set the burner to very low heat. That is to say, the heat should be just a little above the absolute minimum, approximately 1/10th of the maximum.
Place the leftover pizza, one slice at a time, into the pan. Cook only one piece at a time for best results.
Since it is cold out of the refrigerator, it may take some time to warm up. Subsequent pieces will cook faster if left on the counter while the first piece cooks.
From here, you just heat the pizza in the pan and give it time. Slowly the bread at the bottom will warm and start to warm above it layer by layer until the toppings themselves are shiny and perfect. Your pizza is now ready to eat.
The first slice may take up to 20 minutes to heat this way. If the bread is extra-thick, it could take longer. But despite the long wait, it is a reliable method for achieving that delivery-quality texture.
You can tell when it’s done because the cheese will be glistening and toppings will feel warm to the touch.
When you have an especially thick slice, it can be helpful to place a lid over the pan late in the heating process. This will trap hot air at the top and warm the toppings faster. This also has the unfortunate effect of increasing moisture, which is usually unwelcome. So keep it covered only as long as needed to finish it off.
The quick pan method for a crispier crust
You may also prefer to increase the heat and to create a crispier crust. This has the added effect of drastically accelerating warm times. Using the higher heat, the pizza may be finished cooking in 15 minutes for the initial slice and 7 minutes per slice after that.
For this approach, go ahead and crank the heat up to about 1/3 of the max, and then down just a little bit.
Monitor closely after five minutes or so because overheating can cause your bread to char – which can result in a hard and bitter crust. Each oven is different, so it may take time to dial in the exact level of heat that won’t overheat the bread before the toppings are fully warmed. Ideally the first piece should take about 10-15 minutes, and more like 5-10 minutes per piece after that.
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Reheating Leftover Delivery Pizza So It Tastes Like It’s Delivery
Description
Reheating leftover delivery pizza to perfection is easy with this simple recipe. Slices left in the refrigerator can be good for as much as three days, but it’s best to eat it within two.
Ingredients
Leftover pizza.
Instructions
Remove leftover pizza from the refrigerator.
Warm a pan over very low heat.
Place a one slice of pizza into the pan, toppings facing upward, and allow to warm.
Continue to heat slowly until the cheese is shiny and the toppings are warm to the touch. This may take anywhere from 10-30 minutes, so check regularly for doneness.
Notes
Cheese can get stuck to certain kinds of pans, so over-melting the cheese can be a bad idea.
Sometimes oil from the cheese will accumulate in the bottom of the pan. This is usually fine but will limit how crispy the crust can get.
If you have an extra-thick piece, sometimes the bottom can over-coook before the toppings are ready. One way to counteract this is to cover the pan. This will trap in the hot air and warm the toppings faster.
Covering with a pan may accelerate the cooking process, but it also traps in moisture. Do so sparingly, and only for as long as is necessary.
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Did you like this recipe? Pizza isn’t the only thing that warms well in the pan. Check out this halloumi recipe for a delicious cheese appetizer that won’t stick to the pan.