How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven

If you want to know the best way to reheat pizza in the oven, this is the article for you. As pizza lovers know, pizza tastes best when fresh out of the oven. But if you do it right, you can reheat leftover pizza in the oven the next day, and it will taste just as good as a fresh slice.

Simply follow our step-by-step instructions in this article, and you’ll have a piping hot piece of pizza in your hands ready to devour in no time. If you don’t have an oven or prefer to reheat your pizza in a skillet or microwave, we have included instructions for how to do it both ways at the end of the article.

Why it’s best to reheat pizza in the oven

Using the oven to reheat your pizza is the easiest way to bring it back to life. When done properly, it will taste as if it has just been cooked fresh. Unlike using a microwave or doing it in a skillet, when you use an oven, the pizza will heat up slower, which allows the base to crisp up gradually without drying out.

Steps to reheat pizza in the oven

To ensure your leftover pizza comes out of the oven with a crispy base, melted cheese, and moist toppings, simply follow the steps below.

1. Start by preheating your oven to 375 F (190 C).
2. Place a baking sheet in the oven (or use aluminum foil) on the oven tray inside the oven while it’s heating up.
3. Once the oven reaches 375 F, take the baking sheet out of the oven and place your pizza slices on it. You don’t need to use a sheet of baking paper, but if any cheese melts off the slice it will make the clean-up much easier.
4. Place the pizza in the oven. Depending on the size of the slices, they will need about 7 to 12 minutes to heat up. After 7 minutes, check the slices. If they need more cooking time, leave them in the oven for a couple more minutes. The easiest way to check if the pizza is cooked thru is to pick up a slice and make sure it isn’t floppy and that the cheese has melted.
5. Once cooked, serve, and enjoy!

How to reheat pizza in a skillet

Don’t want to use an oven? No worries. Pizza can also be reheated well using a skillet. The base will come out nice and crispy, and if you put a lid over it for some of the cooking time, the moisture will get trapped in the pan, which will help the cheese melt and the toppings heat up. The best type of skillet to use is a cast-iron one. This is because they can heat up to a higher temperature than stainless steel and non-stick skillets, which will ensure the base of your pizza slices become crisper.

Follow these steps to reheat your pizza using a skillet:

1. Spray your skillet with a light coating of olive oil, or add 1 tsp if you don’t have olive oil spray. If you don’t have olive oil, any other cooking oil is fine to use.
2. Place the skillet on your burner for a couple of minutes on medium heat.
3. Once the skillet is hot, place your pizza slices in the skillet.
4. Cook the slices in the skillet uncovered for 3-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the base.
5. Once the cheese begins to melt, add 1 teaspoon of water to the skillet (not on the pizza slices) and then place a cover over the skillet.
6. Turn the heat down to low and cook the pizza slices for 2 minutes.
7. Remove the lid and check if the pizza is cooked. If not, you can leave it on the stove for a couple more minutes—with a lid if the toppings aren’t hot or without a lid if the base still isn’t crispy enough for your liking.
8. Once cooked, serve, and enjoy!

How to reheat pizza in a microwave

The third way you can reheat pizza is by using a microwave. While using an oven or skillet will get the best results, if you’re short on time or you’re in a place like a student dorm that doesn’t have an oven, using a microwave can still do a decent job. The trick to reheating pizza in a microwave is to place a glass of water in the microwave at the same time. The purpose of the water is to reduce the amount of microwave power that gets directed at the pizza allowing the pizza slice to heat up slower which stops it from getting soggy.

Follow these steps to reheat pizza in a microwave:

1. Fill up a microwave-safe glass of water.
2. Place your pizza slices in the microwave on a plate or piece of baking paper.
3. Place the glass of water in the microwave next to your pizza.
4. Set the cooking time to 45 seconds on high.
5. Cook your pizza and then check if it’s cooked thru. If not, put it on for a further 15-30 seconds, depending on the size of the slices.
6. Once cooked, serve, and enjoy!