Here's the truth: Leftover pizza can be just as crispy and delicious with gooey melted cheese as it was originally on pizza night. You just have to know how to reheat it the right way! A cold slice for breakfast might have sufficed back in your youth, but you're slightly older and much wiser now, so knowing how to reheat pizza will change your outlook on leftovers for good.
Before you get started, it's worth noting that some pizzas reheat better than others. Classics like cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, and even Ree Drummond's lots of meat pizza are the perfect contenders for reheating. However, any pizza recipes topped with fresh, raw ingredients like a salad pizza won't fare as well. (It's best to eat leftover pizza like this cold or at room temperature.)
The good news is you can bring pizza back to it's former glory with these four easy methods using your oven, stovetop, air fryer, or grill. Say goodbye to the days of soggy, microwaved slices!
How to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer
There's no doubt that the air fryer has gone from trendy appliance to kitchen staple. It is known for circulating heat which is what makes all those air fryer recipes so crispy. It's essentially frying without the oil, so you can rest assured that your pizza crust will never be soggy. Just line your basket or tray with perforated aluminum foil or parchment paper and set your air fryer to 350 degrees. Reheat for about three minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crisp. Add an extra minute or two depending on the size of your slice.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Oven
Reheating pizza in the oven is the easiest way to bring it back to life. Preheat the oven to about 375 degrees and pop a baking sheet in so it gets nice and hot. If desired, you can line the baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up, but it's not necessary.
Once the baking sheet is piping hot, add your leftover slices to the pan and pop it back in the oven. Depending on the thickness of the slice, it will take anywhere from seven to 12 minutes to heat through. You can test for doneness by picking up the slice—the cheese may have re-melted on top, but if the slice flops and the crust isn't quite reheated to your desired level of toasted-ness, pop it back in for a few minutes more to firm it up. Even if you overdo it a bit, the worst thing that can happen is you'll end up with an extra-crispy crust and possibly some crustier bits of cheese. (Who says that's a bad thing?)
How to Reheat Pizza in a Skillet
A skillet also works wonders for reheating pizza. You can use any skillet that's safe on stovetops, but the best pan for the job is good ol' cast iron. The best cast-iron skillets take longer to heat up, but they're great conductors of heat and get screaming hot. (Translation: a crust that's nice and crispy.)
Drop your slices into the skillet and turn the burner to medium heat. Let the pizza toast for about five minutes, then check it to see if the crust has crisped up. If it's still flimsy and the toppings aren't yet hot, let it go a bit longer, but keep a careful eye. If you happen to have a lid, you can place it on top for a minutes to trap heat and thoroughly melt the toppings. Otherwise, splash a few drops of water onto the pan (around the pizza, not on top of it) to create steam that'll melt the cheese. Cast iron holds heat well, so if you've got several pieces of pizza to reheat, you can easily and quickly work in batches.
How to Reheat Pizza on the Grill
Just like you can grill pizza from scratch, you can reheat it that way, too! First, preheat your grill the medium-high. Place your leftover pizza on a piece of aluminum foil and place directly over the heat. Cover the grill to help the cheese melt and cook for four to six minutes. You can also place a slice directly on a preheated pizza stone or steel if you have one, though using foil makes for a much easier cleanup.
