There’s only one thing better than ordering pizza: knowing you’ve got an extra slice (or two) waiting in the fridge for tomorrow. Some people love a cold slice, but if you want yours hot, you may be wondering how best to reheat it. The ideal slice has a crisp base and melted cheese. A quick blast in the microwave can leave you with a soggy base and bites that alternate between cold and piping hot.
So we asked the experts in the Good Housekeeping Kitchen & Cooking Lab for a better solution. Their methods are surprisingly easy.
What’s the best way to reheat pizza?
Good Housekeeping US senior food editor Susan Choung recommends reheating pizza in a frying pan. For a slice that ‘tastes like it came fresh from the box’, she says, add a splash of water.
- Place the pizza slice in a dry frying pan and cook over a medium-high heat until the base is crisp, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add 1–2 tablespoons of water around the edge of the pan. Cover with a lid and turn the heat to low. ‘In 30-60 seconds, the steam will melt the cheese to oozy perfection,’ says Choung.
You can also reheat leftover pizza in the air fryer until the cheese is melted and the base crisp. Good Housekeeping US deputy editor Sarah Gregory says: ‘If I’m reheating just one or two slices, I pop them in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes at 195°C (that’s my model’s default temperature, but you can adjust the time if yours defaults to 175°C or 200°C).’ Keep a close eye on the slices at higher temperatures to make sure they don’t start to burn.
What’s the best way to reheat a whole pizza?
For multiple slices, use a pizza stone or heat a foil-lined baking tray in an oven at 220°C (fan 200°C) mark 7. Starting with a super hot surface helps crisp up the base. Carefully arrange the slices on the hot tray and bake until the cheese is bubbling, about 6-8 minutes.
Never reheat pizza in its box. The cardboard can affect the flavour, may release chemicals when heated and could catch on fire.
How long does leftover pizza last?
Got lots of pizza left over? (Jealous!) How long it keeps in the fridge depends on the toppings. Slices with meatballs, sausage or vegetables are best eaten within two days, while cheese or pepperoni slices can keep for up to four days.
To freeze leftover slices, wrap them in foil or baking parchment and place them in a resealable freezer bag for up to three months. “I freeze pizza when we don’t finish a whole one because it’s a treat you’ll thank yourself for later,” says Good Housekeeping US food producer Tina Martinez.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
