How to Reheat Pizza in a Pan- Reheating Pizza

Reheating a pizza on a pan is probably one of the best ways to reheat cold pizza, and in this post, I will share how easy and quick it is.

So, you have some leftover pizza from your last meal and thought you could have it the next day and popped a few slices inside the fridge.

The best part about reheating pizza on a cast iron pan or any frying pan is that you get a nice crispy crust from the bottom, making the pizza even better than when it was initially made.

If you have some cold pizza ready to reheat on a pan, then check out this post where I share my best tips and tricks on how to reheat pizza in a pan and make it taste like it is right out of the box.

Most of the time, you end up with a soft pizza where the base tastes like bread when reheated in a microwave.

I love reheating my pizza on a skillet or a frying pan on medium-low heat.

You can even reheat the pizza on medium heat, but that requires a learning curve if you want to get the pizza reheated to perfection, where the melted cheese and the crispy crust form the perfect union.

There is another trick to reheating pizza inside a microwave so that it is not as soft as one would expect inside the oven.

Read our post on how to reheat a pizza inside a microwave for a step-by-step guide.

Coming back to the best way to reheat pizza on a pan, well, it is swift and easy-

Table of Contents

Reheating Pizza In A Pan

When you reheat pizza in a pan, the main risk you face is that direct contact with the hot surface can burn the crust instead of making it crispy.

That can happen on the stove since the burners are close to the pan. So you have to be careful when reheating pizza in a pan.

You can follow these steps to make sure you avoid that:

Step 1: Preheat the pan on the stove over medium heat. Do not let the pan get too hot as it might burn the pizza’s crust.

Step 2: after 2 to 3 minutes, the pan should be warm enough. Drizzle some oil over the pan and then place the pizza in the pan.

Step 3: Allow the pizza to reheat for 3 minutes or until the crust is crispy.

Step 4: At this point, the crust should be crispy and reheated, but the toppings, sauce, and cheese need more heat. So preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5: Once the oven is preheated, place the pan with the pizza in the oven and let it reheat the toppings for 3 minutes.

Step 6: Check the pizza, and once the cheese is melted or bubbling, remove it from the oven.

Step 7: Place the reheated pizza on a plate and let it cool down before serving.

How To Store Leftover Pizza

The key to perfectly reheating a pizza slice starts with how you store it. If you store leftover pizzas, ensure they do not develop bacteria and cross-contaminate.

You also need to ensure that you have set the right date on the leftover pizzas so you have a good idea of when they will go bad or when to throw them away.

Step 1: Wrap your leftover pizza slices individually in plastic wrap to avoid the slices sticking to each other.

Step 2: Prepare an airtight container or a ziplock bag to store the pizza slices in.

Step 3: Place the wrapped pizza slices in the airtight container and then put them in the refrigerator.

Note: Cooked food, including leftover pizza slices, should be kept refrigerated only for 4 days. After 4 days, the food might have developed bacteria and is no longer safe to eat.

If you want your leftover pizzas to last longer, you can store them in the freezer. Make sure, however, to wrap them in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burns.

When Do You Know Your Pizza Has Gone Bad?

I love leftover pizza, but I worry that my leftover pizzas might no longer be safe to eat.

Luckily, I have a list of clear signs that the pizza is spoiled or unsafe to consume, so you can also use them to determine when your pizza has gone bad.

Dry and hard texture – pizza should be crispy but not hard; once your pizza shows dryness and hard texture, it is a sign to throw it away.

Rancid Odor – old cheese and tomato sauce do not combine well when spoiled. Even the slightest “odd” or “off” smell should indicate putting the pizza in the trash.

Slimy Texture – when the pizza toppings such as meat, bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives go bad, they start to develop slime, which is not pleasing, so throw the pizza away.

Mold – perhaps one of the clearest ways to determine that the pizza has gone bad is mold formation. They bring harmful bacteria like the slimy texture, which is a no-no.

Taste – If your leftover pizza does not show all the above signs, then you can go ahead and taste it. You will immediately know if the pizza has gone bad or not.

Tasting the pizza is risky, so make sure to do the taste test as a last resort.

How To Reheat Pizza On A Pan?

Aside from the first method we have above, there is another way to reheat pizza in a pan without using the oven.

This is the more common method, and it is easier since you do not need to switch any of the appliances or utensils used in this method.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Preheat the pan over the stove for about 3 minutes. Again, we do not want the pan to be too hot as it might burn the pizza crust.

Step 2: Once the pan is warm, drizzle a little olive oil on top, then place the pizza on the pan.

Step 3: Allow the pan to reheat the pizza and make the crust crispy without covering the pan. This will let the crust become crispy without burning it too quickly.

Step 4: Once the crust is crispy, put a tablespoon of water on the corner of the pan, away from the pizza so it does not make the crust soggy.

Step 5: Get the pan cover and cover the pizza for 2 minutes. The water will produce steam which will cook the toppings and make the cheese gooey.

Step 6: Once the cheese has melted, remove the pizza from the pan and place it on a plate. Serve and enjoy!

Reheating Pizza In A Pan With Water

Reheating pizza in a pan with water is the most common way to reheat pizza on a pan. The method above is how you do this reheating technique.

With this method, you ensure that the crust of the leftover pizza slice becomes crispy while the cheese and toppings are also reheated properly to make the pizza look freshly cooked.

The main concept behind this is that the steam provides enough heat to cook the toppings of the pizza like it would in an oven but also ensures that the pizza does not dry up.

It is, however, essential to put the water on the side or corner of the pan and prevent it from getting to the pizza itself. This can make the pizza crust soggy.

Ideal Pan For Reheating Pizza

The best type of pan that you can use for reheating pizza is a non-stick pan. They heat up easily, but you can also control the temperature more easily than cast-iron skillets.

Non-stick pans are also the most accessible since most households have them. Another benefit is that the pizza crust will become crispy without the risk of it sticking to the pan.

There is also no need to add oil to the pan before placing the pizza in it since it will not stick. The water part, however, is essential to melt the cheese and reheat the toppings properly.

Other Pans That Can Be Used For Reheating Pizza:

Cast-iron Skillet – Be careful not to heat the pan too much as it is hard to bring the temperature down on a skillet once it has absorbed enough heat.

Frying Pan – frying pans will work just as well as non-stick pans as long as you use oil on them so the pizza will not stick to the pan.

Omelet Pan – an omelet pan usually has a thin bottom which is perfect for reheating pizza. Just be careful not to turn the stove burners too high.

Tips On How To Reheat Pizza On A Pan

Preheat The Pan – always preheat the pan before you put the pizza on it but make sure that the pan is not too hot to prevent the pizza crust from burning.

Non-stick Pan – use a non-stick pan so the pizza will not stick to the pan when reheating. It will also reduce the fats on your pizza since you do not need to use oil.

Use Water – the best way to reheat pizza on a pan is to use water to create steam and melt the cheese, as well as evenly reheat the toppings of the pizza.

Store Properly – the first step to reheating pizza properly is to store it the right way. Make sure the pizza slices are wrapped and stored in the fridge using an airtight container.

Medium Heat – always ensure not to use high temperatures as it can easily burn the pizza crust. Keep the temperature at medium or medium-low heat.

Other Ways To Reheat Pizza

Aside from reheating your pizza on a pan, you can also reheat the pizza slices using different appliances and tools such as a microwave, convection oven, toaster oven, air fryer, and more.

These can be as effective or sometimes better than reheating pizza in a pan so I recommend giving them a try.

Microwave
Toaster oven
Wood-fired pizza oven
Using cast-iron skillet
Stovetop
Air fryer
Grill
Griddle

Most of these methods have been tried and tested by yours truly so I know that they can make your leftover pizzas taste as if they were fresh out of the box.

Do try out this technique and let me how you guys like it in the comments below!

If you guys have something to add on this tip, then do let me know so that I could try it as well.

Lastly, if you liked the post, then do not forget to share it on social media!