How to Reheat Pizza in Microwave- Reheating a Pizza

When I want a slice of pizza while watching a movie, I often opt to use the microwave to reheat the pizza slices, but how do you do it?

This guide will teach you how to reheat pizza in a microwave oven without getting a soggy base. This technique will always give you a crispy crust, and is the right way to reheat your leftover pizza slices.

I still prefer heating my pizzas in the pan as it is a lot easier, and I do not need to go and switch on the convection microwave on your IFB, LG, Whirpool microwave, or any brand.

If you have not tried reheating your pizza inside on a pan, check out this post, where we give step-by-step instructions on how to reheat your pizza on a pan.

But sometimes you do not have many options, and you want to toss your pizza inside the microwave.

So, this time when I ordered a cheese pizza and had leftover pizza slices from Domino’s pizza, this is what I decided to do- reheat them in my convection microwave oven.

if you find yourself in a similar situation, then we have a hack that can help you reheat your pizza without getting a soggy mess 

Step-by-step Guide On How To Reheat Pizza In A Microwave

What You Will Need:

• Slices of pizza you want to reheat.
• A cup filled 2/3 of the way with water.
• A crisper pan.

Instructions:

Step 1: Take out the leftover pizza slices or cold pizza from the fridge. Leave the slices at room temperature to make them warm up a little.

Step 2: Set the temperature to medium heat and preheat a crispier plate inside the microwave for at least 1 minute.

Step 3: Make sure to use a microwave-safe cup and fill it 2/3 of the way full with water.

Step 4: Place the pizza slices you want to reheat on the crisper plate inside the microwave.

Step 5: Find a space to place the cup inside the microwave with the pizza and crisper plate. The cup of water will help keep the moisture on the pizza slices.

Step 6: Reheat the pizza slices in the microwave over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes with 30-second intervals.

Step 7: Once the cheese is melted and the crust has become crispy, remove the pizza from the microwave and enjoy your hot and crispy pizza!

Four Different Ways In Which You Can Reheat Pizza Using A Microwave

1. Microwave And A Glass Of Water

This method is what we used in the guide above. It is where you place a glass of water inside the microwave alongside the pizza slices you reheat.

With the glass of water in the microwave, you can turn up the microwave’s heat from medium to high until the pizza is cooked to perfection.

The main reason behind this is not what you would initially expect. The glass of water in the microwave is not for producing vapor and steam to keep the pizza moist.

Its actual purpose is to absorb some of the microwave rays from the heating element of the microwave oven. 

With fewer rays hitting the pizza directly, there is a lower chance that the pizza will become dry. The moisture from the pizza will not easily evaporate.

So by having the glass of water in the microwave as the slices of pizza are reheating, you have a microwave ray-absorbing counter to keep your toppings juicy and delicious.

2. Reheating Pizza With The Microwave And The Stove

Microwave the pizza slices for 2 minutes with a glass of water. As the pizza is reheating, prepare a cast-iron skillet by drizzling a teaspoon of olive oil and heating it on the stove over medium heat.

After 2 minutes, remove the slices of pizza from the microwave and then transfer them to the medium-hot skillet.

The skillet should not be too hot as it can burn the pizza. Continue reheating the pizza on the skillet for 5 minutes or until the crust is crispy enough to your liking.

You can do this method if you do not have a crisper plate to ensure that you will reheat the pizza without drying it up and ensure the crust is crispy when done.

3. Microwave And Toaster Oven

Set your microwave to medium heat, and then place the pizza slices in the microwave. Leave them there to reheat for just 30 seconds, just enough to make them lukewarm.

Now while the pizza slices are reheating, set the toaster oven to the highest temperature (usually 450 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit).

Transfer the pizza slices from the microwave oven to the toaster oven and let them reheat there for another 10 minutes.

Check the pizza slices to see if the crust has become crispy and the cheese is melted. Remove the pizza from the toaster oven and serve!

4. Microwave And Air Fryer

Just like we did with the toaster oven method, let the pizza slices reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute until they are lukewarm.

Prepare your air fryer and set it to the highest temperature. Transfer the pizza slices to the air fryer and let the crust crisp for about 2 minutes.

Check the pizza slices immediately and do not leave them in the air fryer for too long, or they might burn.

Once the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve them on a plate!

How To Reheat Frozen Pizza In Microwave

Frozen pizza poses a little bit of a different challenge. Since it is colder, it will take more time to reheat as you will need to defrost it before the actual reheating process.

Using the microwave to defrost and reheat your frozen pizza is an effective and easy method. Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Place a paper towel on a plate and then put the frozen pizza slice on top of the paper towel.

Step 2: Place the plate in the microwave and set the temperature to medium heat. Set the timer to 1 minute and allow the frozen pizza to defrost for this first part.

Step 3: Remove the plate from the microwave and set it aside to let the pizza defrost for another minute.

Step 4: Preheat a crisper pan and fill a microwave-safe cup two-thirds full with water.

Step 5: Place the thawed pizza on the crisper pan and then place the cup of water inside the microwave.

Step 6: Continue to reheat the pizza on medium heat with 30-second intervals until the pizza reaches the temperature that you prefer.

The important part is that the internal temperature of the pizza slices should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Long To Reheat Pizza In Microwave

Here is a graph that shows the different types of pizza and how long they take to reheat in the microwave.

These are the amounts of time that will take when you reheat these types of pizza over medium heat in the microwave oven.

Pizza Type	How Long To Reheat In Microwave
Thick crust pizza	2 to 3 minutes (with 30-second intervals)
Thin crust pizza	30 seconds to 1 minute
Deep-dish pizza	6 minutes for frozen and 4 minutes for thawed
Frozen pizza	1 minute defrosting; 2 to 3 minutes reheating

How To Reheat Pizza Without Making It Soggy?

When using the microwave to reheat leftover pizza, always use the glass of water method. Do not worry, as the glass of water will help the pizza slices become crispy instead of soggy.

When you do not put a glass of water in the microwave when reheating the pizza slices, the crust will become tough, and the toppings will be too dry.

As the water absorbs some of the microwave rays, it helps lock the moisture in the pizza so the cheese will still melt and the toppings will not burn dry.

The method I included above uses a crisper plate, but there are alternatives if you do not have that. You can use a plate when reheating pizza in the microwave.

If you are not using a crisper plate, set the microwave to high and allow the pizza to reheat for 30 seconds until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.

Will Reheat My Pizza Change The Taste?

Yes, but it is hardly noticeable, especially if the pizza has been stored in the fridge for one day or less.

When the pizza is heated or warmed, it releases compounds through evaporation, which also brings some flavors.

However, this happens on a really small scale, so the taste of a one-day-old pizza that is reheated should be the same as it was when you ate it yesterday.

The longer the pizza has been stored, the more noticeable the change in taste will be, even when you reheat it perfectly.

So unless you freeze your leftover pizza slices, it is best to reheat them and consume them as soon as possible so they will still have the same taste, texture, and overall quality.

How To Safely Microwave Pizza?

Although we do not use many tools and utensils when reheating pizza in the microwave, it is important to avoid certain things that might harm the pizza or the microwave or pose a danger to yourself.

Always remember to use microwave-safe tools and utensils when reheating pizza in the microwave and as much as possible, avoid using the following:

• Aluminum foil
• Anything metal or stainless steel
• Plastics with BPA
• Styrofoam 
• Takeout containers

If your pizza slice has raw hot pepper on it as a topping, make sure to remove them first before putting the pizza slice in the microwave.

Hot chili peppers can release fumes when exposed to radiation and heat, which can cause severe harm to your eyes or lungs when you breathe them in.

Check out this list of other materials and food you cannot put in your microwave when reheating pizza.

Tips For Reheating Pizza In A Microwave

• Place a glass of water in the microwave with the pizza as you reheat it to help keep the toppings’ moisture, absorb some microwave rays, and keep the crust crispy but not tough.

• Always use microwave-safe utensils and tools.

• Keep the microwave temperature on medium heat to ensure the pizza slices do not burn easily.

• Use 30-second intervals so you can keep track of the temperature of the pizza and whether it has been reheated to your liking or not.

• If you have one, use a crisper plate to make the crust of the pizza you are reheating even crispier.

• Use a paper towel between the pizza slice and the plate/crisper plate to prevent the pizza slice from burns caused by hot spots.

• For beginners, start with short cooking times so you can observe whether or not the pizza has been reheated to your liking.

• Reheating pizza in the microwave only takes a couple of minutes or less, so keep an eye on the pizza, so it does not burn or overcook.

Do try it and let me know how you guys like it in the comments below!

Lastly, if you liked the post, do not forget to share it on Pinterest!