How to reheat a pizza in a toaster oven?

Who doesn’t love a huge pizza, topped with all our favorite things? A crunchy, doughy base, layered with herbed tomato sauce and, of course, loaded with melted cheese.

Obviously, all the pizza is likely to be eaten in the first sitting, but if you have leftover pizza you’ll want to reheat it carefully to enjoy it at its best.

But you may be wondering what is the best way to reheat pizza in a toaster oven.  To prevent the pizza from drying out, it should be reheated at a lower temperature and may be sprayed with water to keep the ingredients moist. To prevent the bottom from getting too flat, use a cookie sheet instead of a wire rack.

What is pizza?

We know this may seem obvious, but pizza, in its simplest form, is a crust crust topped with an herbed tomato sauce, cheese, and a host of other topping options. But when it comes to pizza, the possibilities are endless!

You can eat homemade pizza, pizza bought in the fridge or in the frozen section, pizza to go, pizza at home, and much more!

Also, there are different types of pizza! Thin and crispy, pan-fried, calzone, Sicilian focaccia, pizza rolls, delicious artisan pizza cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven… the list goes on!

Don’t get us started on the ingredients, because we’ll be here all day! Whether you’re a fan of a meat-filled pizza feast or a light vegetarian option, the joy of pizza is that you can make it exactly how you want it.

The most difficult decision that many of us face is choosing what type of cheese we are going to decorate it with.

If you have special dietary requirements, there is a pizza for every need. So whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, on a gluten-free diet, or just trying to reduce your calorie intake, pizza can be modified to suit anyone.

Okay, right now we’re all craving pizza, right? But if you’ve had a family pizza night, or cooked a large quantity for a hot buffet, you may have leftover pizza.

Reheating pizza is a tricky task, and it can be easy to turn a decadent, crusty pizza into a soggy, doughy mess. So is it smart to reheat pizza in a toaster oven? Let’s find out!

What is a toaster oven? And how it works?

A toaster oven is a very practical appliance, common in kitchens around the world. Small enough to fit on the countertop, a toaster oven is a convenient addition to or alternative to a conventional convection oven and has many advantages.

The small size of a toaster oven means it heats up quickly, using less energy. It can be used for baking and roasting food, as well as for reheating and toasting different foods.

This small size has its downsides: You’d have a hard time cooking a big dinner in a toaster oven! But they’re great for individual servings of food, as well as cooking side dishes and desserts.

You may be wondering why these little ovens are called toaster ovens, but there’s a good reason for that!

A toaster oven doesn’t work the same way as a regular convection oven. Instead, it works using radiant heat, the same method your toaster uses.

Inside a toaster oven are metal coils that heat up and produce infrared radiation. These heating elements are usually located at the top and bottom of the oven, so that the heat is distributed more evenly.

This heating mechanism means that the food inside a toaster oven is subjected to direct heat, rather than hot air being circulated through the oven.

Cooking in a toaster oven may take some getting used to, but this gadget can transform your life.

Why do you need to reheat pizza?

Okay, back to the pizza! We know it sounds unlikely, but there’s a small chance you’ll have leftover pizza after a party or family gathering.

Maybe you’ve overeaten and have a pile of pizza slices to spare—yes, we’ve all been there!

Or maybe your movie night guests have been late, and the homemade pizza you so lovingly prepared has gone cold.

Whatever the reason, it would be terrible to let your delicious pizza go to waste. So you have a decision to make: reheat the pizza or eat it cold?

Although cold pizza is perfectly edible, to enjoy it to the fullest we advise you to reheat it.

As the pizza begins to cool, the cheese topping hardens and becomes unappetizing. Frankly, it’s a waste of good food to eat a cold pizza, especially when it’s so easy to reheat.

The only thing to keep in mind is that you need to take certain precautions if you reheat pizza with a meat filling, such as barbecue chicken or pulled pork.

Most food experts recommend not reheating meats that have been cooked more than once, so if they were reheated when the pizza was first cooked, they can’t be reheated again.

It is also essential to ensure that the pizza is thoroughly heated before serving, especially if it has ingredients that contain meat, fish or seafood.

This means that you need to make sure that the pizza is hot enough to eat, rather than just heating it up.

Can pizza be reheated in a toaster oven?

Today many of us have a small toaster oven instead of a conventional oven. But can these handy gadgets be used to reheat pizza?

Toaster ovens work great for reheating leftover pizza, especially if you only have a small batch to make.

When it comes to flavor, the pizza will taste exactly the same when reheated in a toaster oven, compared to conventional reheating methods.

However, when it comes to pizza, this glorious food is as much about texture as it is about flavor. No one wants a soggy, reheated slice of pizza.

A toaster oven is one of the best ways to bring your leftover pizza back to life, keeping the crust crust crisp and light while heating the ingredients to perfection.

The combination of radiant heat above and below the pizza will give you a crispy bottom, a sizzling cheese top, and a still-soft, fresh interior.

The other advantage of using a toaster oven to reheat pizza is that it is faster than a conventional oven, and also uses less energy.

So you’ll be able to eat delicious reheated pizza in no time, without running up a huge electricity bill!

Top Tips for Reheating Pizza in a Toaster Oven

There are two schools of thought on the best way to reheat pizza in a toaster oven. Some advocate quick reheating over high heat, while others prefer the “simmer” option. So which is the best?

Well, it depends on several factors, and how you prefer the pizza! If the pizza was well done (we’re talking almost burnt) the first time around, then a burst of high heat might be enough to turn it into an inedible crisp.

On the other hand, an undercooked pizza that is reheated slowly at a low temperature could start to dry out.

It also depends on the functions of your toaster oven. Older models may have only radiant heat elements, without any means to circulate the heat.

Others can circulate the air with a convection fan, and the fancier models even have an air fryer function.

Check the settings on your pizza oven: If yours has a reheat setting, it’s best for using up leftover pizza. If not, the next best option is the bake setting.

Some toaster ovens only have a temperature dial; if this is yours, don’t panic, we’ll tell you exactly how to use it to reheat pizza!

A great tip for reheating pizza in a toaster oven is to keep as much moisture as possible on top of the pizza.

Pizza toppings will dry out quickly under the radiant heat of a pizza oven, but there’s a great way around that.

All you have to do is spray the top of the pizza with a light coating of water before popping it in the oven. This can mean the difference between a cheese that is golden and bubbly, or crunchy and inedible.

Another clever trick is to use a cookie sheet instead of placing the pizza slices directly on the oven rack. This ensures that the base heats up well, without being too crisp and dry.

Reheat Pizza in the Toaster Oven - Step by Step Guide

After weighing all the options for reheating pizza in a toaster oven, we’ve decided that the “low and slow” option is best.

With this method you will get a pizza as good as the first time, with minimal effort on your part!

It’s important to note that no toaster oven is preheated here: the pizza is placed in a cold oven, and it begins to reheat as the pizza comes up to temperature. This will help prevent the pizza from drying out.

1. Adjust the rack of your toaster oven to the medium or low position.
2. Arrange the pizza slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Spray pizza slices with a fine mist of water.
4. Insert the tray into the toaster oven and close the door.
5. Set the temperature of the toaster oven to 325°F (use the reheat function if your oven has it, or use the bake option).
6. Set the oven timer for the recommended time (see below).
7. Check the pizza after 4 minutes; if it browns too quickly, lower the temperature.
8. When the pizza toppings are golden and bubbly, remove the tray from the oven and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
9. Serve and enjoy.

Cooking times to reheat pizza in a toaster oven

There are so many different options and settings on a toaster oven that it can take some trial and error to find the right cook time. Here are some good general guidelines:

• A good starting point is 6 minutes for thin crust pizza, and 8 minutes for deep pan pizza.
• A non-convection toaster oven will not reheat the pizza as quickly, and could take up to 10 minutes.
• If your toaster oven has an air fry feature, this will reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to reheat pizza in a toaster oven, let’s look at some related questions!

What is the best way to store leftover pizza?

If you have leftover pizza from a family feast, it’s essential that you store it properly to keep it in the best possible condition. You can’t let such a good snack go to waste!

Pizza left out at room temperature quickly becomes stale and soggy, and for food safety reasons should not be left out for more than 2 hours. Proper storage is the key to keeping pizza crisp and delicious.

Arrange the pizza slices in a single layer in an airtight container. They can be stacked, but you must use a layer of parchment paper between each serving. Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Can pizza be reheated in the microwave?

The microwave is the ultimate luxury when it comes to reheating food, creating piping hot leftovers in a matter of minutes.

But unfortunately, there are some foods that do not accept being reheated in the microwave. And sadly, for us, our delicious leftover pizza is one of them.

The microwave is great for reheating soft and liquid foods, but not so great for anything you want to keep crisp. So even though you’ll have a hot slice of pizza, the crispy crust base will have turned into a mushy, sticky mess.

However, if the microwave is your only option, there are a few steps you can take to keep your slice of pizza as crispy as possible.

The key is to reduce excess moisture, so laying down a layer of kitchen paper to absorb any liquid can help keep the pizza in peak condition.

Reheat the pizza on a shallow or flat plate, opening the microwave door at regular intervals to release excess steam.  The best setting for reheating pizza in the microwave is on high power for 20 seconds at a time.

Can pizza be reheated in an air fryer?

The air fryer is one of the best ways to revive your leftover pizza, as it keeps the crust crisp and light while heating the ingredients to perfection.

The trick is to lightly drizzle the pizza with an air fryer-safe oil to prevent it from becoming dry and inedible.

This is the best way to reheat a cold pizza in an air fryer:

1. Preheat air fryer to 350°F
2. Arrange the cooked pizza slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
3. Giving the pizza slices a light drizzle of oil can help prevent them from drying out.
4. Cook the pizza for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the crust.
5. Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes and then enjoy it.

Why does pizza get soggy when reheated?

One of the big problems with reheating pizza is that you can end up with a disgusting soggy pizza crust.

This will not only be unpleasant to eat, but it can also cause the delicious ingredients to slide off the bottom, what a waste!

But why do leftover pizzas get soggy when reheated? Quite simply, everything is due to humidity and air. Anything that is crunchy, like an overcooked pizza crust, quickly turns stale, with a mushy, chewy texture.

Also, when we make pizza, we add wet ingredients to a crispy pizza crust. When first cooked, the cooked dough is robust enough to take this and will be relatively stiff when you take it out of the oven.

However, over time the moisture will soak into the pizza crust, creating a disgusting soggy mess.