If you frequently order pizza like me or make one from scratch, you know how quickly the bread gets cold. Heating is essential to keep the dish appetizing to eat and look at.
You can keep a pizza warm in the oven by sliding a pizza stone onto the middle rack. The stone effectively absorbs and retains hot temperatures, while the central part of the oven ensures even heating.
Knowing the right oven temperature is essential to prevent burnt pizza, plus every oven is a little different. In this article, you will learn how to set the proper oven setting. But if you do not own an oven or a pizza stone, you will discover other ways to keep a pizza warm below.
How To Keep Pizza Warm in the Oven
A pizza baked from scratch or delivered in a box can quickly become cold when exposed to air. The best way to keep the dish warm and tasty is to put it inside an oven. It can retain the crispy crust and melted toppings for hours, which is ideal if you are hosting a pizza party or simply having leftovers for dinner.
While this heating method seems convenient, it is also potentially dangerous. For one, the pizza can get burnt when the temperature is too hot, or worse; the pizza box may catch fire inside the oven. Below, you will learn how to keep the pizza warm in the oven properly.
Preheat the Oven
Before putting your pizza pie in the oven, ensure to preheat it first. Set it to the lowest temperature setting, usually around 170 °F to 200 °F.
Preheating the oven helps it reach the proper and required temperature. It can also achieve more even heat so that the entire pizza is warmed equally.
Heat Pizza on the Middle Rack
After 10 to 15 minutes of preheating, it is time to put the pizza inside the oven.
You can opt to remove it from the box or tray for faster heating. But you can also slide the entire pizza box right into the oven.
I recommend placing the pizza on the middle rack of the oven. Doing so will help you achieve a crispy crust and perfectly heated toppings.
Let the pizza sit in the oven for around 20 to 30 minutes. You can also check the pie from time to time to prevent burnt crust. Turn off the oven if the bottom is already crisp and the cheese has melted.
After heating the pizza, consume it within an hour or two. Leaving the pie for a longer period can lead to a dry sauce and sponge-like cheese texture. Trust me—eating cold pizza can be unappetizing.
Consider Using a Pizza Stone
If you like your pizza crust extra crisp, consider buying a pizza stone.
Pizza stones give you a crispy crust and perfectly melted toppings. They are originally designed for cooking pizzas from scratch, but also ideal for keeping the dish warm. They use natural materials that can effectively take and retain heat to keep a pizza hot.
Using a pizza stone is relatively straightforward. Start by removing the cold pizza from the box or plate. Next, put the pie on the surface.
After, place the stone inside the oven. Again, heating it on the middle rack yields the best results.
Close the oven and set the temperature to 425 °F. Reheat the pizza in the oven for around 10 minutes before turning off the heat.
Now, you have the choice to serve the pizza right away or leave it in the pizza stone for an hour. You can expect the pie to stay warm until this period because of the stone’s heat retention properties.
What Is The Best Temperature to Keep Pizza Warm?
Set your oven to the lowest degree possible if you want to place the entire pizza box inside the range. The best temperature to warm pizza slices is around 170 °F to 200 °F. You can remove the box from the oven after 10 to 15 minutes. Consume the pie right away to enjoy the crust, sauce, and toppings.
The ideal oven temperature to reheat pizza from the freezer ranges from 300 °F to 400 °F. Take out the pie from the cardboard box, and place it directly onto the middle rack. Heating it at a higher temperature gives you a crispy crust and juicy pizza toppings.
How to Keep Pizza Warm for a Party?
Keeping pizza warm for your own is relatively easy. But it is an entirely different scenario if you are serving pizza slices at a party. You do not want your guests to eat cold pie.
Below are some tips to keep pizza warm during a party.
Keep It in the Pizza Box
If the pizza arrives earlier than your guests, the easiest way to keep it warm is to store it in the box.
Most pizza boxes use corrugated cardboard. This material evenly transfers heat to the pie inside without easily burning. It also keeps the bread soft.
Plus, some pizza boxes include handles on the sides. These enable you to lift the lid when keeping pizza warm inside the oven.
Store It in an Insulated Bag
Using an insulated bag is another way to keep your pizza slices warm. This bag features thermal insulation properties. It helps maintain the temperature of any food content. Hence, most pizza delivery boxes are stored in an insulated pizza bag.
Simply place the pie inside the insulated bag and seal it with an elastic band or flap. Take it out of the bag when you are ready to serve hot pizza to your party guests. You will find that the pizza is still warm and the bread soft enough to eat.
You can even use these thermal bags to keep frozen food cold. They really come in handy if you want to retain hot or cold temperatures.
Fry It On A Skillet Pan
The frying pan method works if you are hosting a bigger party and need a second heating option besides your oven.
Use a non-stick stainless steel pan to prevent the crust from sticking to the bottom.
Similar to preheating the oven, start the electric or gas range at a low temperature and gradually increase the heat. Doing so ensures even heating without burning the pizza.
To tell if the pan is piping hot, splash the pan with water. If the pan sizzles, it is already preheated.
Place a pizza slice onto the pan. Regularly check the crust to prevent burning. Once crispy, you can change the stove to medium heat. Continue heating until the sauce is warm and the cheese melts.
If you find it difficult to melt the cheese, pour a small amount of water onto the pan away from the pizza. Quickly cover it with the lid to produce a steam oven. It will help melt the toppings.
Note that frying the pizza on the pan requires practice. You may burn the pizza on the first few attempts. You also need to reheat several times because the pan can only handle a single pizza slice.
Wrap the Pizza in Aluminum Foil
You can buy aluminum foil to prevent heat loss and keep your pizza warm.
There are different ways to use the aluminum foil. You can simply wrap it around the pie while waiting for your party guests to arrive. Or you can heat it in the oven.
When reheating the pizza in the oven, ensure the aluminum foil wrapping is tight. After several minutes, you can serve the pie to your guests.
Use A Microwave
This is another convenient method to keep your pizza slice warm. But you will need to cut your pizza into several slices first because microwave ovens tend to be small.
Fill a microwave-safe cup or glass with water. Place this cupful of water next to the pizza. It can help the bottom of the pizza stay crispy and melt the cheese simultaneously.
Set the microwave oven’s temperature to 400 °F or a high setting. Then, cook it for 30 seconds or more, depending on how cold and thick the pizza is.
Consider adding a paper towel or baking sheet between the pizza slice and the plate. Doing so helps absorb excess moisture and prevent a soggy pizza.
Consider Portable Ovens
If you are always on the go and prefer to pick up pizzas instead of having them delivered, consider buying a portable oven. As its name suggests, it allows you to heat pizza pies on the go.
Ensure to preheat the mobile oven to 400 °F. Then, place the pizza inside and heat it for 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid keeping the pizza warm in oven for too long because you risk burning the pizza crust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will pizza stay heated in a box?
Pizza stay warm in a box if you leave it in the oven for around 30 minutes to an hour. Plus, the vents in the box can prevent steam buildup.
But if you wrap it in aluminum foil or store it in an insulated bag, the pizza box can stay heated for up to three hours.
Can you place a pizza box in the oven?
You can place the entire pizza box in the oven for reheating. However, ensure to set the temperature at the lowest setting.
Avoid using the high-heat setting or temperatures above 400 °F when putting pizza boxes inside the oven. The reason is they can catch fire when you are not careful.
Placing the pizza on a baking stone or wrapping it in aluminum foil is far safer when reheating.
How to avoid burning pizza in the oven?
You can prevent burnt crust by setting the oven to the lowest heat temperature. Having it at 200 °F can ensure the pizza stays warm without burning it. You can also place the pie on the middle rack to avoid direct heat from the top or bottom of the oven.
Conclusion
Pizza loses heat quickly when exposed to air. You can leave a pizza untouched for an hour and come back to cold dough.
Fortunately, you can keep pizzas warm in an oven. Use a pizza stone and place it on the middle rack for even heating. You can also try other reheating methods mentioned above.
If you have other questions when heating cold pizza, feel free to contact us!
