How to reheat pizza in the oven without drying it out

Biting into a rubbery or soggy piece of leftover pizza can ruin the experience—especially if it’s a slice with your favorite toppings. Use this guide to learn some of the best ways for reheating pizza in the oven to help achieve bubbling cheese and a crisp crust. Discover alternative heating methods, tips for possibly restoring a crispy crust and creative ways to use leftover pizza slices.

How long does it take to reheat pizza in the oven?

The time it takes to reheat pizza in the oven varies by the type of crust, amount of toppings and the oven’s temperature, but once the oven is preheated, you can typically expect it to take about 7–12 minutes to heat through pizza toppings, melt the cheese and recrisp the crust. Thin crust pizza and slices with fewer toppings will likely reheat more quickly.

Reheating pizza in the oven

Reheating pizza in the oven is a simple and quick process that can help transform a limp and lifeless slice into a crispy and satisfying treat. Try the four steps below to learn how to reheat leftover pizza.

Tips for achieving crispy reheated pizza

• When reheating pizza on the stovetop, try placing it in a cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan and adding a few drops of water to the pan before covering the pan with a lid. This helps prevent pizza from drying out while encouraging a crispy crust.

• When you’re only reheating a slice or two of pizza, place them directly on a sheet of aluminum foil in the oven—rather than on a pan or baking sheet—to help save time on cleanup and help heat reflect onto the crust. 

• Keep a close eye on thin crust pizza with heavy toppings as it reheats. The toppings will likely reheat more slowly than the crust, which can lead to a burnt or dried out crust if the oven temperature is too high.  

• If you’re short on time, try microwaving pizza for 30 seconds to begin the heating process, then transfer your pizza onto a tray and place it in a cold oven. Set the oven to 350℉ and remove the pizza once the oven is preheated for a thoroughly heated slice with a crispy crust.

What are other ways to reheat pizza?

When restoring pizza to its former crusted glory, consider using an air fryer, microwave or oven with an Air Fry Mode, a toaster oven or even your cooktop to get results. Select Whirlpool^® Microwaves and Ranges feature an Air Fry Mode that can help you quickly crisp up leftovers, from pizza and fries to veggies and more. 

To reheat pizza on a cooktop, place it in a skillet over medium-high heat for one minute, then cover it loosely with a lid for two to three minutes to help it heat and crisp up. Or, place pizza directly on the rack of a toaster oven and run two cycles on medium darkness to help make a ready-to-eat entree.

What should I do with pizza leftovers?

You can use leftover pizza to spice up everything from breakfast or brunch to appetizers, sides and more. Try soaking bite-sized leftover pizza pieces in scrambled eggs for 10 minutes before you scramble them on the cooktop, or whip up a tray of pizza lasagna by layering strips of leftover pizza in a casserole dish with spaghetti sauce, veggies, meats and mozzarella cheese to bake in the oven. 

Put a twist on traditional fries by cutting pizza into thin slices and baking them until they’re crisp, then pair them with unique dipping sauces like chile oil or nacho cheese sauce. For an extra crunch in your soup or salad, create pizza croutons. First, stack two pizza slices together with the cheese sides touching. Then, cut the slices into small strips and fry them over medium heat on the stovetop until they’re crunchy.

Shop Whirlpool^® Ovens

Whirlpool^® Wall Ovens and Ranges come in single and double oven configurations to help you prepare everything your family needs for mealtime. Select Whirlpool^® Ranges and Wall Ovens come equipped with an Air Fry Mode to help you crisp everything from wings and fries to pizza, chicken nuggets and more.