Regardless of how much you love to eat pizza, you are always bound to have some leftovers, especially when you order or cook for a large group of people.
Many people are cool with consuming cold leftovers, but leftover pizza would certainly taste better if you can restore that oven freshness. To restore that freshness and make it good as it did at first, reheating is your best option.
However, there are several ways to reheat pizzas, depending on the quantity and how fast you want them ready. Today, we will discuss in detail how to reheat pizza in countertop ovens.
What Is a Countertop Oven?
Unlike the more typical kitchen and outdoor ovens, a countertop oven relies on hot circulating air to bake and reheat food. The highlight of this wonderful device is its small size which fits perfectly on countertops. Surprisingly, they heat up to high temperatures, not as high as conventional ovens, but high enough to bake and roast well.
Another interesting fact about countertop ovens is their versatility. When buying, you have the option of picking models that can perform several additional functions like steaming, broiling, toasting, air frying, and more. In this manner, they can substitute for several other appliances you have on your kitchen counter.
When it comes to size, they cannot stand up to outdoor ovens, but their relative compactness makes them ideal for singles or small families and situations where there is limited space to install a normal oven. It is not unheard of to cook pizzas in them, but we recognize that a countertop oven is not the best to cook a pizza. But what about reheating pizzas?
Reheating Pizza in a Countertop Oven Step-by-Step Guide
Whether it is a whole pizza or just a slice of it, oven reheating is the best method you can use. With this method, you can sufficiently preserve the fresh taste if the pizza has not been lying out for too long. Typical to all ovens, you have to preheat your countertop oven to a certain temperature before you put your pizza in.
We find it may be quite inefficient to heat your oven for only a slice of pizza. However, the oven is perfect for heating whole pizzas and multiple slices. If you hope to preserve the original taste and quality of a pizza when reheating, follow these simple steps.
Preheat Oven
Reheating pizza in an oven requires a high temperature, just like cooking does. Depending on your oven’s temperature settings, crank the heat up to a temperature level between 350°F – 600°F. Countertops ovens may not be able to reach the high 900°F that outdoor pizza ovens can, but they most certainly heat up to temperatures that can restore the crispy crust that comes with freshly-made pizza. If you plan to use a baking pan, it will help if you put it in as the oven preheats.
Baking Pan or Foil
There are two ways to go about putting the pizza in the oven. You can either place it directly in a baking pan or wrap it in foil and place it directly on the oven reach. We recommend a baking pan if a crisp crust is important to you. However, if you don’t own one or if the crisp crust is not so important to you, you can make do with a piece of foil.
Bake
The next thing to do is put the pizza back in the oven and let it bake for about 10 minutes. You can leave it for a bit longer, depending on how crispy you want your crust to be. When it is sufficiently heated, the pizza should be warm all through, and the cheese should be melted all around.
Note that a pizza stone can also be used in place of the baking pan or foil. What we don’t like is that it takes too long to heat up, and it would be a waste of time heating up one for a few slices of pizza.
Other Ways to Reheat Pizza
Reheating pizza in a countertop oven is arguably the best pizza reheating method, but there are some other exciting ways to do it as well.
How to reheat pizza in a Stovetop oven?
Right after oven reheating, using a skillet or pan on a stovetop is our best pizza reheating method. It is the perfect method if you have only a slice or two to reheat. It is also a very fast method, as you won’t need to preheat.
All you are required to do is heat the skillet over medium heat on your stovetop. Put in the pizza when the skillet starts getting hot. There is a common practice of adding little water to create steam that will heat up the pizza’s top. Add a few drops of water to the side of the skillet and cover immediately. Cook for a few minutes until all the cheese melts and the pizza has been heated all through.
How to reheat pizza in a microwave oven?
We must say that this is not the best method to reheat, but if you own a microwave and not a countertop oven, you can easily reheat your pizza in it. Pizzas reheated in microwaves will typically not be as crusty as those reheated in ovens or on the stovetop, but there are some things you can do to make yours a bit crusty.
Place a parchment sheet on the plate and then the pizza on the sheet. This will help you achieve a bit of crust, as it will absorb some moisture. With your microwave set at 40 percent power, heat for 45 seconds. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can always repeat the process till you get what you want.
How to reheat pizza in a toaster oven?
Pizza that is reheated in a toaster oven may seem like the best option, but it isn’t the most efficient. It can take up to 20 minutes to reheat pizza in a toaster oven depending on factors such as how cold your pizza is, how thick it is, and the wattage of your toaster oven.
If you are looking for an alternative method for reheating pizza, try microwaving it.
How to reheat pizza on a grill?
Pizza is delicious, but it often takes time to make, with the preparation of the dough and the sauce. Sometimes you get home too exhausted to cook or just want something quick and convenient. Reheating pizza on a grill is an easy way to enjoy the flavors without having to spend hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when time is short and hunger needs to appease fast.
Conclusion
A countertop oven is the perfect kitchen appliance to heat your leftover pizza (they should never go to waste). We have explained in detail how to go about the reheating process in a countertop oven. We hope you find it easy enough. A countertop oven is not the only way to reheat, and we have discussed a couple of other dependable reheating methods.
I love using a countertop oven to reheat my leftover pizza! It’s so quick and convenient, especially when I’m in a rush. Plus, it helps to bring back that crispy crust and melted cheese. Thanks for the helpful tips!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found the tips helpful. Using a countertop oven really does make reheating pizza a breeze. Enjoy your deliciously revived slices!