Rewarming leftover pizza

Microwaving leftover pizza makes it soggy. Warming up an oven takes time and uses a lot of energy for a slice or two of pizza.

I've started reheating pizza on top of my stove. I warm up a round cast-iron flat griddle (any pan would work), place a slice of pizza on it and cover it with an inverted skillet (any loosely fitted lid would work). After a couple of minutes I have pizza with a crisp crust and warm on top. Why didn't I think of this sooner?

[Robin Garr]

My compromise: A good toaster oven. Put the pizza slices right on the rack and bake around 400F til it bubbles. The toaster oven (an old but robust DeLonghi) doesn't seem like it uses anything near as much power as the real oven.

I heat mine up in the microwave just until the cheese warms. Hey, pizza is wonderful cold too!

[Jenise]

Microwaving leftover pizza makes it soggy. Warming up an oven takes time and uses a lot of energy for a slice or two of pizza.

I've started reheating pizza on top of my stove. I warm up a round cast-iron flat griddle (any pan would work), place a slice of pizza on it and cover it with an inverted skillet (any loosely fitted lid would work). After a couple of minutes I have pizza with a crisp crust and warm on top. Why didn't I think of this sooner?

Great solution. I tend to do like Robin does but have to admit that sometimes the cheese drips, and that's a problem. I'd rather clean your griddle than my toaster oven!

I use a slow oven with a loose foil wrap, if I wanted reheated. But I have to admit one of my favorite snacks is good old cold pizza !!

[Jenise]

I use a slow oven with a loose foil wrap, if I wanted reheated. But I have to admit one of my favorite snacks is good old cold pizza !!

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

[Robin Garr]

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

I guess it's time for another of those "I'm weird" confessions. I love, love, love pizza, but it must be sizzling with the cheese molten and the crust crispy. Cold pizza has never appealed to me at all.

Is there something wrong with me?

I do it in the toaster oven, toast cycle, medium setting, comes out crispy and hot. -RP

Is there something wrong with me?

Yes, there is, but that's not it. Cold pizza is (to me) revolting.

My toaster oven actually has a "pizza" setting. It also has two levels, so I put the pizza on the upper level and a foil-covered rack on the lower level to catch any drips.

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

I guess it's time for another of those "I'm weird" confessions. I love, love, love pizza, but it must be sizzling with the cheese molten and the crust crispy. Cold pizza has never appealed to me at all.

Is there something wrong with me?

Nothing wrong with you at all. I find cold pizza gross, too.

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

I guess it's time for another of those "I'm weird" confessions. I love, love, love pizza, but it must be sizzling with the cheese molten and the crust crispy. Cold pizza has never appealed to me at all.

Is there something wrong with me?

Nothing wrong with you at all. I find cold pizza gross, too.

I join you two. In fact, I'm with you Robin--I don't even like it lukewarm. Must be burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth hot.

Actually the George Foreman Grill works too. Just don't close the top.

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

I guess it's time for another of those "I'm weird" confessions. I love, love, love pizza, but it must be sizzling with the cheese molten and the crust crispy. Cold pizza has never appealed to me at all.

Is there something wrong with me?

Yes.

FWIW, I don't have a toaster oven.

My friend says his son sometimes cooks (not reheats) frozen pizza in a microwave. He says he likes it that way. My friend accuses him of just being lazy.

[Jenise]

Me, too. Rarely does my leftover pizza survive to see the light of the toaster oven.

I guess it's time for another of those "I'm weird" confessions. I love, love, love pizza, but it must be sizzling with the cheese molten and the crust crispy. Cold pizza has never appealed to me at all.

Is there something wrong with me?

Of course not! If I'm going to reheat pizza, then it has to be exactly as you describe. In fact, many pizzas are actually better reheated to this standard than they were originally. But I love cold pizza too--which I attribute to a childhood of eating leftovers for breakfast since I wouldn't eat traditional breakfast food.

Microwaving leftover pizza makes it soggy. Warming up an oven takes time and uses a lot of energy for a slice or two of pizza.

I've started reheating pizza on top of my stove. I warm up a round cast-iron flat griddle (any pan would work), place a slice of pizza on it and cover it with an inverted skillet (any loosely fitted lid would work). After a couple of minutes I have pizza with a crisp crust and warm on top. Why didn't I think of this sooner?

Larry, I think that idea is brilliant. That's the way I do pitas when I make Gyros, but I add a little olive oil to the pan first.

I just might get a Nobel Prize out of it.

I do a combination of the microwave and the oven. The microwave heats the toppings, but the crust is too soggy for me. If I rewarm the pizza on a stone in a 500 oven, the crust over cooks before the toppings are hot. So, I wave the pizza until the toppings are hot, but not quite ready, then throw it on the stone in the oven for about 2 minutes and the pizza comes out with molten toppings and a perfectly crisp crust.

G

Am I the only one who throws it under the broiler in a gas range for a few minutes?

Not having a gas oven, I can't exactly do that. And having high electricity rates, I can't justify warming up those big ol' elements just for a couple of slices.

Does the bottom get warm that way?

Does the bottom get warm that way?

Yes. I turn the broiler on for a minute before I put the pizza in. The grate it sits on is hot from the flame when I put the slice on it.

[David M. Bueker]

Toaster oven here.

And I too hate cold pizza.

Wow - cold pizza must be one of those genetic things. Either you have the cold pizza gene or you don't.

Personally, I like it a lot.

:oops: I just might get a Nobel Prize out of it.

Would that be the highl coveted Nobel Pizza Prize?

We microwave it, which is always unsatisfactory-- but now I'll definitely use a preheated iron skillet instead. Makes perfect sense.
And I also detest cold pizza.