It’s a common dilemma: you order a pizza for dinner and there are leftovers. Should you eat them cold or reheat them? Will freezing leftover pizza make it taste better? We’ve got the answers.
If you have some leftovers, you may be wondering if you can freeze them to save for later. The answer is yes, but with some caveats. You can safely freeze leftover pizza as long as it has not been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours. If your leftover pizza has been sitting out longer than that, it’s best to discard it instead of freezing it.
Freezing leftover pizza is a great way to save money and reduce food waste in your home. It’s also very convenient if you want to enjoy another slice later on without having to cook dinner again tonight!
Does Leftover Pizza Freeze Well?
Yes, leftover pizza freezes well in the freezer, only if it’s properly stored.
If you’re planning on eating the pizza within a few days, it’s not necessary to freeze it. You can store it in the fridge or leave it out on the countertop if you’re in a rush. However, if you want to keep your leftovers for a week or longer, then freezing is definitely an option for longer-term storage.
To get the best results from freezing your pizza, make sure that it’s completely cooled before putting it in the freezer and then thawing before reheating. If you have time, let your pizza cool down at room temperature for about 15 minutes before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bag so that any excess moisture has a chance to evaporate out of the crust and cheese — this will help prevent sogginess later on when cooking from frozen.
How To Freeze Leftover Pizza
If you have leftover pizza and you’re wondering what to do with it, you can freeze it. The pizza will be safe to eat after freezing, but it will not remain as fresh or taste as good as the day you bought it. However, if your children are coming home from school and want pizza for dinner, this is a good way to save on time.
Step 1
Leave the pizza out at room temperature until it is cool to the touch. This prevents condensation from forming when you freeze the pizza.
Step 2
Place the slices of pizza individually in resealable plastic bags or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil. Make sure there are no air pockets in the bag or foil before sealing them tightly so they don’t develop freezer burn.
Step 3
Freeze your leftover pizza for up to three months and then enjoy!
How Long Can You Freeze Leftover Pizza?
The answer to this question depends on the type of pizza you have and how you store it.
Most frozen pizzas can be safely stored in the freezer for up to three months. But if you have a frozen whole pizza, it’s best to use it within one month because the crust will start tasting stale after that time.
If you’re freezing leftover slices of pizza, they’ll last for about three months in the freezer. The crust may get soggy after several days, but the toppings will still taste good even after a few weeks.
How Do You Defrost Leftover Pizza?
To thaw frozen pizza, simply take it out of the freezer and let it sit on your countertop until completely thawed. If you are in a hurry, place it in the refrigerator overnight and then remove it from the refrigerator about an hour before cooking time so that both sides will heat up evenly (this will prevent uneven cooking).
Reheating Your Leftover Pizza
Reheating pizza is a simple process, but there are some things you should know before you throw your pizza back in the oven or microwave. You can make your leftover pizza taste better than it did when it was fresh by following these steps:
1. Use tin foil to reheat your pizza. The foil will help keep the crust from getting soggy, and it will help maintain the heat of the cheese and toppings. If you don’t have any tin foil on hand, simply use a paper towel to cover the top of your pizza.
2. Heat your oven up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit before placing your pizza in for reheating. This will ensure that it doesn’t take too long for your pizza to cook through and that all of the ingredients are heated evenly throughout.
3. Check on your pizza every 5 minutes or so while reheating so that you don’t overcook it or burn any of the toppings off!
Can You Refreeze Pizza?
Most people have done it at least once: You take a slice of pizza out of the freezer, thaw it in the microwave and then realize that there’s no time to eat it. So you put the slice back in the freezer and hope that you’ll get around to eating it later.
The question is, can you refreeze pizza? The short answer is yes — but there are some important caveats.
If you’re going to keep your pizza in the freezer for longer than two days, make sure it’s completely thawed before refreezing it. If you try to refreeze partially frozen pizza, there’s a good chance that moisture will accumulate on its surface and cause it to get soggy.
Also, if the cheese has started to separate from the sauce when you reheat the pizza, don’t refreeze it; instead, toss out any leftover slices and order another one from your local pizzeria or supermarket deli section.
Related Questions
Can you freeze leftover pizza dough?
Yes, you can freeze leftover pizza dough. To do this, simply wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer. You should be able to freeze leftover pizza dough for up to 3 months.
To use frozen pizza dough, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Then roll out the dough and prepare it as you normally would for a pizza (or any other baked good).
If you have a recipe for homemade pizza dough that you make often and want to store the extra dough in the freezer, then consider making double or triple batches of it to keep on hand when needed.
You can also store pre-made pizza crusts in your freezer if they’re available at your local grocery store or supermarket.