master-cooks | A Spoonful Of Water Is Your Secret Weapon For Reheating Pizza

Reheating pizza can be a tricky endeavor, often leaving you with a soggy crust or rubbery cheese. However, a simple trick involving a spoonful of water can transform your leftover slices into something that tastes almost as good as fresh. When using a skillet or a pan on the stovetop to reheat your pizza, place the slice in the pan and add a spoonful of water next to the pizza, not directly on it. Cover the pan with a lid immediately. The water creates steam, which is trapped by the lid, allowing the pizza to heat through evenly. This method prevents the crust from drying out while ensuring the cheese melts perfectly. The steam created by the water mimics the effect of a pizza oven, providing a soft, chewy crust with a still-crispy bottom. This method is particularly effective compared to microwaving, which can leave the crust tough and the toppings unevenly heated. By using this simple technique, you can enjoy a slice that's close to original quality without the need for fancy equipment or extensive effort, making your leftover pizza a deliciously satisfying meal once again.

The oven method

One of the most effective methods to rejuvenate your takeout pizza is by using the oven. Chef Chris Ancona, who previously crafted pizzas at Roberta's as the head pizza maker, shared with Food & Wine that you should preheat your oven to approximately 475 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven heats up, place a pizza stone and an oven-safe dish filled with about ¼ cup of water inside. The stone will help achieve a crispy crust, while the water pan adds steam, ensuring your cheese becomes wonderfully gooey. Arrange the slices on the stone and bake for three minutes for thinner New York-style slices or Chicago's lesser-known tavern-style pizza, and five to six minutes for thicker varieties like deep dish and Sicilian.

Alternatively, you can set your oven to around 275 degrees Fahrenheit and lay the leftover slices on a baking sheet. Before placing them in the oven, lightly mist them with water using a spray bottle. This small amount of moisture will soften the crust without making it soggy. Cover the baking sheet with foil and bake for about 20 minutes.

Air fryers are also a good choice. Their convection feature circulates air, helping to revive the pizza crust while keeping the inside soft. You can reheat slices at 350 degrees Fahrenheit by adding a couple of teaspoons of water to the bottom of the fryer basket. This will prevent the crust from drying out during the approximately five-minute reheating process.

The skillet method

If it’s just too hot to use the oven and you need a quicker method, you can reheat pizza on the stovetop using water. Start by taking a reliable cast-iron skillet that’s large enough for your slice of pepperoni, margherita, or whatever you have. If you don’t own a cast-iron skillet, a large non-stick skillet will work just fine, as long as you have a lid that fits snugly.

Place the skillet on the stove and heat it until it’s very hot. Then, add your pizza slice to the pan. On the side of the slice that isn’t in contact with the skillet, pour in about one to two tablespoons of water. Cover the skillet with the lid to allow the water to steam. This steaming process will help restore moisture to the cheese and toppings. Once the crust is crispy again and the toppings have perked up, take the skillet off the heat, let the slice cool for a moment, and savor your perfectly reheated pizza.

A Spoonful Of Water Is Your Secret Weapon For Reheating Pizza

The oven method

The skillet method

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