No matter how hungry you are, there’s always at least a few slices of takeout pizza left over when you’ve finished pigging out!
There’s a problem when it comes to heating up that pizza the next day though. Preheating the oven is too much hassle and waiting around, while microwaved pizza has a tendency to go soggy.
There’s no need to settle for disappointing leftovers though! When you know how to microwave pizza the right way, you’ll never look back.
Here are the easy to follow instructions, complete with one very simple hack that everyone with a kitchen will have to hand!
How To Reheat Pizza In The Microwave Without It Getting Soggy
- Put the pizza onto a plate and then put it in the microwave.
- Next, grab a microwaveable cup and fill it with water.
- Add that to the microwave along with the pizza.
- Switch your microwave to high power and cook the contents for around 30-45 seconds.
Why do you put a glass of water in the microwave with your food though? How does adding a cup of water to the microwave stop the pizza crust going soggy?
It all comes down to how microwaves heat water and other liquids, compared to denser substances.
When there’s just pizza in the microwave, it absorbs all of the energy that’s constantly bouncing around inside. The liquid in the pizza heats rapidly as a result, it’s eventually vaporized, and then it ends up in the crust.
The end result? A soggy pizza crust.
By putting a cup of water in the microwave along with the pizza, you give that energy somewhere else to go.
The water in the cup absorbs some of the microwaves, which means your pizza heats up more slowly, more evenly, and retains a deliciously crispy crust!
Is It Better To Reheat Pizza In The Microwave Or Oven?
It’s more time-consuming, but I think it’s better to reheat pizza in the oven if you can.
If you have some day-old pizza, you’ll find the taste and texture is much fresher if you use the oven, rather than the microwave.
With that said, if I only have a slice or two, I’ll put it in the microwave – life’s too short to do that much waiting around! If I have a half pizza though then I’ll make the effort to get it back to its best by heating it in the oven.
Not everyone has a toaster oven at their disposal, but if you do then this is a much faster way of getting the job done – and it’s perfect for doughy food like pizza too!
What Does The Pizza Button On A Microwave Do?
The pizza button on a microwave is a preset created by the manufacturers. It consists of a temperature and a time setting.
The people who designed the appliance will have tested that exact microwave’s ability to reheat cold pizza.
They’ve then worked out the optimal combination of power and timing to give you the best possible results, from that exact microwave.
What Mode Do You Use For Pizza In The Microwave?
If you haven’t got a dedicated pizza option on your microwave, I recommend setting your microwave to high power and cooking for a short time.
Use the cup of water trick, and cook it for around 30 seconds. Check how it’s doing, and blast it for another 15 seconds or so if you think it needs it.
Is Microwaved Pizza Bad For You?
There’s nothing about the process of microwaving your pizza that makes it inherently “bad”, or worse than any other cooking method!
What you choose to put on your pizza, of course, is a very different thing…
What’s The Best Microwave Setting For Pizza?
If you don’t have a dedicated pizza button on your appliance, the best microwave setting for pizza is “high”. In other words, your microwave’s most powerful heat setting.
You want the dough to cook for the shortest time possible, and if you add a glass of water to the microwave you’ll get there without the soggy finish.
Can You Microwave Pizza Rolls?
You can microwave pizza rolls, but it’s a good idea to cook them in 30 second bursts.
These things have a tendency to become either molten inside, or start leaking through the sides and make a mess of your microwave!
Spread them out evenly on a microwave-safe plate, and leave some space between them. Don’t stack them on top of each other either, or they won’t heat evenly.
To stop any splattering or popping, it’s worth adding a layer of paper toweling over the top of the pizza rolls as well.
Can You Microwave Pizza Dough?
You can microwave pizza dough, and it’s particularly useful if you’ve got some frozen dough you want to work with.
To do this, add a light coating of oil to both the dough and your microwaveable plate (not the turntable platter!) Wrap microwave-safe plastic wrap around the dough.
Choose the defrost setting on your microwave, then cook for around one minute. After a minute, turn the dough over and repeat for another minute.
After this, let the dough do the remainder of its defrosting on the countertop. It’s better to exercise a little bit of patience by doing this, rather than actually cooking the pizza dough in the microwave.
Can You Microwave Pizza Pops?
You can microwave pizza pops, assuming we’re talking about a branded product like Pillsbury. Just follow these instructions:
– Remove the Pizza Pop from its wrapper and place it on a microwave-safe plate.
– Set the microwave power to high.
– For one Pizza Pop, cook for 1 minute, turn, then cook for another 45-60 seconds.
– For two or more, cook for 1.5 minutes, turn, then cook for another 1.5-2 minutes.
– Allow to stand for at least 2 minutes, as they’ll be piping hot!
Wrapping Up
Now you know why pizza gets soggy in the microwave, and what you can do to stop it!
Add a glass of water along with the microwave and you’ll never suffer an unpleasantly chewy crust again.
The results probably won’t be quite as good as the food that was delivered to your home last night, but I think you’ll be impressed!
Mark’s a lifelong food fanatic and spent ten years working as an entertainment journalist. He now combines his love of food, drink and writing as the founder and editor of Viva Flavor. Read more