# Do you store leftover pizza in the oven? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384 "2017-01-28T13:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/41 "2017-01-29T00:17:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Someone I know always left leftover pizza, in its box, on the kitchen counter. Apparently, that’s how she always did it. Our leftover pizza goes into the fridge, either in its box, or wrapped in foil. Counter objection the first - our very large dogs. They don’t need to actually put paws on the counter to retrieve the tasty treat we clearly meant for them. Counter objection the second - actually this is BOX objection - it might work great for transport, but it’s terrible for storage. The pizza always dries out. We transfer to a plastic wrap or Tupperware to keep the pizza edible. Yes, it goes in the fridge. Food safety, no burning, less me teaching the kids new words while I clean up after the dogs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/42 "2017-01-29T00:48:19Z")
I had a college roommate that put the pizza box in the oven. Seemed a bit strange but neither of us cooked. So it worked out fine. Pizza goes into the fridge now. Usually in the box. It’ll be eaten anyhow within 18 hours. It’s always important to look inside before turning on the oven. Our cookie sheet and fry pan are stored there. Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/43 "2017-01-29T01:32:07Z")
I, and everyone I know, goes fridge except for a couple folks I remember in college who went under the bed. About the only way it goes in the oven is when there just isn’t counter space while we’re still eating at it. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/44 "2017-01-29T06:10:15Z")
It hurts my brain to try to figure out why someone would not store a food with lots of cheese and meat in the fridge, or why they’d use a giant box to store a few slices of pizza instead of a plastic bag (or other container), or why they’d store anything in a device designed to get really hot. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/45 "2017-01-29T12:42:39Z")
A friend of my husband’s stores things in the oven, but it’s disconnected so it can’t be turned on. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/46 "2017-01-29T12:54:07Z")
When we have leftover pizza, I wrap it in plastic, usually 2 slices to a pack, and put it in the fridge. Then the box gets flattened, folded, and crammed into the recycle bin. The only thing stored in the oven are a few pans that won’t fit in the drawer at the bottom of the stove. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/47 "2017-01-29T12:57:14Z")
> [@](#): > > It hurts my brain to try to figure out why someone would not store a food with lots of cheese and meat in the fridge,… Well, it depends on the timescale. There’s obviously some amount of time where leaving it out is OK, or you’d never be able to serve it. I won’t weigh in on what that timescale is, but if you’re within your standards for that time, then the oven is still a worse choice than the counter. Most pet issues with this can be solved through a combination of closing the box and training your pets properly. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/48 "2017-01-29T12:57:35Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Fridge, because cold pizza is the best for breakfast. Abso-friggin-lutely spot on correct. The great thing about pizza is that when you first get it, you get to enjoy hot pizza for dinner. But cold pizza for breakfast is just as good. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/49 "2017-01-29T13:08:14Z")
I never look in the oven before turning it on. Therefore I would never store it there. When I bestir myself to make pizza (I never order it), I always make lots and freeze the leftovers to reheat when we want a quick dinner. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/50 "2017-01-29T13:24:39Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > … > Then the box gets flattened, folded, and crammed into the recycle bin. > … Wherever I’ve lived the recycling folks explicitly request that people not try to recycle stuff with food stuck to it such as grease-impregnated paper or cardboard. So your box-top might be OK, but definitely not the greasy bottom. That’s garbage. They just have to pick that kind of stuff out of the recycle stream and put it in their dumpsters going to the landfill. And it draws vermin to what ought to be a fairly clean stream of recyclable materials. YMMV of course; there’s as many sets of recycling rules as there are recycling programs. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/51 "2017-01-29T17:30:33Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > My pizza stays on the kitchen counter – in the box if it’s bought or covered with a kitchen towel if I made it – eaten the next day at room temperature. This. (Though I actually use a paper towel.) > [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Leftover pizza used to sit out on the counter or table. > > Then we got a cat. > > Now it goes in the oven. We have three cats. One is too fat to jump that high, and the other two have never been a problem. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/52 "2017-01-29T18:55:54Z")
I’d never think to store anything in my oven. That just seems…odd. Leftover pizza goes in the fridge and cold pizza is a crime against humanity and should be punished accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/53 "2017-01-30T00:59:48Z")
Hot pizza is better than cold pizza, but cold pizza is better than re-heated pizza. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/54 "2017-01-30T02:34:53Z")
re-heated in a toaster oven is better than re-heated in a nukebox ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/55 "2017-01-30T02:37:22Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > re-heated in a toaster oven is better than re-heated in a nukebox Re-heated in a covered skillet is better than re-heated in a toaster oven. Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/56 "2017-01-30T03:04:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, it depends on the timescale. There’s obviously some amount of time where leaving it out is OK, or you’d never be able to serve it. I won’t weigh in on what that timescale is, but if you’re within your standards for that time, then the oven is still a worse choice than the counter. > > Most pet issues with this can be solved through a combination of closing the box and training your pets properly. Nonsense! If the pet in question is a beautiful, loyal and deserving dog, then the dog gets his fair share of slices along with everyone else. 🙂 But no, I’d normally not put a pizza, with or without its box, in the oven for any period of time. If it happens to have come a long distance and isn’t super hot, the oven at a moderate warming temperature like 220F might be OK for half an hour or so, but that’s rarely necessary. But actual storage (as in, overnight) means it gets wrapped in plastic and put in the fridge. I’m not really interested in breeding botulism or salmonella. There’s a whole other discussion to be had about how to reconstitute refrigerated pizza. It’s almost an art form that generally depends on the characteristics of the specific pizza. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/57 "2017-01-30T03:21:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It never once occurred to me to store pizza in the oven, much less with a flammable box around it. Leftovers (pizza or otherwise) go into the fridge, or the garbage; not out in the warm where they can start to rot. Yeah, ours go into the fridge, and get heated up (or not) as they’re eaten. On occasion we even freeze them and bust them out later for easy weekend lunches and such. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/58 "2017-01-30T06:42:18Z")
Leftovers (if there are any) get stored in the fridge, in either Tupperware (if my wife is storing it) or aluminum foil (if I’m storing it, since I reheat it using the foil as a platform). The box goes in the trash that night, since, as LSLGuy says, our recycling program only takes clean paper / cardboard. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/59 "2017-01-30T10:22:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Wherever I’ve lived the recycling folks explicitly request that people not try to recycle stuff with food stuck to it such as grease-impregnated paper or cardboard. So your box-top might be OK, but definitely not the greasy bottom. That’s garbage. > > They just have to pick that kind of stuff out of the recycle stream and put it in their dumpsters going to the landfill. And it draws vermin to what ought to be a fairly clean stream of recyclable materials. > YMMV of course; there’s as many sets of recycling rules as there are recycling programs. All the rules I’ve seen are pretty consistent about keeping pizza boxes out of the recycling, because it doesn’t take much of that grease to ruin a whole batch of recycled paper/cardboard. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384/60 "2017-01-30T10:47:50Z")
Before this thread, I’d never heard of storing boxes of leftover pizza in the oven. So the next time I was getting ready to cook something, I’d get stuff out, preheat the oven, start mixing ingredients…yeah, not a good idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-store-leftover-pizza-in-the-oven/778384.md?page=4)