# Reheating pizza--microwave or toaster? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840 "2011-02-10T01:33:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/61 "2011-02-10T16:42:05Z")
Toaster oven. Course, I mostly eat pan pizza, which tends to get soggy when left in the fridge, so a bit of drying up by the toaster oven is a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/62 "2011-02-10T17:03:42Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I don’t even use oil in the pan, as long as it’s non-stick you don’t need it. It’s barely dirty at all when you’re done, a quick rinse and dry will clean it up. > > The flip method is counter-intuitive, it seems like the cheese would stick to the pan, but once again, as long as it’s non-stick, it’s fine. You don’t want it to sit cheese-down for a long time, but it does help to melt the top of the pizza without burning the crust. How do you keep well laden piece of pizza from losing it’s toppings in the flip? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/63 "2011-02-10T17:04:16Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > A toaster oven is a toaster. It is intended to toast things. A toaster oven can be used as a toaster, and thus is a toaster in the broad generic sense, but when kitchen appliances are being discussed the word “toaster” means [this](http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/0/406/406066.jpg), and [this](http://www.sz-wholesale.com/uploadFiles/TO-18S_Stainles_Steel_Toaster_Oven_812.jpg) is called a “toaster oven.” ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/64 "2011-02-10T17:06:04Z")
Cold is my first choice, but if I must re-heat it (say, for the kids) the best method is in a skillet. Melty cheese, crisp crust. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/65 "2011-02-10T17:08:48Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Cast iron skillet on the stovetop is the correct answer. This. Drop slice(s) into a skillet on low/medium-low and heat until cheese reaches desired meltiness. Sometimes I’ll nuke it for 15-20 seconds beforehand so it doesn’t go into the pan fridge-cold. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/66 "2011-02-10T17:09:31Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Other: Non-stick pan on low, covered. 5-6 minutes. Wait 5-6 minutes for leftover pizza? Oh fuck no. You people who have to re-heat your pizza are doing it wrong. Don’t put leftover pizza in the fridge. If you leave it on the counter in the box, it doesn’t get that coagulated cheese chill, and doesn’t need to be nuked to hell in the microwave. Something like 15 seconds will do, if you need it at all. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/67 "2011-02-10T17:43:37Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Microwave, but just to take the chill off. Putting it in an oven makes the crust too hard. Putting it in a toaster would be a fire hazard what with the toppings sliding off. I didn’t know they even made toaster ovens anymore. I knew they made toaster ovens, but I like mine nuked to just warm it to above room temp, maybe 15 sec. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/68 "2011-02-10T17:46:02Z")
what is this leftover pizza people are speaking of? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/69 "2011-02-10T17:52:10Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How do you keep well laden piece of pizza from losing it’s toppings in the flip? It can be tricky, that’s for sure. Usually the pizza I get has enough cheese that it keeps all the toppings on, but sometimes you have to replace them after the flip. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Wait 5-6 minutes for leftover pizza? Oh fuck no. > > You people who have to re-heat your pizza are doing it wrong. Don’t put leftover pizza in the fridge. If you leave it on the counter in the box, it doesn’t get that coagulated cheese chill, and doesn’t need to be nuked to hell in the microwave. Something like 15 seconds will do, if you need it at all. Really?!? You are a brave woman if you eat pizza left out overnight - I’d be scared of it, especially if it had any meat on it. Food poisoning is scary stuff. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/70 "2011-02-10T17:54:42Z")
I wrap the whole slice in foil and throw it in the oven to heat it through without making the crust hard. After that I might throw it under the broiler for a minute or two to get the top bubbly. Often this method makes the pizza taste better than when it was fresh. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/71 "2011-02-10T18:02:11Z")
Microwave is only acceptable if you’re hungry and you have to leave the house in a couple of minutes. Otherwise it’s oven all the way. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/72 "2011-02-10T19:09:01Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Really?!? You are a brave woman if you eat pizza left out overnight - I’d be scared of it, especially if it had any meat on it. Food poisoning is scary stuff. I had to to it out of necessity in college. Papa John’s was like $4 for a large one topping and I only had a dorm-sized fridge. So the leftovers had to sit out. I never once died from it and I still do it now that I have an adult-sized fridge. I only ever get mushroom, olive and/or pepperoni. Pepperoni does just fine hanging in the shop window - I don’t worry about it sitting in my kitchen. I’m sure you get your pizza with roasted duck and fried pate so yeah, I would put that in the fridge 😉 We’ve had a few threads about leaving pizza out overnight and _lots_ of people here do it. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/73 "2011-02-10T19:56:42Z")
It varies on the pizza. Pizza from, say, Papa John’s and many mom & pop places microwaves very well here. While pizza from other places, such as Domino’s (before their re-boot last year, which I haven’t tried), would get rubbery crust and was stuck in the oven to reheat. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/74 "2011-02-10T21:22:48Z")
Use baking parchment! Please try this, Dopers, and let me know what you find. I used to do the microwave thing (bleck) and then the frypan thing (too long/have to wash pan) and then I had a brainstorm: the toaster! Yes, the regular pop-up device for toasting bread. Ours has a single long slot. I tore off a square of baking parchment, folded it in half, put the pizza slice in the fold, and slipped it in the toaster slot. Well, I thought it came out very well! It was heated through and through; the crust was crisp, the toppings were moist and gooey, and the toaster was clean. The parchment would have caught anything dripping off, but there was actually very little of that. The parchment got a little brown around the top edges, but that was no problem. Heck I didn’t even have to wash a plate! Edited to add: The first time I did this I watched carefully. I imagine if left _too_ long the paper might ignite, but parchment is meant to take high temperatures. I wound up using the Dark setting anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/75 "2011-02-11T01:48:20Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Are you telling me that you’ve never had that delicious, delicious breakfast known as cold pizza and warm beer? :dubious: Why would he? Snowmobile salesmen don’t need to go to college… ETA: How does the toaster thing work? Do you put the toaster on its side? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/76 "2011-02-11T05:43:11Z")
> [@heavyarms553](#): > > Fresh \> **Cold \> Toaster Oven \>** Microwave \> Toaster you need to throw out/clean because there is melted cheese in the bottom Fixed. Cold pizza isn’t gross. Like I said in the other thread on this subject, if it’s a quality pizza to begin with like I make it, it’s just as good cold as hot. Little bit of provolone, tons of onions, tomaters and green and banana peppers, olives, little bit of pepperoni. If you’re getting some store bought pizza with plastic cheese, though, then yeah, it’s probably not going to taste that good cold. Or warm. Or room temperature. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/77 "2011-02-11T09:04:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The skillet method sounds interesting. Do you pre-heat the skillet before putting in the pizza or put it in a cold skillet? I may give this a try one day. > > I agree adding a few drops of water helps freshen the pizza when it reheats. Some people may, but it doesn’t matter. Just pizza + skillet + cover. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/78 "2011-02-11T09:07:15Z")
Holy cow! It just occurred to me - we had pizza tonight. And I wasn’t hungry, so I have like 3/4 of a pizza in the fridge ( I only bothered to refrigerate it because it has chicken) I’m almost giddy with anticipation! Joe ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/79 "2011-02-11T09:49:10Z")
> [@lanzy](#): > > just turn your toaster on its side. :d _genius!_ ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840/80 "2011-02-11T14:06:07Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > The correct answer is frying pan and toaster. Works for frozen pizzas too. Heat up in dry frying pan until you smell nice toasty pizza base. Then under the grill to do the topping. Jamie Oliver’s latest book has a recipe for pizza which is cooked from fresh this way (make dough, put in large hot frying pan for 4 or 5 mins while you make the tomato sauce, then add topping and stick the whole lot, pan and all, under the grill). It works really well, and gives a proper “stonebaked” flavour to the base without having to have a fancy mega-hot pizza oven. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reheating-pizza-microwave-or-toaster/570840.md?page=5)