Storing, freezing, and reheating pizza – here’s how to keep it fresh and crispy.
Who hasn’t been there: there’s a slice of pizza left over from the night before, and the following day you ask yourself: How should I store pizza to stop it getting soggy or dry? With the right tips, this Italian classic can remain a pleasure even after a few hours or even days. Whether it’s kept in the refrigerator or freezer and heated up in the oven or pan – the correct storage and temperature are crucial. Read on to find out how long pizza can be kept for, which method ensures crispy results, and what to watch out for when it comes to refreezing. Allowing you to avoid food waste and enjoy your leftover pizza as if it had just come straight out of the oven, freshly cooked.
The key points
- Storing pizza: it will keep for two to three days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating pizza in the oven: it will become crispy again at 180 °C top/bottom heat.
- Reheating pizza in a pan: adding a little water and cooking it with the lid on will keep the topping moist.
- Freezing leftover pizza: cooked pizza can be frozen for up to two months.
- Correct storage: store in an airtight container to preserve flavor and freshness
Storing pizza made easy – List of contents
How long can you keep pizza in the refrigerator?
Fresh pizza undoubtedly tastes best straight out of the oven. However, with proper storage, the enjoyment can easily be extended. Depending on the toppings, pizza will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about two to three days. It is important to store the slices in an airtight container so that the dough does not dry out or absorb any foreign odors. Food storage containers or beeswax wraps are ideal. Make sure the pizza has completely cooled down before putting it in the refrigerator.
How can you reheat a cold pizza?
With the right methods, pizza from the day before can taste almost freshly cooked.
The best way to do this is in the oven: preheat the oven to about 180 °C (top/bottom heat) and place the slices directly onto the hot rack for about eight minutes. This keeps the base crispy and the topping juicy.
Alternatively, you can heat the pizza in the microwave at 700–800 watts. To prevent the dough from becoming too soft, place a glass of water inside – this reduces moisture loss. Those who can’t wait should use the air fryer: at 180 °C, the pizza will be crispy again in under five minutes.
A real insider tip is the pan: heat it over a medium heat, place the pizza slice in without any oil, and after two minutes add a tablespoon of water to the edge. Putting a lid over it will create steam that heats the topping evenly, keeping the base crispy. After about five minutes, the pizza is perfectly heated up.
How can you store pizza for longer and freeze it?
To ensure pizza retains its flavor, it should not be left uncovered, otherwise it will dry out quickly. The best way to store the slices is in an airtight container or stack them in a food storage container, separated by wax paper.
If you want the pizza to last longer, you can freeze it: fresh pizza dough keeps for about a month, cooked slices for up to two months in the freezer. Be sure to freeze the pizza in portions; this saves space and allows for easy reheating. You can freeze both cooked and uncooked pizza.
It’s best to freeze cooked slices individually beforehand so they don’t stick together, and then pack them in portions.
To defrost, simply leave the pizza in the refrigerator for one to two hours and then cook it in the oven – it will taste almost as if it had just been freshly cooked. Raw dough can also be frozen but remember to give it plenty of time to thaw out.
