Calzone is often HUGE.
It takes someone with a matching appetite to actually finish one in a single meal. More often than not, you end up wrapping at least half of your calzone up for later.
Fortunately, calzone makes for a great lunch or dinner the next day. But how tasty that leftover calzone is, depends on how you decide to reheat it.
You’re about to discover the best way to reheat leftover calzone, so it’s as close to freshly made as possible.
The best way to reheat calzone is in a skillet. Heat a skillet over medium-low and fry the calzone for 2 minutes on each side. The crust will get nice and crispy, and the cheese will melt. If you want a softer crust, sprinkle water around the calzone and cover the pan with a lid for 60 seconds.
A Note on My Experiment
I ordered in a couple of nice, big calzone for dinner.
I knew I would only be able to eat a fraction of it, but it was worth it since I wanted leftovers for the next couple of days.
I tested four different ways of reheating my leftover calzone:
- In a skillet (my favorite way)
- In a standard oven (a good way for multiple pieces at once)
- In a microwave (the worst way, but suitable for very stale calzone)
- In an air fryer (a touch faster than the oven but needed a bit more attention)
After I warmed each leftover piece, I gave it the old taste-test.
I looked for freshness and texture in the crust, as well as how well the fillings heated and whether the cheese was gooey enough for my liking.
I found the skillet did the best job of reheating the calzone to my liking. The oven and air fryer produced similar results but weren’t as quick as the skillet.
The microwave was a big no from me. The only saving grace was how well the cheese melted, and it was pretty fast overall.
Reheating Calzone in a Skillet
Heat a skillet (a 10-inch pan would work nicely) over medium-low heat. Add your calzone and heat for two minutes. Carefully flip it over and heat the other side for another two minutes. If the calzone is dry, you can soften it by adding 1-2 tablespoons of water to the pan and covering it with a lid.
How to Reheat Calzone in a Skillet:
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add the calzone and heat for two minutes.
- Using a spatula, flip the calzone.
- Heat for two minutes more, then enjoy.
This method makes the crust rather crispy. If you want a softer crust, sprinkle a little water around the calzone (onto the pan, NOT the calzone) and cover it with a lid for the last minute of cooking.
This creates steam which helps moisturize the crust.
Alternatively, if you want a REALLY crisp (and tasty) crust, spread some garlic butter on the calzone before reheating it.
My Verdict
Winner, winner, calzone dinner!
Reheating in the skillet was my favorite method. The crust was crispy with a nice texture, and the cheese melted beautifully.
Top tip: using a skillet is also my favorite way to reheat pizza!
Reheating Calzone in the Oven
To reheat calzone in the oven, set the temperature to 350°F (180°C) and put a sheet pan in the oven while it heats up. Put the calzone on the preheated pan and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through. Flip the calzone halfway through to ensure even heating from both sides.
How to Reheat Calzone in the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and place a sheet pan inside the oven.
- Place the calzone on the preheated pan.
- Heat the calzone for 5-10 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, so both sides crisp up.
If you don’t have a sheet pan, you can place the calzone directly on the oven rack to reheat and don’t flip it halfway through cooking.
The hot sheet pan mimics the hot skillet and helps give the crust some crunch.
For a softer crust, use a cold sheet pan or wrap the calzone in foil.
Foil is best for a really stale calzone. Sprinkle some water over the crust before wrapping it in foil. The water will turn to steam in the oven, reinvigorating the crust.
To prevent sogginess, remember to open the foil for the last 2 or 3 minutes of cooking.
My Verdict
This method resulted in a tasty calzone, if a little drier than it was when it was freshly made.
The crust was not as crisp as when I used a skillet, but if you have a lot of leftover calzone, this is an efficient method to reheat it all at once.
Reheating Calzone in the Microwave
To rehat calzone in the microwave, cover the calzone with a damp paper towel and reheat on high in 30-second intervals until heated through, about 1-2 minutes (depending on the strength of the microwave). Let the calzone rest for a minute after reheating, as the inside will be steaming hot.
Microwaves come in many different power levels, so you may have to do a bit of trial and error to see what works for your microwave. Units with less oomph will need more cook time.
Note: the microwave would be my go-to method for a stale calzone (but not for anything else).
How to Reheat Calzone in the Microwave:
- Cover calzone with a damp paper towel and place on a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave on high power in 30-second intervals for 1-2 minutes.
- Let the calzone rest for one minute before eating.
The damp paper towel creates steam which prevents the microwave from stealing too much of the crust’s moisture.
If your calzone is stale, the damp paper towel will help soften the crust and make it edible again.
Eat your reheated calzone ASAP, as it will quickly harden as it cools (i.e, turn to cardboard).
If you want a crisper crust, pop the calzone under a broiler or in the oven for 1-2 minutes after the microwave. Totally optional but definitely helpful.
Oh yeah, DO NOT add garlic butter to the crust before microwaving, or it will get super soggy.
My Verdict
This method was my least favorite way to reheat a calzone.
I mean, if you’re at work and all you have is a microwave, you’re not going to die.
Otherwise, don’t pass go, do not collect $200.
After I microwaved my leftover calzone, the crust was soggy and floppy and oh-so-unappetizing. It was also noticeably chewier in texture than the other methods I tried, and the flavor was flat.
At least the cheese was super gooey. That was a nice silver lining.
Also, it’s a good option for a stale calzone that you won’t be able to revive in any other way.
Reheating Calzone in an Air Fryer
The reheat calzone in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and place the calzone in the fryer basket. Heat for 4-5 minutes until heated through, and the cheese has melted. Check the inside is piping hot before serving.
How to Reheat Calzone in an Air Fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Place calzone in the flyer basket.
- Heat for 4-5 minutes, until heated through and cheese melts.
You need to watch air fryers when you’re using them to reheat food. Things can go from “coming along nicely” to “burned to a crisp” if you aren’t attentive enough.
Also, be aware that the outside can feel very hot while the inside is still lukewarm. Always check the filling temperature before biting into the calzone.
As with the skillet method, adding some garlic butter spread on the crust elevates the crispiness (and taste).
My Verdict
The results of the air fryer mostly matched those of the oven method, but the process took a little less time, and the crust was slightly crispier.
If you have one at home – I say go for it.
How to Store Calzone
To store calzone, let it cool to room temperature and then place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Line the container with paper towel to soak up any excess moisture from the crust. The calzone will keep for four days in the fridge.
It’s essential the calzone is cool before you store it. Otherwise, the condensation will leave you with a soggy calzone.
Don’t use the calzone box for storage! Cardboard lets air circulate, which speeds up the staling process and shortens the life of your calzone.
Can you freeze calzone?
Leftover calzone freezes well, provided you prep it properly.
To freeze leftover calzone, let it calzone come to room temperature. Then wrap individual serving-sized pieces tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a zip-top freezer bag. Squeeze the extra air out of the bag before putting it in the freezer. The calzone will last for up to 6 months.
As an extra layer of protection from freezer burn, you may also wish to wrap each individual calzone in a piece of aluminum foil.
Alternately, flash freeze your leftover calzone by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet and placing it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen solid, transfer it to a freezer bag.
Flash freezing replaces the need for plastic wrap. The pre-frozen pieces won’t stick together.
How to Thaw Calzone
To thaw frozen calzone, keep it wrapped up as it was stored in the freezer and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Keeping the calzone wrapped helps conserve moisture as it thaws. You can also thaw calzone by submerging the freezer bag in lukewarm water, or the microwave.
Once your calzone is fully thawed, reheat it using the suggested methods above.
How to Reheat Frozen Calzone
You can reheat frozen calzone directly from the freezer without having to thaw it first.
If you’re reheating frozen calzone, it’s best to use the oven or air fryer. If you’re reheating directly from the freezer, you will need to add 10 to 15 minutes of additional cooking time. But otherwise, just follow the directions listed above for each method.
How Long Does Calzone Last?
Depends on how soon you decide you want to eat it!
I’m kidding.
Leftover calzone can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days, as long as it’s in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
Frozen calzone will keep for up to three months if it’s properly protected against freezer burn.
Never leave calzone out at room temperature for more than two hours, the toppings are highly perishable and can harbor harmful bacteria.
The BEST Way To Reheat Calzone
Ingredients
- 1 slice calzone
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add the calzone and heat for two minutes.
- Using a spatula, flip the calzone.
- Heat for two minutes more, then enjoy.
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