Sometimes, Pizza Hut pizza deals are just too good to pass up. Especially the carry-out or two-for-one deals.
But eating an entire pizza by yourself can be challenging (not to mention bad for your waistline).
So you inevitably end up with leftovers.
I’m going to show you how to store and reheat that cheesy, meaty goodness so that it is just as good for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner.
I’ve also shared some freezing tips to keep your pizza fresh.
Super hungry? Let’s get started!
What is the best way to reheat Pizza Hut pizza?
The best way to reheat Pizza Hut pizza is in the skillet. Heat the skillet to medium-low heat and cook the pizza sliced for 2 minutes until the bottom crust is crispy. Sprinkle a few drops of water around the pan, then cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute. The steam will melt the cheese.
A note on my experiment
Craving pizza, I grabbed the Pizza Hut menu and ordered two large pepperoni pizzas for dinner.
After eating a couple of slices (you can’t experiment on an empty stomach!), I put the rest in the fridge.
The next day, I tested four different ways of reheating my leftover Pizza ut:
- In a skillet (the best way)
- In a standard oven (good for whole pizzas)
- In a microwave (the worst way, but will moisten a stale pizza)
- In an air fryer (quick and tasty)
Once each slice was warmed through, I did the all-important taste test.
I noted how fresh the pizza tasted, its texture and how well the toppings had survived.
Overall, the skillet produced the freshest tasting pizza, but the oven and the air fryer weren’t far behind.
The microwave fell flat for me, but it’s good for a stale pizza (the other methods are more drying).
Reheating Pizza Hut pizza in a skillet
To reheat Pizza Hut in a skillet, heat a nonstick pan on medium-low and add the pizza slices. Cook for 2 minutes until the bottom crust is crispy. Then sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the pan (avoiding the pizza slices), and cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute to melt the cheese.
The pizza comes out with a wonderfully crispy bottom, moist dough, and melty cheese.
Bet you didn’t realize that your skillet was good for more than scrambled eggs?
How to reheat Pizza Hut pizza in a skillet:
- Preheat a nonstick skillet to medium or medium-low heat.
- Arrange your pizza slices in the skillet, leaving room in between.
- Cook for 2 minutes until the bottom crust is crispy.
- Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the outside on the pan (not on the pizza). If your pizza is really stale, then use 3 tablespoons.
- Cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute to allow the steam to re-melt the cheese and moisturize the pizza dough.
The hot skillet crisps the bottom crust, and the steam melts the cheese and softens the dough.
Don’t be tempted to heat your skillet too high.
Temperatures over medium will burn the crust before the slice has had a chance to heat through, especially for thicker pizzas.
Also, never flip the pizza!!
The cheese will stick to the pan, and you’ll be left with a sad slice of tomato-y dough and burnt cheese.
My verdict
The skillet was definitely my favorite method.
The bottom on the pizza was super crisp with a nice bite to it. And the top of the pizza was soft and moist, with gooey cheese and flavorsome toppings.
It might have even been better than the night before (although that could have been the hangover talking).
Reheating Pizza Hut pizza in the oven
To reheat the Pizza Hut in the oven, place a sheet pan inside the oven on the middle rack. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Then place your pizza on the hot sheet pan and heat for 5 to 7 minutes until warm and crispy. For a less crispy crust, use a cold sheet pan or wrap cover the pizza with foil.
The oven is a good option for bulk heating pizza.
How to reheat Pizza Hut pizza in the oven:
- Place a sheet pan inside the oven on the middle rack.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place the pizza slices on a hot sheet pan (or directly on the oven’s wire rack).
- If reheating more than one slice, leave space between the pieces.
- Heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until thoroughly warm and crispy.
Using a hot sheet pan helps to crisp up the bottom of the pizza, mimicking a hot skillet. If you want to avoid a crispy base, use a cold sheet pan.
If you’re dealing with stale pizza, I advise sprinkling 1-2 tablespoons of water on the sheet pan and covering the pizza with foil.
The water will create steam that will soften the pizza.
Uncover the pizza for the last 2 minutes of heating to avoid sogginess.
This method works for both a standard oven and a convection oven. You may need to adjust the heating time depending on the thickness of your pizza or if you have a specialty pizza with lots of toppings.
My verdict
This reheating method was good, but not as good as the skillet.
The pizza topping was tasty with a good texture.
But the pizza dough had dried out slightly, and the crust was a tiny bit chewy (but nothing like the microwave).
The oven is best for reheating whole pizzas.
Preheating a whole oven for one or two slices seems like a waste of energy (unless you’re using a toaster oven)!
Reheating Pizza Hut pizza in the microwave
To reheat leftover Pizza Hut in the microwave, place the pizza on a microwave-safe plate along with a cup of water. The water makes sure the pizza crust doesn’t dry out too much. Heat the pizza slice in 30-second intervals for 1-2 minutes. Optional: crisp the pizza under the broiler afterward.
If your microwave has a pizza setting, use that.
Top tip: the microwave is your best option for a stale pizza because it’s excellent at softening bread quickly.
How to reheat Pizza Hut pizza in the microwave:
- Place the pizza slice on a microwave-safe dish.
- Place a cup of water into the microwave – keeps the crust moist.
- Heat in 30-second intervals for 1-2 minutes until the pizza is warmed through.
- Eat immediately.
Just like microwave popcorn, the perfect time may depend on the type of pizza, so be sure to check it every 30 seconds.
Related: How To Make Popcorn Seasoning Stick
If you over-microwave the pizza, it will turn out very dry.
Microwaves and crisp or crunch don’t go together, so if you want a crispy crust, you’ll need to place the pizza under the broiler for 1-2 minutes after reheating.
Eat the pizza slice as soon as possible once it’s out of the microwave because it will very quickly cool and dry out (and when I say dry out, I mean turn into literal cardboard).
Be careful biting into microwaved stuffed crust – the filling can get very hot!
My verdict
The microwave was the worst of the four methods for reheating leftover pizza.
The crust came out chewy and soggy with absolutely no crunch.
But the cheese was hot – nice and gooey.
Okay, if it’s your only option.
Reheating Pizza Hut pizza in an air fryer
To reheat leftover Pizza Hut pizza in an air fryer, select a cooking temperature of 350°F (180°C) or a preselected pizza button. Put a pizza slice in the air fryer basket and cook for about three to four minutes. For a thick crust, reduce the temperature to 325°F (165°C).
Reheating pizza with an air fryer is a good option, but it does dry out the pizza slightly, so I would avoid it if your pizza is stale.
How to reheat Pizza Hut pizza in an air fryer:
- Select a temperature of 350°F (180°C).
- Put a pizza slice in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- For a thicker crust, like a deep-dish, reduce the temperature to 325°F (165°C), so it heats the slice thoroughly without burning the cheese.
Always keep an eye on the time when you’re using an air fryer. If you overheat the pizza, the dough can get very dry, and the cheese and toppings can burn.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer with pizza, or it won’t crispy up as well as it could. Keep it to a single layer.
My verdict
Air fryers are the greatest inventions.
They’re quick, use less electricity, are easy to clean up, keep the kitchen cool, and produce great pizza!
The crust came out crispy, the cheese was gooey, and the toppings had kept their flavor.
The only downside was slightly dry bread, but this wouldn’t be an issue for thin-crust pizzas.
How to store Pizza Hut pizza
Let your pizza cool down to room temperature before putting the slices in an airtight container. Separate individual slices with parchment paper. You can also wrap the pizza in plastic wrap or tin foil if you don’t have any airtight containers. The pizza will last for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Letting the pizza cool to room temperature is crucial because otherwise, the condensation will make the pizza soggy.
Don’t keep the pizza in its box!
Cardboard pizza boxes let air circulate, so the pizza will be hard and stale within a day or two. If this does happen, nuke the pizza in the microwave to try and save it.
It is a good idea to store different types of pizza separately. Flavors blend, and you really wouldn’t want your pepperoni tasting like pineapple.
Can you freeze Pizza Hut pizza?
Yes, you can freeze Pizza Hut. For best results, separate each slice with a sheet of wax paper and wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap. Add another layer of foil, or put the wrapped pizza in a heavy-duty freezer bag, then freeze. Pizza Hut will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to freeze Pizza Hut pizza:
- Separate pizza slices with wax paper
- Wrap the separated slices in plastic wrap, then put in this a resealable freezer bag.
- Freeze the pizza for up to 3 months
Separating the pizza with wax paper means the slices don’t stick together.
This means you can take out a portion at a time (very useful for snacking).
And the plastic wrap ensures the packaging is airtight, so there’s no risk of freezer burn.
Another (plastic-free) option is to flash freeze your pizza slices on a baking tray for a few hours before transferring the frozen slices into a freezer bag.
Before you freeze the pizza, suck as much air out of the freezer bag as you can (to protect against freezer burn).
How to thaw Pizza Hut pizza
The best way to thaw frozen pizza is still wrapped and in the fridge. Depending on the size of the pizza, thickness of crust, and toppings, this may take several hours or overnight. Keeping the pizza protected in its freezer bag prevents too much moisture loss, so the pizza won’t dry out.
You can also thaw pizza on the countertop at room temperature, which will take about an hour or two. Submerging the pizza in warm water (in a waterproof bag) will speed the process up slightly.
You can also thaw the pizza for a few minutes in the microwave if you don’t mind running the risk of a rubbery crust.
You can also just heat the pizza straight from frozen.
How to reheat frozen Pizza Hut pizza
You can reheat frozen Pizza Hut in the oven, air fryer, skillet, or microwave. For the oven, air fryer, and microwave, simply follow the instructions above but add some extra cooking time. For the skillet, follow the instructions, but there’s no need to add additional water before steaming the top of the pizza.
How long does Pizza Hut pizza last?
Pizza Hut pizza will last up to four days in the refrigerator and up to three months in a freezer when adequately wrapped and stored. Do not leave Pizza Hut sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, as after this, harmful bacteria can start to take over.
With these simple steps and tips, you’ll never have to pass up the ultimate Pizza Hut deal or be haunted by those Friday night cheesy cravings!
The Best Way To Reheat Pizza Hut Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 slice Pizza Hut pizza
Instructions
- Preheat a nonstick skillet on a medium-low heat.
- Arrange your pizza slices in the skillet, leaving room in between each slice.
- Cook for 2 minutes until the bottom crust is crispy.
- Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the outside on the pan (not on the pizza). If your pizza is really stale, then use 3 tablespoons.
- Cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute to allow the steam to re-melt the cheese and moisturize the pizza dough.
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