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9 Ways on How to Keep Pizza Warm

Drooling at the mouth in anticipation, you want to learn how to keep pizza warm to get a crispy texture instead of soggy and floppy pizza.

At one time or another, most of us have experienced that disappointment of disappointments - taking home delivery of a pizza after seemingly hours of waiting.

Drooling at the mouth in anticipation all the while, only to end up with a semi-warm, sorry-looking limp thing that was once a delicious pizza.

Okay, we understand that delivery riders have lots of calls to make, of which ours is only one of many, so the obvious answer is to re-warm the pizza.

9 ways of keeping your home-delivered pizza nice and warm to enjoy at its best for any event.

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We all do it, but the pizza never seems to be anywhere near as good as it should be - right? Well, there are a few good ideas which I would like to share with you, so please read on.

One way of keeping your pizza warm relies on keeping the pizza in its delivery box, and you need to start your preparations as soon as you put the phone down after ordering.

Keep pizza warm in the oven

This way of reheating your pizza relies on keeping the pizza in its delivery box, and you need to start your preparations as soon as you put the phone down after ordering.

Here's what to do:

    • Step 1
      Preheat your oven to a temperature of 200°F. Doing this as sooner you put the phone down gives your oven a chance to warm up ready for the pizza arrives.
    • Step 2
      As soon as the pizza is delivered, you should open the box and let any steam accumulated escape.
    • Step 3
      Close the box and search for the cutout vents. Most pizza delivery boxes have them, and often, they are left closed to keep in the heat. If they are unopened, now is the time to push them in with your thumbs and break the perforations. You don't want any more steam to build up, and ventilating the box in this way will allow it to escape.

      Note: If the delivery box doesn't have vents cut into it, create some slits yourself using a sharp kitchen knife.
    • Step 4
      Position the pizza, still inside its closed and vented box, inside the album, and lower the temperature setting to something like 140°F or 150°F.
Note: Lowering the oven temperature in this way will make sure that the cardboard pizza box doesn't catch fire.

If the pizza box is too damaged, or you prefer not to reheat your pizza in its box anyway, you can warm it using a pizza stone instead if you have one.

Oven warming your pizza without its box

If the pizza box is too damaged, or you prefer not to reheat your pizza in its box anyway, you can warm it using a pizza stone instead if you have one.

If you're into baking your own pizza or laminated pastry or sourdough at home, you probably got one of these anyway.

They come in various sizes and are made from various materials costing anywhere from $40 to over $100 at Amazon. They are ideal for reheating pizza.

If the pizza box is too damaged, or you prefer not to reheat your pizza in its box anyway, you can warm it using a pizza stone instead if you have one.

Follow the steps:

    • STEP 1
      Put your pizza stone into the oven and turn the oven temperature up to 200°F. Ideally, you need to leave the stone in there for 30 to 45 minutes to get to the right temperature. This may mean getting organized before you place your pizza order.
    • STEP 2
      Once the pizza has been delivered, take it out of its box and transfer it straight onto the pizza stone in your oven.
    • STEP 3
      Tear off a piece of aluminum kitchen foil large enough to cover the pizza, and do so loosely, tucking it under the stone at two diagonal corners to allow any steam to escape during the reheating process.
  • STEP 4
    Shut the door of the oven and reduce the temperature to a setting of around 140°F to 150°F.

What is the best temperature to keep pizza warm?

If you follow the instructions (step 4) mentioned above, it says the best temperature to keep the pizza warm is about 140°F to 150°F.
You can leave the pizza in the oven for a while, but no more than one or two hours at the most; otherwise, it will begin to dry out.

For one reason or another, there may be occasions when you need to keep your pizza warm. The best way to do this is to use some aluminum foil. It acts as an excellent insulator.

Keep your pizza warm with aluminum foil

For one reason or another, there may be occasions when you need to keep your pizza warm for two or three hours.

The best way to do this is to use some aluminum foil. It acts as an excellent insulator.

Here's what to do.

    • STEP 1
      Cut the pizza into slices, and wrap each piece individually in aluminum foil. Whatever you do, don't stack them, as this could result in the portions getting bound together.
    • STEP 2
      Preheat the oven to 400°F. You can use a slightly lower temperature but don't go any higher as this could result in the pizza being burnt.
    • STEP 3
      Transfer the wrapped pizza into the preheated oven. I find it's preferable to lay them onto a baking sheet as it makes it easier to pick them up later. Leave a little space between each parcel to allow any steam to circulate.
  • STEP 4
    Bake for 10 minutes. When you see the cheese beginning to bubble, it's heated sufficiently. Remove the pizza from the oven but do not disturb the packaging.

Although it might seem rather short, 10 minutes is plenty of time to heat your pizza regarding your oven at 400°F.

Don't warm it for any longer, however, as it will overcook, and if you leave it too long, the crust will become dry.

Crunchy pizza is not nice - at least not to my mind anyway. If I want to eat biscuits, I'll choose biscuits and not pizza.

People have told me that they have kept their pizza warm for up to 3 hours using this method. It seems a little unlikely to me, but hey, different people have different ideas of food warmth.

The other thing about employing this particular method for reheating your pizza is that it will likely dry out a little.

If you don’t have an oven in your home, did you know that you can keep your home-delivered pizza warm by wrapping it in a blanket?

No Oven?-No Problem

If you don't have an oven in your home, did you know that you can keep your home-delivered pizza warm by wrapping it in a blanket? I'm serious.

Here's how to do it:

    • STEP 1
      As soon as you take your pizza delivery, open the box and allow the steam to disperse. Allowing the steam to stay inside the box is why home-delivered pizza often acquires that "cardboardy" taste.
    • STEP 2
      Shut the box and make sure that the air vents are open. Open them if not, or, as above, cut some slots into the box with a sharp kitchen knife.
    • STEP 3
      Position the box with the pizza inside on a small blanket or heavy towel.
    • STEP 4
      Then, fold the sides of the towel over the box so it is completely covered. If you think you need more insulation, you can use two towels positioned at right angles to each other and then folded over.

Stored like this to retain the heat, the pizza is best eaten within 30 minutes. You can, however, stretch that out to an hour.

Of course, it all depends on how hot the pizza was when it was delivered in the first place.

After all, you're not adding any heat, just trying to keep it in, and if it wasn't warm enough in the first place, you're on a hiding to nothing.

If you've only got a few slices of pizza, this skillet method works quite well in warming pizza.

Rewarming pizza in a frying pan or skillet

If you've only got a few slices of pizza, this method works quite well and is one of my favorites in reheating leftover pizza. It works really well.

    • STEP 1
      Preheat your frying pan or skillet on the stovetop at medium heat.
    • STEP 2
      Insert the slices of pizza, and warm for one or two minutes. Leave the pan uncovered, and keep an eye on the underside of the crust. Wait until it begins to crisp (watch out for the glistening of grease and the cheese starts to melt). You want the crust nice and crisp but not too biscuit-like.
    • STEP 3
      Slowly add a few drops of water to the pan, making sure the water doesn't hit the pizza. Then, dial down the heat to low and put the lid for about one minute until the cheese is steam-melted.
    • STEP 4
      As soon as the cheese starts to melt, take the pan off the heat. Let the lid on and let it stand for several minutes to warm the toppings and source through evenly.

Additional tips

    • Tip 1
      As long as your pizza isn't larger than approximately 10 inches in diameter, you can always use tortilla warmers to keep your pizza hot. You can check out the different types available on the Spruce Eats.com website. Stoneware heaters work best.
    • Tip 2
      Heat your stoneware tortilla warmer in the oven, and when ready, transfer the pizza into it and replace the lid. Because the stoneware is unglazed, it naturally absorbs some of the steam - enough to prevent the pizza from getting soggy. The steam doesn't absorb to ensure that the pizza doesn't dry out too much.
    • Tip 3
      If you don't possess a pizza stone and want to avoid that cardboardy flavor, place your pizza onto a cooling rack and then onto a baking sheet. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and transfer the tray into a preheated oven.
    • Tip 4
      If you will be leaving the pizza for longer than an hour, it's a good idea to put a cup of boiling water onto the shelf beneath the pizza inside the oven for five minutes. This adds moisture, which will help stop it from becoming too dry while not enough to make the pizza soggy.
  • Tip 5
    Don't forget that the longer you leave your home-delivered pizza in its box, the more likely it is to take on that horrible cardboardy taste.

Food Safety

Keeping your home-delivered pizza nice and warm isn't just a matter of personal preference; it's also a matter of food safety.

Please note:

Hot foods need to be kept at a constant temperature of 140°F or more to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that could cause food poisoning.

Pizza is a perishable foodstuff; therefore, you should not leave it out at room temperature for longer than two hours.

Heated car seats work well for keeping party pizza warm as you journey home. It also helps to cover with a blanket to keep in the warmth.

Buying pizza for a party? - how to keep it warm

Everyone at a party loves pizza - well, nearly everyone anyway. A delicious four seasons or pepperoni or diabolo pizza always goes down well. But how to keep it warm?

#1 Your journey home

This is for people who are collecting take-out pizza rather than those who are having it home delivered.

Another way to keep the pizza or food warm while driving.

    • STEP 1
      If your car has heated seats, make use of them. Rather than just keeping your rear warm in those cold winter months, heated car seats work well for keeping party pizza warm as you journey home. It also helps to cover with a blanket to keep in the warmth.
    • STEP 2
      If your car doesn't have heated seats, the next best thing to do is place the pizza on the floor on the passenger side of the car.
    • STEP 3
      Turn the car heater onto its heating the floor setting and wind up the temperature. You might get a little warm on the journey home, but I can promise you your pizza will stay nice and warm too, and that's what's important - right?

    #2 Back home safe and sound with your party pizza

    Once you get back home safely with your hopefully hot pizza, you now need to employ one of the methods we talked about earlier, depending on how long it will be before your visitors arrive.

    If you arrive home well in advance of your guests starting to turn up, you'll want to employ one of the longer methods discussed above.

    Place the pizza on a plate and add ½ cup of water. Microwave for 30-second bursts (depends on the power level) and it will be cooked to perfection.

    a.) Using Your Microwave

    One of the methods that we didn't discuss earlier, but that could come in handy now, is using your microwave.

    Note: One of the microwaves' problems is that they are not that large, so you will need to cut your pizza slices accordingly.

    Now you can perfectly reheat your pizza leftovers without getting soggy and floppy. Say goodbye to sad leftovers forever with this handy kitchen tip.

    Here's how to proceed:

      • STEP 1
        Take a microwave-safe glass or cup and fill it two-thirds full with water.
      • STEP 2
        Place the pizza in the microwave and next to it, position the half cupful of water.
      • STEP 3
        As you heat the pizza, the water in the glass will evaporate and help prevent the pizza from becoming too soft and squidgy. It also helps the base stay crispy, still allowing the cheese to melt. The water absorbs some of the microwaves, making the pizza heat up slowly and evenly causing less water to evaporate.

    Why putting water is essential:

    Using no water while reheating, the pizza absorbs more of the microwaves being emitted hence making the pizza heat up quickly. Because of this, the water molecules in the pizza vaporized easily making them permeate the crust and the result is a soggy crust.

    • STEP 4
      Microwave for approximately 60 seconds on half power. Depending on how much pizza is in the microwave, you may need to give it another minute or two's blast. Be careful not to overdo it. Check after every 30 seconds, just to be sure.

    #3 Having an outdoor party

    If you're hosting a party outside, keeping your pizza warm for your guests will be a little more challenging.

    If you have a portable oven, it will do the trick nicely; if you don't, and you are a regular party animal, perhaps you should think about lashing out?

    See what's on sale at Amazon. You can buy them for around $40.

    Use an insulated pizza bag. These are typically used for pizza home deliveries, but you can choose from a large selection at Amazon, and they are relatively inexpensive.

    a.) Insulated pizza bags

    Another idea is to use an insulated pizza bag. These are typically used for pizza home deliveries, but you can choose from a large selection at Amazon, and they are relatively inexpensive.

    An insulated pizza bag is perfect to protect food from losing heat due to its hook and loop closures. It is moisture-regulated with metal grommets releasing excess steam preventing the bag from retaining moisture.

    An insulated pizza bag is perfect to protect food from losing heat due to its hook and loop closures. It is moisture-regulated with metal grommets releasing excess steam preventing the bag from retaining moisture.

    Note: Depending on how long you need free to keep your pizza warm, you might need a backup plan by heating some pizza indoors and then bringing it outside as the party progresses.

    You may need to employ some lateral thinking depending on the situation.

    An icebox cooler is an insulator, and like a thermos flask, you can use it to keep warm and cold.

    b.) Turning your icebox cooler into a hybrid warmer

    Don't forget that your ice box cooler, if you have one, only keeps things cool because you put ice packs in it. Basically, it's an insulator, and like a thermos flask, you can use it to keep warm and cold.

    Don't forget that your cooler box, if you have one, only keeps things cool because you put ice packs in it. Basically, it's an insulator, and like a thermos flask, you can use it to keep warm and cold.
    Credit to: mybackyardlife

    To help it on its way in its new task as a warmer, I suggest the following:

      • STEP 1
        Wrap two bricks with heavy-duty aluminum foil and warm them in an oven at a temperature of between 300°F and 325° F for about 15 to 20 minutes.
      • STEP 2
        Line your hybrid warmer with a towel and place the bricks inside.
      • STEP 3
        Place another towel over the hot bricks and then place the pizza (pre-warmed and wrapped in aluminum foil, inside and close the lid. You can add as many towels as you like or fit inside the box to keep the sausage for a temperature as high as possible.

    There you have it — several different ways of keeping your home-delivered pizza nice and warm to enjoy at its best for any event.

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