For a weekend treat, you can’t beat a good pizza – whether it’s homemade, frozen or ordered in. There are a few ways to cook pizza, the most common is simply in the oven. But we were wondering, are there other ways and can you microwave pizza?
To microwave pizza, remove all packaging and then pop it onto a suitable plate before microwaving for 4 to 5 minutes until cooked through. Expect the texture to be a little softer than usual, however.
How to Microwave Pizza
We would only recommend microwaving pizza if you are doing so from frozen.
Even then, you may not always end up with a successful pizza. You will also find that the texture is very different from pizza that has been cooked in an oven. It will be softer and might even be soggy.
If you do want to try microwaving pizza here is how.
- Remove All Packaging
Take your frozen pizza out of the freezer and remove all the packaging. You don’t need to defrost it first just make sure you get rid of all the packaging, even that cardboard base they often put under the pizza. Pop the pizza onto a plate. - Microwave
Put the pizza in the microwave and heat it. How long you need to heat it will depend on the size of the pizza. For an eight to nine-inch pizza it should take around five to six minutes. To be sure you don’t overcook the pizza set the timer for four minutes. - Check
After four minutes check the pizza. If it needs a little longer pop it in for another minute and then check again. Keep checking every minute until the pizza is hot all the way through. - Continue to Microwave
If your pizza is larger then allow extra time. For a ten-inch pizza allow between five and seven minutes and for a twelve-inch pizza allow around seven to eleven minutes.
How to Microwave Pizza Successfully
If you want to ensure you have the greatest of success when microwaving pizza then here are three tips to take on board:
- Grill After Microwaving – If you really want that crispy texture you get with a delicious golden brown pizza then you can finish off the pizza after microwaving by putting it in the oven or under the grill for a couple of minutes.
- Cover with a Paper Towel – Occasionally, the cheese on top of a pizza can bubble and spit, which can make a mess in the microwave. To avoid this, you can pop a paper towel on top of the pizza before heating it.
- Check Toppings – Be careful and check any topping ingredients you have on your pizza can be cooked this way. Most will be fine but if you have an odd ingredient like fish then it may not be suitable for use in a microwave.
Why You Should Microwave Pizza
As you can imagine, there are a couple of fairly clear reasons why microwaving pizza is a good idea:
Super Quick
One advantage of microwaving pizza is that it’s quick. A pizza can take between fifteen and thirty minutes to cook in the oven. In a microwave, it takes less than ten!
No Special Equipment
Microwaving pizza takes less equipment so it saves you on washing up and cleaning. All you need to have microwaved pizza is the pizza and a plate!
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Pizza
Unfortunately, there are some pretty noticeable disadvantages to cooking pizza in the microwave which you will only discover after it is too late:
Taste and Texture Changes
Pizza that has been cooked in a microwave doesn’t taste quite as good as pizza that has been cooked in an oven.
It is the texture that suffers the most and in a microwave, you often end up with a slightly soggy pizza with barely melted cheese in the middle and burnt cheese around the edges.
Not Good for Leftovers
If you cook your pizza in a microwave it is far less likely to be able to be kept as leftovers.
You will find that the pizza starts out soft and potentially soggy while it is warm, but as it cools, the dough will harden, and the pizza ends up inedible. So make sure you eat any pizza you cook in the microwave right away.
Microwaving Pizza FAQs
Do you still have questions about microwaving pizza with success? Then check these out:
If you want to reheat Domino’s pizza then the microwave is one option. You may find that it dries out a little, however. Instead, consider using the oven to reheat it instead.
Although it might cook, the end result will be nothing like a pizza you know. It will be soggy and doughy. Instead, you should use a scorching hot oven to cook a pizza in.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
