How long can leftover pizza be stored in the freezer?
Today I had a pizza party at my home. I ordered 10 large pizzas, but that was too much and five are left over. I don't want to throw them out. Can I freeze the leftovers? If so, how long can it be kept in the freezer without loss of quality?
Best Answer
I don't know if you can keep quality the "same", but yes, it's possible to freeze. Plain cheese actually freezes better than one with lots of toppings.
For the absolute best quality, you need to limit freezer burn, which means wrapping it in something that will prevent moisture from escaping into the container surrounding it. This typically means tightly wrapping it in a water-tight material.
I'd recommend first chilling the pizza in the fridge. I would specifically not freeze an amount that you think you'd be able/willing to eat over the next few days. (willing because you might get sick of pizza if you have it multiple days in a row)
Once it's chilled down, you have to decide on portions -- if you're going to be the only one eating it, you might want to only wrap it up in bundles of two or three slices, depending on the size of the slices and how much you typically eat. If you have a family, you may want to go with larger amounts.
For wrapping, I suggest stacking up slices of a similar size and toppings, and then either:
- Wrap each stack tightly in freezer paper, then tape shut any seams.
- Wrap each stack in plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil. (plastic wrap alone is too thin; aluminum foil may react w/ the acidic tomato sauce)
- Arrange a couple of stacks in a large zip-top freezer bag, and suck out the air before fully sealing.
And you should label them before they go into the freezer with what they are, and when you originally purchased it (so if you find one months later, you know that you need to either eat it soon or dispose of it).
For thawing/reheating ... if it's still tightly wrapped, you can get away with thawing it in the fridge first. If it's not, you'll end up with condensation on the outside, so you might be better going straight from the freezer to the oven. (or a microwave on low power, then the oven).
Exact time and temperature in the oven depends on the thickness of the crust, the amount and water content of the toppings, and if you're going from thawed or frozen. As a general recommendation, I recommend starting with a moderately hot oven (350°F / 180°C) if thawed; a bit lower if frozen, and cook until it's warmed through.
Other things that you can do to improve the quality of the pizza:
- Turn up the heat towards the end if you like your cheese melted / gooey
- Once it's warmed up a bit, add pre-cooked toppings and an additional sprinkling of cheese on top.
- Put it under the broiler / grill (top heat only) to get the top extra browned. (also useful when adding toppings)
- Pre-heat a sheet pan or baking stone, and place the pizza on that to get a crisper crust. (but don't pre-heat to extreme heat like you would if cooking it from raw dough)
- Adjust the oven shelf depending on how you like you pizza and/or how brown it already is. Lower to reduce the amount of extra browning on top and cook the crust more; higher for the opposite.
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Can you freeze already cooked pizza?
If you freeze leftover pizza, it will stay at its best for 1 to 2 months. It should still be safe to eat after this point, so if you really hate waste, you don't have to throw it out. It is best to try and eat it within 2 months however, as this is when it will be tastiest.How do you store leftover pizza in the freezer?
Store leftover pizza The best way is to stack and wrap: Place a single layer of slices on a dinner plate, top with a layer of wax, freezer, foil or parchment paper. Keep stacking, alternating pizza and paper, until all the pizza's on the plate.Does frozen pizza actually expire?
After being stored for a long period of time, frozen pizza will eventually lose its original yummy taste and the texture may become a little spongier. Ideally, that's not what you really want! So, to ensure that you can still reap the delicious benefits of your pizza, aim to consume within 12-18 months.More answers regarding how long can leftover pizza be stored in the freezer?
Answer 2
You can freeze leftover pizza for a few months if it is wrapped up well, the most important thing is to get it in before it sits out too long. Reheating in the oven is the best way rather than microwave, nuking leftover pizza makes the crust chewy.
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