Water in the microwave to reheat pizza better
I've seen this claim various times on the Internet; for example at http://imgur.com/vlh4M
Put a small amount of water in a glass when you microwave your pizza to keep the crust from getting chewy
Does this really work? If so, could anyone explain why?
Best Answer
I just tested 3 individual slices on the pizza setting. That setting basically just turns the heat on and off so the food heats more evenly.
I tried:
- A small shot glass of cool water
- A mug of cold water
- A mug of warm water
They were all the same. The only thing I noticed was that the pizza was cold where the shot glass was touching it. The #2 and #3 were done with the mug underneath the plate.
Stomach satisfied, but myth busted.
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Quick Answer about "Water in the microwave to reheat pizza better"
“Add a half full cup of water to the microwave with your pizza and heat for around 30 seconds,” the post reads. “Crispiness not guaranteed, but worth a shot.” Palak Patel, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, told TODAY Food that the hack works by diverting the moisture away from the pizza.Does putting water in the microwave help pizza?
A cup of water in the microwave actually absorbs some of the microwaves, meaning the pizza heats slower and more evenly and causing less water to vaporise, resulting in a crispier texture.What is the best way to reheat pizza in microwave?
Microwave. Throwing a pizza in a microwave is the usual go-to for reheating pizza. This method is by far the most convenient and the fastest. To reheat your pizza, simply place the slice on a plate and put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.How do you reheat pizza in the microwave without getting it soggy?
\u201cTo prevent a soggy slice, add a half-full cup of water to the microwave with your pizza and heat for around 30 seconds.\u201d The chain warns that the trick, while worth trying, has mixed results.What does putting a glass of water in the microwave do?
#5Nuke a Cup of Water for Even More Moisture Just place a cup of water in the microwave to heat up along with your leftovers. The water will absorb excess microwave radiation and keep your food from overcooking. Plus, it will release steam, which will also keep your food from drying out.Pizza Reheat Microwave Tip. How to Get Crispy Crust on Leftover Pizza in 30 Secs by Chawla's Kitchen
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Answer 2
The only possible reason it could work is by increasing humidity in the oven cavity, and to do so in any significant amount, the water would have to be brought to a boil. Even so, there is no reason to believe that increased humidity would have any effect on the crust.
Otherwise, the only affect of the water is to provide an additional mass in the oven that will absorb the microwaves in competition with the pizza, essentially slowing down the heating process. It is conceivable that this might make it easier not to heat the pizza to the "rubbery crust" phase, but then the same effect could be achieved simply by lowering the power setting.
So no, there is no scientific basis for this belief other than the placebo affect.
Reheating pizza is one of the most challenging tasks, and there are many methods, none ideal.
Answer 3
I just tried it, it doesn't work. End of story.
Answer 4
I think the increased humidity in the microwave would help.
When baking bread, adding some steam to the oven (via steam-injected or adding some water to a hot pan beneath the bread), helps get a nice crust on the bread. I believe the theory in this case is that the water making contact with the surface of the bread allows the surface to get little hotter and cook the outside of the bread more than the inside of the bread because the water transfers heat better than the air.
I don't see why this should not apply to reheating something as well, but as @SAJ14SAJ said, the water would need to get sufficiently hot.
I have also seen when baking bread someone use a spray bottle to mist the bread with water. Perhaps this too could be done to the pizza crust.
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