If you’re thinking “how long is pizza good for in the fridge” I’m guessing you ordered a lot of extra pizza again and can’t finish it now. Nor do you want the leftover pizza go to waste. No worries; we’ve all been there.
Pizza is everyone’s ultimate go-to food and we all love munching on the different flavors and toppings. So we mostly order several different flavors, but can’t finish them in one sitting despite all our efforts. Before just popping the leftovers in the refrigerator, we might find asking ourselves how long does pizza last in the fridge? Well, it depends on how it has been stored and for how long has it been sitting out after being delivered or baked at home.
How long can pizza sit out?
Whether you got your pizza delivered or baked it at home, once it has cooled down to room temperature, it should not be left sitting out for more than 2 hours if you intend eating the leftovers later.
Pizza dough and toppings are extremely susceptible to bacteria, so to be able to safely eat leftover pizza later, it is advised to not leave it sitting out at room temperature (between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 2 hours, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
How long is pizza good for in the fridge?
Short answer: Four days.
If you properly refrigerated pizza within 2 hours after it cooled down to room temperature, it will be safe to eat for the next 4 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This “4-day” time frame is a stretch. For pizzas with more perishable toppings like mushrooms and shrimp, you should consume them within a couple of days, to be on the safe side.
If it has been more than 4 days and you have still not eaten that refrigerated pizza, it is probably best to just toss it out of the fridge, instead of risking any foodborne illnesses by eating it.
How to store pizza and keep it fresh for longer?
As much as you want to pop that cardboard box with leftover pizza in the fridge, just don’t. If you want to preserve its freshness for longer, then it is best to store it properly. You can either wrap it in a plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Or how I prefer to store it is by putting the pizza slices in an airtight container. This way there is no chance of the pizza picking any odors or bacteria that might be present in the refrigerator.
- Tip: If you know that you won’t be able to eat the leftovers in the next 3 to 4 days, it is best to straight away freeze the pizza instead of refrigerating it.
Follow the same rule of thumb for storing it in the freezer. Put it in an air tight box or seal it in a freezer wrap or bag. Frozen pizza will be good to eat for the next three months.
How to reheat leftover pizza?
Now that you know that your leftover pizza is safe to eat, you need to find the best way to reheat it. You can obviously use a microwave oven – the easiest and quickest option. But that would leave the crust chewy and soggy. So I recommend these four ways to reheat your refrigerated pizza: conventional oven, toaster oven, air fryer, and skillet.
Reheat in a Conventional Oven or Toaster Oven
To reheat pizza in a traditional oven or toaster oven, preheat it to 400 – 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pizza slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Or use a pizza pan or pizza stone if reheating in a regular oven. Since the pizza is already fully cooked, you only need to reheat the leftovers for about 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and bubbles. This way you’ll get a fresh crispy crust and hot, straight out of the oven pizza again in no time.
If reheating a frozen pizza, you will need to put it in the oven for about 15 – 20 minutes.
Reheat in an Air Fryer
This is another quick and easy way to reheat leftover pizza. Just place pizza slices in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper. Then set the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 – 5 minutes.
Reheat in a Skillet on Stovetop
If there are only a couple of slices to heat, you might as well skip the hassle of using any appliance. A skillet on stovetop burner works great too. Just brush the the skillet or pan with a tablespoon of olive oil or butter and preheat it on medium heat. Put the leftover pizza slices on the skillet and cook over medium – high heat for 2 minutes to get a crispy crust. Then cover it with a lid and cook for 5 minutes on low heat to melt the cheese on top.
- My Pick: I usually reheat my leftover pizza for about a minute in the microwave. Then transfer the slices to a preheated, oiled skillet and cook for a minute at medium – high heat for a fresh, crispy crust.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
So enjoy every bite of your leftover pizza while it’s still good and safe to eat. If you have any other questions or would like to share something, please feel free to comment below. I would love to hear from you. Cheers!
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