Can you freeze pizza?

In this brief article we will be answering the following question, “Can you freeze pizza?”. We will discuss the proper ways to freeze pizza. We will also get to know the benefits and drawbacks of freezing pizza, how to safely defrost and reheat frozen pizza. 

Can you freeze pizza?

Yes, you can freeze the pizza. Freezing pizza increases its shelf life for up to 2 months at 0 °F (-18° C) or Below. The main reason to freeze your pizza is to increase its shelf life. Pizza goes bad easily when it is kept at room temperature (1). 

Due to the presence of highly perishable ingredients in pizza, it also goes bad easily in the refrigerator. If you are storing your pizza for a long time and you do not want to spoil your pizza then you need to keep it in the freezer (2).

What are the proper ways to freeze pizza?

You can freeze your leftover pizza or you can also freeze the half-cooked pizza. Yes, you can easily make pizza at home and after pre-cooking it you can store it in the freezer, this will save you time and effort when you need it (3).

Pizza can be easily stored in the freezer, but to do this you just need to follow certain steps (3,4). . 

If you are freezing store or restaurant-bought pizza then you should right away freeze it after it cools down once.

Storing half-cooked pizza 

• Use hygienic and clean utensils while preparing your pizza at home.
• Wash your hands before handling your food to avoid cross-contamination.
• Use good quality ingredients for your pizza.
• Keep an eye on the expiration date of your ingredients.
• When your pizza is ready to go in the oven just bake it for halftime and then let it cool.
• Put your pizza in the freezer for some hours when it gets solid and remove it from the freezer.
• Cover your pizza with the help of a food plastic sheet.
• Wrap an aluminium foil around your pizza to keep it fresh and retain its flavour.
• Now you can store it for 2 months.
• When you are ready to eat your pizza, put it out of the freezer and put it in the pizza tray.
• Put your pizza in the oven and bake it until it is well cooked.
• Remember you need to fully cook your pizza.

Storing leftover pizza 

• When you are storing your leftover pizza you need to handle it with clean hands.
• Always keep your pizza in air-tight boxes and freeze it in the freezer.
• When you are ready to eat your pizza, put it out of the freezer and put it in the tray and microwave it for a few minutes. Your pizza is ready to eat.

What are the benefits of freezing pizza?

The benefits of freezing pizza are the following (3,4):

• Freezing extends the shelf life of the pizza by inhibiting bacterial growth and enzymatic activity that can lead to spoilage.
• By freezing pizza you can also reduce food waste.
• Freezing pizza will also save you cooking time. Your pizza will be already cooked and you will need less time to prepare a meal.

What are the drawbacks of freezing pizza?

One of the main drawbacks of freezing pizza is that freezing can cause moisture in the pizza to form ice crystals, resulting in texture and flavor alterations upon thawing (4,6). 

The freezing method can also cause certain ingredients on pizza, such as vegetables, to become limp and lose their unique sharpness. Furthermore, freezing might degrade the crust’s overall quality, causing it to become soggy or lose its desirable texture (4). 

Also, frequent freezing and thawing cycles might hasten the breakdown of tastes and minerals in the pizza, lowering its total nutritional value. While freezing can help to preserve the pizza’s overall integrity, some quality loss is unavoidable (7).

How to safely defrost frozen pizza?

According to the USDA, the best way to safely defrost frozen pizza is in the refrigerator, since this enables a regulated and progressive defrosting procedure. The frozen pizza need only be placed on a plate or tray and moved from the freezer to the refrigerator (8). 

This way, food safety is ensured by the fridge’s low temperature, which inhibits the growth of dangerous microorganisms. 

Keep in mind that, depending on the size and thickness of the pizza, the defrosting process can take a few hours or even overnight (8). 

You can also thaw frozen pizza in the microwave, but once thawed in the microwave you should eat immediately (8). 

Remember, pizza should never be left at room temperature, especially for more than 2 hours, as this encourages bacterial growth and raises the possibility of contracting foodborne illnesses. 

Following safe thawing, the pizza can be securely reheated and eaten while still being safe to eat, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines (8,9).

How to safely reheat pizza?

After defrosting the frozen pizza in the refrigerator, you can safely reheat it by using one of the following options (10). But first, don’t forget to fully reheat leftovers to at least 165 °F.

In the oven

Reheating pizza in the oven is safe. This is the best method for reheating pizza so that it tastes exactly as good as it did when you first bought it.

In a microwave

In the microwave, you can reheat pizza, but the crust will stiffen and the food will get soggy. To avoid this, place a cup of water next to the pizza in the microwave as it is being reheated.

On stove top

The pizza can also be heated up in a pan on the stove as an option. Heat the pizza in the pan without any water for a few minutes, then add a few drops of water, close the pan, and cook. Once it is all heated through, serve it on a dish.

Conclusion 

In this brief article, we discussed the following question, “Can you freeze pizza?”. We discussed the proper ways to freeze pizza. We also got to know the benefits and drawbacks of freezing pizza, how to safely defrost and reheat frozen pizza. 

References 

1. Safe Handling of Take-Out Foods. USDA, 2013.

2. Roccato, A., Uyttendaele, M., & Membré, J. M.  Analysis of domestic refrigerator temperatures and home storage time distributions for shelf-life studies and food safety risk assessment. Food Res Int 2017, 96, 171-181.

3. Are You Storing Food Safely?. FDA, 2023.

4. Freezing and Food Safety. USDA, 2013.

5. Leftovers and Food Safety. USDA, 2020.

6. Zhu, Z., et al. Measuring and controlling ice crystallization in frozen foods: A review of recent developments. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2019, 90, 13-25.

7. Komolprasert V, Stine CM, Harte BR. The Effect of Temperature, Light, Freeze-Thaw Cycling, and Package Material On the Flavor Stability of Frozen Pizza. Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting. 1988;4(3):227-240.

8. The Big Thaw – Safe Defrosting Methods. USDA, 2013

9. What is the “2 Hour Rule” with leaving food out? USDA, 2023.

10. What methods of reheating food are safe? USDA, 2023.