Why You Should Reheat Pizza In Your Air Fryer

You may have heard the saying, "Every pizza is a personal pizza if you try hard and believe in yourself." While that might be true, your eyes can sometimes be bigger than your stomach. When you're hungry for the remaining slices, you could adopt the college-student approach of eating the pizza cold. But if you want a better flavor and textural experience, reheat the food in an air fryer.

Popping your leftover pie in the air fryer works because it mimics the conditions of a convection oven, where hot air is circulated evenly around the food item being heated. (As a bonus, it takes less time and energy than the full-sized alternative.) So how do you set yourself up for leftover pizza reheating success? 

First of all, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, if the model you have requires preheating. Then arrange your pizza slices in a single layer. This is particularly important because overlapping slices will lead to uneven heating. Then let the air fryer do its thing for the next few minutes. Start checking your pizza at the three-minute mark and try not to let the air fryer go beyond five minutes, as it could result in burnt slices. Remember to make a note of the results. You may want to crank the temperature up or down between five to 10 degrees to get the ideal amount of crisp and melt, as different air fryers will have their own idiosyncrasies.

The general rule for reheating pizza is that a thicker crust or more toppings may require a longer heating time or higher temperature. You can also consider upgrading your leftovers by adding ingredients.  These could be classics like onions and olives or toppings that you probaby have not tried, such as eggs, hummus, or peaches. Your choices are only limited to what is in your kitchen. If you're concerned about making a mess in the appliance, you could line the bottom of the air fryer with baking paper to catch any gooey cheese that could spill and burn. 

After reheating your extra-personalized slices, you could enjoy a greater flavor boost by sprinkling herb on top. You could even opt for something non-traditional like furikake, a Japanese seasoning consisting of dried seaweed, sesame seeds, and various savory and crunchy additions. (Just keep in mind that dry seasonings can get burned or blown around in the device, so you may want to avoid adding them beforehand.)

You can also use the appliance if you stock up on pizza and freeze leftovers for a rainy day. In the case of reheating from frozen, give your slices five to seven minutes in the air fryer. Check on it after a few minutes to see how it is getting on and estimating how much longer it will need.