How to Freeze Leftover Pizza (From Pizza Hut to Homemade)

Ever wonder if you can freeze Pizza Hut Pizza? Or any pizza for that matter?

Yes. Freezing pizza can be done and you should learn how to do it the right way.

There are a lot of big pizza chains in the United States, and Pizza Hut is one of them. But when it comes to freezing pizza, if you know the basic techniques, you can free just about any pizza. It doesn’t matter if it’s from Pizza Hut, Dominos Pizza or your local pizza shop.

It can be Sicilian pizza, thin crust pizza or flatbread pizza.

If you prepare it the right way, any type of pizza can be frozen and brought back to life the next time you need a pizza fix.

The advice I’m giving you in this article is actually based on how I freeze the pizza we make here at Mortadella Head. I’ve done it with our round pizza and our Roman pizza. 

I freeze our pizza by the slice and I also freeze an entire pizza when someone wants us to ship it to them. It’s a great way to let people enjoy our pizza even when they live states away.

There are lots of reasons why you might want to freeze pizza. 

Sometimes you can’t finish a whole pizza. Maybe you had Pizza Hut or Domino’s Pizza delivered to your house and there are some leftover slices.  Maybe it’s family pizza night and you made too much homemade pizza.

Whatever it is, wasting pizza is never a good idea. That’s when you freeze it. This is true for leftover Pizza Hut pizza or any other pizza you have leftover.

Can You Freeze Leftover Pizza?

Freezing pizza is possible. It is a good way to save a few slices of your favorite pizza when you just can’t finish the whole pie.

If you want to prolong its shelf life, freezing the pizza is the best way to do it.

Freezing pizza will prevent it from getting stale. Nobody likes a stale pizza. It also prevents the growth of microorganisms which can spoil food.

By freezing the pizza, you basically slow down the movement of molecules and retain its freshness. The pizza can then be brought back to life when you’re ready to reheat it. 

But will it have the same texture and taste as if it was fresh from the oven? 

If you do it right, you can almost get those frozen slices to taste as though they are from a fresh pizza just out of the oven. You can actually turn ice cold pizza into delicious pizza.

What Types of Pizza Can You Freeze

You can freeze just about any type of pizza leftovers. Here are some examples of pizza that can be frozen:

• Fast food delivery pizza from big chains like Pizza Hut and Dominos Pizza
• Roman Pizza al taglio.  This type of pizza is actually made to be reheated.  The high hydration of the pizza dough makes a beautiful softer crust that is airy on the inside and crunchy on the outside when reheated.
• Homemade Pizza
• Pizza from your local pizza shop
• Round thin-crust pizzas
• Square pies made with a thick pizza crust
• Pizza with just cheese
• Pizza with fresh ingredients like peppers, onions and sauteed mushrooms
• Pizza with meat toppings like pepperoni, sausage and meatballs

When You Should Freeze Pizza

If you have leftover pizza and you don’t plan on eating it in the next day or two, your best option is to freeze it. 

In my opinion, after two days in the fridge, you won’t be getting the high quality pizza that you expect. 

The crust will start to get stale and the cheese and toppings will become dry.

The best method of preserving your extra pizza is to freeze it.

The Best Way To Freeze Pizza

Follow these steps when you freeze your pizza and you’ll be in good shape.

1. Let the pizza cool entirely before preparing to freeze it.
2. Remove slices from the pizza box.
3. Separate the pizza into individual slices if you have multiple pizza slices leftover.
4. Wrap each pizza slice tightly in plastic wrap.
5. Store the wrapped slices in an airtight container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag before you seal it.
6. Place the container or bag in the freezer.

You can keep your frozen slices of pizza for up to three months if everything is done correctly. To preserve the best quality of the pizza, it’s really important to wrap up your leftover slices tightly.  This will help to avoid freezer burn.

How To Reheat Your Frozen Pizza

If you freeze and store it properly, the good news is you can still have awesome pizza months after ordering it.

You also need to reheat the frozen pizza correctly.  The goal is to get the leftover pizza as close to the fresh pizza as possible.  This means getting a crispy crust, melty cheese and hot ingredients on the top of the pizza. 

There are many different ways to reheat your frozen pizza.  Here are my suggestions:

Reheating Frozen Pizza in the Oven

This method is for reheating the pizza in a standard oven.  Keep in mind all ovens heat differently, so you should keep an eye on the pizza while it’s in the oven.

1. Remove the frozen pizza from the freezer and take off the saran wrap.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. For best results, have a baking sheet in the oven while it is heating up. You don’t want to start cooking on a cold sheet pan because the bottom of the crust won’t get as crispy as you want it.
3. Put the slices of frozen pizza in the oven on the hot baking sheet in a single layer. You can cover the baking sheet in aluminum foil first to help avoid a mess when the cheese starts to melt.
4. Let the pizza slices cook in the oven for 10-15 minutes if it’s thin crust pizza.  If it’s a thicker crust pizza, it may take a little longer.  You will know it’s done when the cheese on top is melted.  I always say when you can smell the pizza in the oven, it’s probably done.

Reheating Pizza in a Frying Pan

1. Put a frying pan on the stove at medium-high heat.  Add a little olive oil to the pan.
2. Place the slice of pizza directly in the pan. Cover the pan loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil. 
3. Add a few drops of water into the pan to create some steam. It will help the mozzarella cheese melt.  If you think it’s starting to burn, turn the stove down to medium-low heat.
4. Let it cook for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

You can also reheat your frozen pizza in a toaster oven, air fryer or a microwave oven.

A microwave is always my last choice for reheating pizza. It creates a soggy crust in my opinion.

Can I Freeze Leftover Pizza FAQs

Can I add toppings to frozen pizza before I reheat it?

Yes.  If you are reheating leftover cheese pizza, feel free to add your favorite toppings.  Add vegetables, pepperoni, meatballs or extra cheese.

Do I have to reheat the pizza while it is still frozen?

No.  You can thaw the pizza in the fridge first.  It can be reheated from frozen, cold or room temperature.  You will just have to adjust the cooking time.

Can I make homemade pizza crust with no toppings and freeze it?

Yes.  If you bake some homemade pizza crusts, you can wrap and freeze them as discussed above.  When you want to make a pizza you can just put the frozen pre-baked crust in a baking tray and add sauce, cheese and toppings.  It’s a great way to get a head start on making homemade pizza.

What other Italian foods freeze well?

I think lasagna is a dish that you can freeze and it doesn’t impact the quality.  I make frozen lasagna and ship them all over the country and people love them.