If you’re a pizza lover like me, you may also have experienced having pizza leftovers after a party or a pizza night. Today I will show you exactly how you should store pizza, how long you can keep it, and what will ultimately affect its shelf life.
And, if this article got your tummy talking, you must try my Pizza Cubana Recipe. It’s super easy, packed with flavor, and you won’t even have to worry about any leftovers because there won’t be any!
How Long Is Pizza Good For In The Fridge?
First, it’s essential to understand that even if you correctly stored the pizza, it won’t be safe to eat after four days. Even if it were, it would definitely not be appetizing at this point.
There are MANY factors that will ultimately affect the shelf life of refrigerated pizza, even in the fridge. And don’t worry. We will get to each of them very soon.
To stay on the safe side of things, it’s best to eat any leftover pizza within 2-3 days.
What Happens When You Store Pizza in the Fridge for Too Long
Here are two reasons why I always recommend storing leftover pizza slices: First of all, harmful bacteria can multiply very quickly, which can cause mild to severe food poisoning.
Secondly, the pizza crust will not retain moisture, and the toppings will start drying out as soon as it is placed inside the fridge, and the pizza just won’t taste good. While there are some ways to prevent and even salvage this, there isn’t much you can do after some point. The pizza slice will never be as good as it was fresh.
What Affects The Shelf Life Of Good Pizza In The Fridge?
No one should eat spoiled cooked foods, all the more spoiled pizza. As I’ve mentioned before, there are a couple of things that will affect the shelf life of pizza.
How Long It Stood Out
First, the biggest thing that will ultimately affect the shelf life of pizza is how long it stands outside put before you store it.
A general rule of thumb for food safety is that nothing cooked or raw should stay at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Even though they do say “room temperature,” a more accurate statement would be within the “temperature danger zone.”
This is a danger zone between 40-140°F (4.4-60°C). Here, bacteria can thrive and rapidly multiply to very dangerous levels. Depending on which bacteria are present, it could cause severe illnesses and even death.
So, if your pizza stood out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature, its shelf life will be reduced dramatically. In this case, I would eat the pizza within 24 hours. If it stood out overnight, I wouldn’t eat it at all.
Storage Technique
Now, shelf life doesn’t only refer to “bacteria at dangerous levels.” It will also indicate when pizza is no longer good (appealing) to eat.
If the pizza isn’t stored properly, it will change the texture and even flavor. Pizza left uncovered in the fridge will dry out, lose flavor, and become chewy and tough. This can happen within the first hour of storage.
So, make sure you have the pizza slices stored in an airtight container and wrapped securely.
Storage Temperature
Here’s one rule for properly stored pizza: the colder, the better. Your fridge should always run between 32-40°F (0-4.4°C). The lower the temperature is, the more slowly bacteria reproduce. Ultimately, this means your pizza will last longer.
But again, the texture and flavor will change to such a degree that it may not be worth eating after 7 days, even if it is safe.
How Long Can Pizza Stay In The Freezer?
You may be thinking that the freezer is the ultimate solution. And while it is a very effective way to preserve leftover pizza, it does completely ruin the texture and flavor due to freezer burn.
Frozen pizza can last in the freezer for over 6 months. But, the sooner you eat it, the better its texture will be. You can check out this guide on How To Reheat Pizza In An Air Fryer.
How To Defrost and Reheat Frozen Pizza Leftovers
Defrosting frozen pizza leftovers is a very simple task that everyone can do. When reheating pizza, you only need to follow these simple steps that work every time!
- Transfer the pizza leftovers: Start by taking the frozen pizza leftovers out of the freezer and placing them in the refrigerator. It’s important to defrost them slowly and safely to maintain their quality and taste.
- Allow time for defrosting: Depending on the thickness of the pizza and the temperature of your refrigerator, the defrosting process may take a few hours.
- Cover for protection: To prevent any cross-contamination or moisture loss, cover the pizza leftovers with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container before putting them in the refrigerator.
Reheating Options
You can either enjoy cold pizza or reheat refrigerated pizza for a warm and crispy experience. Here are the options you have:
Toaster Oven
Reheating pizza in the toaster oven or traditional oven is a popular method that helps restore the crust’s crispness. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) or medium high heat. Place the pizza directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet or parchment paper. Heat for about 8-10 minutes or until the cheese melt and the crust is crispy. This method provides even heating and is ideal for reheating multiple pizza slices.
Alternatively, you can also reheat individual leftover slices in a microwave for 1-2 minutes on high power.
Stovetop Burner
The stove method is a quick option for reheating a single slice of pizza. Place a non-stick skillet on medium heat. Once heated, place the pizza slice in the skillet and cover it with a lid. Bake for about 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is heated through.
Air Fryer Basket
Using an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to reheat pizza while preserving the desired crispness. Preheat the air fryer to around 350°F (175°C). Place the pizza slices in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping, about one or two slices at a time.
Reheat for approximately 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crispy. When air frying, you don’t need to use cooking spray or olive oil to prevent the pizza slices from sticking.
How To Store Pizza In The Fridge?
The key is to ensure the pizza is stored in an airtight bag or container. You can use any tool you want, but I prefer this method.
- Leave the pizza to cool completely at room temperature. Don’t let it stand out for longer than 2 hours.
- Wrap the pizza slices in plastic wrap. You should warp it well (so no air can enter) but not tightly. You don’t want the slices to disfigure.
- Place the wrapped slices in an airtight container. Try to place them in a single layer so the bottom ones don’t get squished.
- Finally, store the slices in the fridge on the top shelf. This isn’t the coldest spot. But you should reserve colder areas for fresh and raw produce, like raw meat, dairy, eggs, and fruits or vegetables.
If you don’t have plastic wrap, you can also use a sheet of aluminum foil. I just try to avoid it because it’s more expensive and some cheaper brands react with the food, leaving a grayish color and metallic taste.
You can also simply place the slices inside an airtight container without any wrappings.
FAQs
No, you can not. Even if the pizza slices were stored under the perfect conditions, the texture and flavor would be long gone by the 5-day mark, just like any other perishable foods. So, it’s best to eat leftover pizza within a day of storage and avoid eating any spoiled food.
As I’ve mentioned before, pizza SHOULD only stand at room temperature for 2 hours at the most. This is the ideal time before bacteria could produce to deadly numbers. While in rare cases it’s fine to leave pizza out for longer (like in the winter in a house without heating), it’s better to avoid it altogether.
You should never reheat food more than once. While many people say it’s fine, I see it as an increased risk for bacterial growth to dangerous levels. So, only reheat pizza once, especially after it has been thawed.
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