It’s just that sometimes you need to open things up a little to make them better. { While choosing a frozen pizza from among the … "contentUrl": "http://giordanos.com/best-way-to-cook-a-frozen-pizza/", This is likely because there’s a risk of contamination if you thaw and refreeze. The best part is you can use it whenever you want. ", Before you get cooking, pull your pizza out of the freezer and set it on your countertop to thaw to room temperature. Pizza in most forms is a delicious convenience food. Because we associate frozen foods with a low level of quality and a tasteless, limp profile, many of us fail to realize that what lies in the freezer doesn’t need to be so scary. Remove from heat and let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing. This gives you some good thawing action. If you want to make a frozen pizza, you may have to lower down the cooking time by 25%. You’ll want the cheese to set. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut the back of the plastic wrap so that the crust is exposed and discard. Transfer frozen pizza to a pizza pan or baking sheet. Why? If you want key tips for working with frozen pizza, you can get more on this site. Defrost the pizza and set the oven to 550 °F (288 °C). A pretty straightforward way to class up that pizza. If not, set the pizza right on the rack. At Giordano’s, we’d be remiss not to include some deep-dish reheating advice. 1. The best part is my kids were thoroughly impressed, and ate both pies in under 10 minutes. "width": 156, This should give you an egg with set whites and nice, runny yolk. Crank it up, baby! Adding fresh mozzarella or even a bag of Italian cheese shreds will give you that stretchy gooiness that makes pizza, well, pizza. Additionally, you can try things like fresh ricotta or feta if you’d like to bring a different texture to the table. Watch the pizza like a hawk as your pizza can go … Best Way to Cook a Frozen Pizza: Deep-Dish Edition. The hack was originally posted on Reddit as a Life Pro Tip (or LPT for short), by numbahtwelve. For me, that’s 550°F. Pizza is a blank canvas. We get it. Don’t despair, though! If you’re working with a frozen pizza that comes wrapped in plastic — that’s honestly most of them — there’s a neat little trick you can use. While for many of us it’s second nature to season our foods with a little pinch of salt, hold off in the case of frozen pizza. Hot sauces, pesto, meats and fresh cheeses are all a better way to get the flavor you’re going for. A great way to class up an otherwise lackluster pie. The crust was perfectly crisp; there was nothing soggy about it. Was it as good as advertised? Our toppings are high-quality and applied with care. Veggies? Great. Well you can add any toppings that you like. That woman sprinting in heels to the frozen food section at 5 p.m.? Because the Chicago-style pie is a bigger, denser, doughier experience, your cooking rules change a little. "name": "Best Way to Cook a Frozen Pizza", The best oven temperature for pizza is between 450 and 500 degrees F (250 to 260 degrees C). “Put an egg on it” might be one of this era’s most common approaches to cooking — and for a good reason. Got an onion? Make Holes in Your Crust why? Your turn: What’s your smartest food hack? We’re very thorough — pizza is serious business! from r/lifehacks Psst! In fact, the BEST way to cook a frozen pizza, is on the Baking Steel. The best way to determine the cooking time is to begin with the shorter cooking time. Apartment Therapy is full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home. Another thing that you can do is lower down the cooking time by 25 degrees Fahrenheit . If you’re searching for a meal that’s easy and will satisfy your whole family, turn to the time honored tradition of pizza. But I told them they might just be surprised — lo and behold, they were. When the oven is ready, place your Giordano’s pizza directly on the center rack and leave it be for 40 minutes. Not only is it tasty, but using a few drizzles of sauce on your frozen pie allows you to use up that pesto you didn’t have enough noodles to accommodate before it starts to turn brown. The best way of preventing this is to cook the pizza for some time on top of the oven rack, usually after the oven has been preheated. So. "@type": "ImageObject", To bake, preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Like, just about anything you can imagine. So, unless you want to peel the cheese and toppings off and undo all that hard work, you’ll take this advice.  Yes, convection oven frozen Pizza is possible. How to Make Your FROZEN PIZZA Taste 10x Better! Turn your oven all the way up to 550 (that’s the limit on most home ovens) and preheat your pizza stone right inside. Why? If you’re not an improviser by nature, that’s okay. If you're not likely to keep fresh dough in the fridge, it's a good idea to always have a frozen pizza on hand, for So what’s the trick? Or, drizzle a little olive oil and lemon juice over the whole thing after it comes out of the oven. Plus, you’ll get an extra sauce pack so you can replicate that unique, Chicago-style pizza pie from wherever home is for you. At... …Well, Except for This One. Frankly, it’s a curse because frozen pizza isn’t particularly known to be, well, good pizza. Now that we’ve moved beyond the basics of frozen pizza/oven dynamics, you’ll need to come up with some hacks for getting that pie into tip-top shape. But there’s hope: this yummy selection of frozen pizza upgrades. Toss the cardboard and put your pizza in the oven Place your pizza on a pizza stone or directly on the middle rack. Chances are good you might not have all that much foresight when you make frozen pizza. 1. we’ve got a whole guide for you right here, Shredded chicken, barbecue sauce and sautéed onions, Bacon, jalapenos and your favorite hot sauce. Why the exception? In fact, with a little creativity, some might even qualify as “good.” To help you out, we’ve compiled a guide with tips and tricks to help you hone the underrated craft of how to cook a frozen pizza. These days there’s everything from white pies with chicken pesto to Mexican pizzas with refried beans. The benefit here is this: if you’re working with a real cheap frozen pizza, you don’t have a lot to lose. If you’re working with a bad pizza or even a mediocre one, your best bet is to add more cheese. They complain the crust is too soggy and tell me my homemade pizza is way better. A pizza screen is a round baking tool that’s made from expanded aluminum with a solid aluminum rim. If you have a pizza stone or cast iron skillet, put that in the oven until it reaches max heat and cook your pizza on the hot surface. I could tell they were holding in their grunts and groans. If not, set the pizza right on the rack . Add garlic-infused oil or chili oil for something that’ll breathe new life into an icebox pizza. : SUPER EASY! Pizzas bake quickly and evenly in ovens that reach 700-1,000 degrees. But there’s plenty of creative toppings you can add that’ll elevate any pie in a jiffy. No stone? At least read these over before making your pizza. Rather than cranking up the heat all the way, as you would with a thin-crust pizza from the market, the deep-dish pizza requires a bit more patience. "@type": "Organization", This method keeps the risks of thermal shock at bay while not affecting the taste in any way. }. Best Way to Cook a Frozen Pizza Read and Follow the Directions…. Let’s start with a few very basic things. "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/oE56p1Qa4nE" It’s difficult to enhance a frozen pizza that starts out as... 2. Peruse the menu of your favorite pizza parlor for inspiration or consider which pizzas you tend to always order. It’s delicious! The frozen pie gets an instant makeover the second you add anything fresh to the mix. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and starts to brown. Place the pizza directly on the oven rack to maximize air circulation, or preferably place it directly on a hot pizza stone or a cast iron skillet/baking pan (which you’d heat in the oven first). Place frozen pizza on a pizza stone, large pizza pan or pizza screen. Because the Chicago-style pie is a bigger, denser, doughier experience, your cooking rules change a little. 1. She loves chocolate and peanut butter, Coca Cola, and burger joints. Feeling more adventurous? Before you rip off the cellophane, lay the pizza cheese-side-down on a flat working surface. Use a Pizza Stone. Frozen pizza is a hidden gem in most grocery stores, especially for a quick ready-to-eat meal. Strip off those weird pepperoni nuggets that came with the pizza in favor of some higher-quality meat. But between the potentially processed cheese, pepperoni and more, go easy on the sodium. It’s often a last-minute decision spurred by convenience. At Giordano’s, we’d be remiss not to include some deep-dish reheating advice. If you want a crusty base add a tiny amount of cooking oil to make it crusty. … Either way, whenever you decide to cut up your pizza, ensure you do it while it is still frozen. Got produce to use up? Why the exception? And speaking of sauce, hot sauce — from Pete’s to Sriracha to Tabasco — is always a welcome on any pizza, regardless of quality or other toppings. Click here for a look at your ordering options, instructions, and beyond. Whenever cooking a frozen pizza, rearrange the ingredients before you cook it so that when you cut through it, it makes for a cleaner slice. It really did resemble brick oven-style pizza! Here, seven upgrades to try now. From there, you can improvise. Don’t feel trapped by the classic conventions of Italian pizza. Unfortunately, a soggy or burnt crust ruins the entire pizza. These ovens get a lot hotter than your standard home version. Katie Bingham-Smith is a freelance writer living in Maine with her three kids and two dogs. Olive oil can take anything from basic bread to boring veggies to new heights. I knew as soon as I cut into the pizza that the texture was different. This mimics the environment commercial pizzas are baked in, according to the Reddit user, who notes that pizzas baked in a pizzeria are usually prepared in stone ovens that can get up to anywhere between 700 and 1,000 degrees. And no, we’re not telling you to destroy your pizza. Our hunger pangs do get in the way from time to time. A 7-inch pizza needs 7-10 minutes to cook while pizza rolls need 12-16 minutes to cook. These holes will give the pizza some ventilation. He writes: Having recently done a lot of experimenting with “upgrading” cheap frozen pizzas to make them taste less, well, cheap and frozen, this has been by far the most important trick. Typically, you bake frozen pizza in the oven or the microwave, but doing so often fails to get that crispy crust that some people prefer. Or, go another direction and incorporate cheddar cheese, chevre or gorgonzola. Don’t be afraid to experiment! It’s the lack of fresh ingredients and all-around flavor. In fact, with a little creativity, some might even qualify as “good.” To help you out, we’ve compiled a guide with tips and tricks to help you hone the underrated craft of how to cook a frozen pizza. Add some jarred pesto or a drizzle of alfredo sauce, bruschetta, or a red pepper puree. Cutting it after it has thawed as you wait for your toaster oven to preheat could easily result in a mess on your kitchen counter because the toppings and cheese will start overflowing. Well, that frosty rock of a pizza isn’t quite ready to get in the oven. Especially where time is concerned. That’s me when I forget to plan something for dinner. Just know that our frozen pies require a slightly different approach. After you add your toppings of choice, layer on some swirls of something that works with the existing flavors. Trust us with this. The crust is sometimes indistinguishable from the cardboard it’s packaged with—and the fact is, three sad little pieces of pepperoni do not make for robust toppings. Sad right? No one wants to reattach pizza cheese like a bad wig, right? Well, it’s simple — because you can have Giordano’s shipped right to your house even if you’re far from one of our restaurants. The oil will help the crust crisp and achieve that beautiful golden brown you thought was only possible with delivery. Other options include thin-sliced prosciutto, oregano, parmesan cheese, olive oil or even a little honey (seriously). After cooking it for some time, put the pizza on the oven stone. Get creative! "duration": "PT0M53S", "uploadDate": "2020-10-22T08:00:00+08:00", Popping a frozen pizza in the oven makes for a fast meal. You’re working with limited resources rather than artisanal-quality equipment. "thumbnailUrl": "https://img.youtube.com/vi/oE56p1Qa4nE/1.jpg", This is easy enough when you buy a few frozen pies and leave them in your car for a few hours while you finish running errands. Reserved. If you prefer a fully cooked egg, do this step about 10 minutes before the pizza is done cooking. If you have a baking stone, place it in the oven as it heats; frozen pizzas can also be baked on the foil used to wrap them. "publisher": { A $3 cheese pizza from the gas station doesn’t exactly have the pizzazz of a professional pie, high heat temperatures and thawing action aside. Cook for five to eight minutes — and that’s it. Chop up some leftover lunch meat or shred some chicken over the top. While it's possible to go overboard in the cheese department, an extra sprinkling of some higher quality stuff can greatly improve a frozen pizza. Best way on how to cook frozen pizza. Add some vegetables to the mix. "logo": { Add Romano, parmesan or blue cheese for something pungent with a dash of nuttiness. Don’t worry about the other toppings — they’ll mix well with the breakfast addition. Bake the pizza for 5-8 minutes. All you have to know the settings of the oven. Smoked mozzarella will give you that same texture but adds another layer of complexity to the dish. Frozen pizza. Every once in a while I am asked if the Baking Steel would work it's magic on a frozen pizza. Easter Dinner Ideas Without Ham (or Lamb), What People Want from a Healer in the Midst of a Pandemic, A Middle School Math Teacher Planning Lessons and Lunch, The Columbus, OH-based Forager Who's Become a TikTok Star, A Food Justice Advocate and Mother Talks Breastfeeding and Herb Gardens, Bryant Terry's Sautéed Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes, Vivian Howard's Baked Pimento Cheese and Sausage, The Best Frozen Pizza You Can Buy at the Grocery Store, a hack claiming to be “the best way to cook frozen pizza,”. It’s delicious in its own right—especially for how convenient it is to “make.” But with a few fresh toppings, you can take your humble pie from good to gourmet. A crispy crust adds to the enjoyment of eating the pie. "height": 127 It lets steam escape rather than keeping excess moisture trapped inside. And trust us: it also gives you all the gooey cheese you’ll find in-house, minus the planning ahead. If it’s bland, salt probably isn’t your biggest problem. Meanwhile, toss the pie in the microwave and cook on high for 6 minutes. Find Ratings Microwave Ovens. Add a few more minutes if you want the pizza to get crispier. It is potentially unlikely that the pizza will be as good as your local pickup spot. If you happen to have leftover pizza stored in the fridge, we’ve got a whole guide for you right here. Who knows, it just might be tomorrow! Throw it on. Pizza ovens cook at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees F. You can't get that hot in … To make a really crisp and great tasting crust, I have found that the pampered chef pizza baking dish is the very best. Because professional pizza establishments — like Giordano’s — come equipped with their very own pizza-specific oven. Here are some flavor combinations sure to bring the taste of success to even the saddest frozen pizzas. I just bought store-brand pizza, nothing fancy or expensive. Once it’s hot enough, slide the frozen pizza onto the heated stone and bake it for about five to eight minutes. Just place the pizza directly on the center rack and let it be. Hey, we’re not knocking frozen pizza. The Pizza Stone usually captures heat and makes the cooking temperature of the base of the crust higher than the oven temperature. Cook for at least 10 minutes only to see your delicious, pizza is ready to eat. These are a great choice if a pizza stone is not an option. Reddit user numbahtwelve says to fully thaw the pizza and crank your oven to the hottest temperature it will go (not the broil setting). Unwrap the pizzas, discard the plastic wrap, and slide into the oven. Whether you make it yourself, get delivery or buy it pre-made, pizza is an easy crowd pleaser. "url": "https://giordanos.com/wp-content/uploads/ui__logo-red.png", All Rights So just do it the one time and place your pie in the oven. At Giordano’s, we’d be remiss not to include some deep-dish reheating advice. That way, it stays in place as you cut. There are a million (give or take) varieties of frozen pizza in your local grocery store. We’d suggest making a summery pie with some arugula, fresh basil and sliced tomato. Knowing how to cook frozen pizza can help transform an ordinary meal into a restaurant-quality dish. Thawing frozen pizza before baking can shave some time off of the cooking process. Pizza, in all of its many iterations and abominations, is gobbled up with gusto regardless of quality and price. Not 12 or 15. There’s a reason there are instructions for preparation on the back of the box. From dining out at the best pizza places in the country to a humble frozen pie — a perfect backup dinner to have in the freezer just in case — pizza has always got you covered. Generally, the hotter the oven, the better the pizza will be. Because the Chicago-style pie is a bigger, denser, doughier experience, your cooking rules change a little. Remove from the oven, crack an egg or two over the top, put it back in the oven and let it run its course. Cooking the Pizza Better 1. These types of cheeses are salty and often sour and will help cut down on the overall sweetness if you’ve got a pie with a particularly corn-syrupy sauce. (Well, if you want to get fancy, numbahtwelve suggests brushing your pie with olive oil and sprinkling with garlic powder, but I skipped that step.). No problem. "name": "Giordano's", For even more details, click here for our .pdf printout. I’m a working single mom with three kids, and I’ve definitely been known to heat up a couple of frozen pizzas, bust out the paper plates, and eat in front of the television with my kiddos. If you want to do things right, leave your pizza out for a few hours before plopping it in there or leave it in the fridge the night before. Allow your pizza to defrost for 1-2 hours. Cooking Frozen Pizza on a Campfire Even if you are camping you can still cook a frozen pizza over the campfire. Use a pizza stone or baking sheet rather than attempting to wrangle a soggy, limp pizza onto your oven’s rack. If you have a pizza stone or cast iron skillet, put that in the oven until it reaches max heat and cook your pizza on the hot surface. But when it comes to the pre-made frozen variety, there are so many options to choose from that it’s hard to know where to begin. A dorm-room staple, easy dinner for the kids, or — let’s be honest — what we eat when no one is there to watch. My kids were skeptical when they saw me come home with two boxes in hand. Voila! Well, that frosty rock of a pizza isn’t quite ready to get in … There’s a reason there are instructions for preparation on the back of the box. It’s the details that make frozen pizza taste fresh, after all. On a warm day, instead of heating up your oven, take the pizza outside to cook on your grill, guaranteeing a very crispy pizza crust. As you let the cheese set (remember? Why even bring up frozen pizza if we specialize in the fresh stuff? Take the pizza out of its box and wrapping and let it sit on... 3. Brush some olive oil and garlic over the crust before placing the pie in the oven. The next key step in attaining frozen pizza nirvana is to preheat your oven as high as it will go. © Giordano's 2021. They are excited for our next pizza night. Wait a few minutes before shredding that thing with your pizza cutter. After its time in the microwave, spread the extra pack of sauce over the top of the pizza. } For hundreds more unexpected cooking tips check out Taste of Home Kitchen Hacks , a new kind of cookbook filled with 150+ hacks, plus recipes to go along with them. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? The cheese possibilities are endless. Or, add some diced scallions and sundried tomatoes. (Just don’t turn the broiler on.). Now place your frozen pizza onto the rack of the fryer. }, One Reddit user swears by mimicking that method of cooking at home – setting the oven as high as it will go (without entering a broil mode) and flash baking the pizza for 5-8 minutes. I’m not kidding. Bake the frozen pizzas. Cook for five to eight minutes — and that’s it. Note: If your pizza is frozen, you’ll have to let it thaw to room-temperature beforehand – and make sure you cook it immediately after thawing. Most frozen pies come standard with a hefty dose of sodium. If you bake your pizza while it’s still frozen, the outer layer of frost will melt and turn to steam, leaving the crust and toppings a soggy, chewy mess. The old fridge raid is a great way to eliminate food waste and make that pizza into a real work of art. The idea is to mimic commercial ovens, which “get up to 700 to 1000 degrees, which is why they bake so quickly and end up with nice crispy crusts and un-burned everything else.” I set mine for 550 degrees. You’ve got the crispy crust and melty cheese of a restaurant-quality pie. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best pie possible. Consumer Reports News: March 23, 2013 09:08 AM. Thaw the frozen pizza and preheat your oven to the highest temperature setting (but not broil). You can see more of her work on Scary Mommy, Babble, She Knows, and Mom.me. Additionally, you’ll want to let the pizza cook as usual, but take the pizza out about 6-8 minutes before it’s done. And the kicker? You can still recreate that crispiness yourself. Yes, some instructions state that you should not thaw frozen pizza. The purpose of cooking your pizza on the middle rack is to ensure that it cooks evenly and that your crust comes out nice and crispy. As much as I love a compliment, I also love easy meals — and I refuse to give up on frozen pizza night. Put the frozen pizza in the oven on the center rack and bake for 12 to 18 minutes.