Close
Credit: Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
On those nights when cooking feels like a chore, a quick takeout pizza always comes in clutch. But what happens the next afternoon, when you open the fridge and come face-to-face with a few leftover slices? Maybe you just grab one and power through the cold mozzarella—or perhaps you take it a step further and try reheating it. Plenty of options exist, but each comes with a downside. Pop it in the microwave, and you risk sogginess. Use the oven, and you’ll need to wait at least 15 minutes—assuming your appliance even preheats quickly. In the end, you often wind up with a meal that barely resembles the fresh, piping-hot version you originally devoured.
Sound familiar? If so, you might want to check out a new trend making rounds on the World Wide Web. A few weeks ago, @twisted—a social media account known for food hacks and recipes—dropped a trick for reheating pizza. The video has already racked up over 2 million views, which pushed me to give it a try on a leftover slice. Here’s how that turned out.
The 'Cheese Pocket Pizza' Reheating Hack
When faced with leftover pizza slices, this reheating hack promises to revive them by engulfing them in a gooey cheese pocket. Here's how it works:
First, place a nonstick pan over medium heat—this material prevents the cheese from clinging to the surface—and sprinkle in shredded mozzarella. Let the cheese melt and begin to bubble. Then place your slice, cheese-side down, onto the pan. Continue cooking for another minute, then use a rubber spatula to fold the outer edges of the cheese onto the back of the slice, forming a version of a pocket. Finally, remove the cheese-covered slice from the pan and let it cool slightly before enjoying.
Related
I Asked 4 Chefs the Best Way to Reheat Pizza, and They All Swear By This Technique
I Just Learned the Most Genius Trick for Making Grilled Cheese
Why the Cheese Pocket Pizza Reheating Hack Works
Clearly, this reheating hack targets cheese-lovers. If you don’t mind a remixed version of leftover pizza the next day, then you’ll love this trick. Traditional methods of warming up pizza usually leave you with sad-tasting results, but this upgrade reinvigorates your slice into a gooey, cheesy delight.
With this trick, the edges of the pizza caramelize and crisp up, while the center stays melty. It tastes slightly more decadent, but the flavors remain the same, especially if you use mozzarella as your gooey cheese base. Overall, it’s a genius hack—from start to finish, it takes about three minutes—and I can’t wait to use it every time I have leftover pizza.
Ashia Aubourg
How to Upgrade This Pizza Reheating Hack Even More
The beauty of this method stems from its ability to be tinkered with. For starters, get creative with the cheese you use as the base. Want a smoky finish? Use Gouda. Craving sharper notes? Grate in some Cheddar. It doesn’t end there, either. If you have cured meats like salami or pepperoni in your fridge, sprinkle a few slices on top of the cheese and let it melt together to form an extra hearty and flavorful crust for your pizza. With this reheating trick, you never need to sit through sad leftover pizza again.
Explore more:
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Other
Submit
