The Absolute Best Way to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer

BBQ chicken pizza slice in air fryer

I just got my first air fryer and I'm gonna state the obvious: this thing is pretty dang convenient. The countertop convection oven streamlines my weeknight cooking, whether I'm in the mood for salmon, pork chops—or just want a side of extra-crispy fries. The little oven is also clutch for reheating last night's leftovers.

The air fryer's ability to bring leftovers back to their original glory is kind of remarkable. The super hot blast of heat brings back the freshness, which might even make you look forward to leftovers. One perfect example is pizza. If you microwave it, you end up with a soft, sloppy mess and the oven is a good option, but that takes longer than most of us would like. The air fryer reheats as well (or maybe better) than the oven and it's much faster. Ready to learn how to reheat leftover pizza in the air fryer? Read on for all the easy, cheesy details.

Related: The Beginners' Guide to Air Frying

Why Should You Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer?

Unless you believe that leftover pizza is a dish best served cold, using an air fryer to heat up a slice of last night's pie is the next best thing to popping it back in the oven. Air fryers take pizza from cold to arguably close to its original form in just a few minutes with no preheating necessary. If your goal is to be enjoying a hot and heated-to-perfection slice within 5 minutes of actually thinking of it, an air fryer is the optimal tool for the job.

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Exactly How to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer

The process for reheating pizza in an air fryer is fairly simple, though the amount of time a slice stays in will vary based on thickness of the slice, the amount of toppings and the overall size. The timing can vary a bit by air fryer model as well. With those variables in mind, it might be necessary to adjust the cook time to fit your specific pizza scenario. Another note: It’s not necessary to use any of the preset reheating options, instead, all you need to use is the basic function of the air fryer.

Here are the three basic steps for reheating a slice of pizza in the air fryer.

1. Place your slice of pizza in the center of the air fryer tray.
2. Select a temperature of 350°F and set the timer for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Check on the slice after 2 to 3 minutes and continue cooking as needed. Remove the slice from the air fryer before the crust becomes burnt or too crispy.

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How Long Does it Take to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer?

In most cases, 4 minutes will probably do it, so long as it’s not a deep dish three-meat type of slice. Another factor to consider is whether or not the leftover slices are coming straight out of the fridge. A slice left in the fridge will definitely require most of that 4-minute clock, although a thin crust pie could be reaching its optimal crispiness in just about 3 minutes. A room-temperature slice could be reheated to perfection in just 2 minutes flat.

Should You Line the Air Fryer Basket When You Reheat Pizza?

To line or not to line? That is often the air fryer question. In this case, I found that putting the pizza directly on the bare air fryer basket gave me the crispiest crust, but lining the basket is also an option, especially if you have a slotted heating tray that sits at the bottom of the basket.

If you prefer a softer crust, using tin foil as a liner for the basket will get the job done. On the other hand, parchment paper will yield similar results to the bare surface of the cooking tray and create a crispier crust. And if you want a little combination of both, you can poke holes in the tin foil to encourage airflow during the cooking process. This will help give the crust a little more crisp without going overboard too quickly and burning your precious pizza. And when you line the air fryer basket, make sure that you leave some room for airflow. You don't want to cover the entire basket tightly with foil or parchment.

Some people (especially TikTokker) like to line their air fryers with coffee filters, but that's not generally recommended by air fryer manufacturers because the filters aren't designed to withstand high heat and could potentially catch on fire or start smoking in the air fryer. Also, double-check to make sure you're using parchment paper and not wax paper (that mistake happens more often than you'd think). Wax paper will melt all over the air fryer and make a mess.

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Top Tips for Reheating Pizza in the Air Fryer

• Keep an eye on the slice. All air fryers tend to work a little differently, so as you experiment with the cooking process, be sure to keep a close eye on the pizza to avoid any accidents. The last thing you need is an overcooked, burnt and sad representation of last night’s amazing pizza dinner.

• Don't layer it up. For the best results, arrange your pizza slice in the center of the air fryer basket. If you're reheating multiple slices, arrange them in the air fryer basket so they aren't overlapping. The idea here is to get as much airflow around the slice as possible. Stacking slices is going to get in the way of that.

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