A pizza box is designed to keep pizza warm and transport cooked pizza while holding its original shape. Although freshly baked pizza is delivered in a pizza box, that does not make it the best option for storage or reheating.
Leaving leftover pizza slices in the box is not the best solution. The cardboard is not airtight, and air freely circulates around the slices causing it to dehydrate quickly when placed in the refrigerator and freezer.
When it comes to reheating pizza in the oven to revive crisp and juiciness, you may question whether it is safe to throw the pizza box in the oven as well.
Can you put pizza box in oven? No, you should not put a pizza box in the oven. It poses an increased risk of catching fire, and the pizza can absorb the taste of cardboard even at low temperatures.
Instead of using a pizza box to reheat the leftovers, consider transferring the pizza onto a pizza stone, oven rack, pizza pan, or aluminum foil for better results.
Most pizza boxes are made of cardboard, which is not the most heat-resistant material and cannot withstand high heat in the oven. As a result, there is a potential risk of danger when putting a pizza box in the oven.
Answered below are frequently asked questions about whether placing pizza box in the oven is safe. Instead, this article offers other easy and quick tips to reheat pizza slices in the oven so that you avoid the potential dangers of using a pizza box.
Is it safe to put pizza box in oven?
No, it is not safe to put pizza box in the oven. The high heat from an oven may cause the cardboard to catch on fire, especially at temperatures around 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, chemicals are often applied on the inside of a pizza box to create an anti-grease layer so the box does not become too saturated. As a result, these chemicals are susceptible to disintegrate upon direct heating, and they may leach into your food presenting health issues when consumed.
Furthermore, the cardboard may ignite when it reaches a temperature of 427 degrees Fahrenheit or 219 degrees Celsius.
Unless the pizza box has an oven-safe symbol or indication, transferring to an oven-safe dish is recommended for reheating in the oven.
Can you put pizza boxes in the oven to warm up?
No, you should not put pizza boxes in the oven to warm up food. To reheat pizza, it is best to transfer the slices onto an oven-friendly dish to prevent from catching fire or leaching harmful chemicals.
To keep pizza warm, the recommended temperature range is 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 65 to 93 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid heating over 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93 degrees Celsius for longer than 30 minutes.
Using a pizza box is a good way to keep the warmth retained in the oven. However, it is not a good match for reheating at high temperatures.
What temperature can you put a pizza box in the oven?
In order to safely put a pizza box in the oven, use the lowest degree as possible. Typically, 170 degrees Fahrenheit or 76 degree Celsius is a warming setting that allows minimal heat to keep a pizza box warm.
It is highly recommended to keep the temperature below 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93 degrees Celsius so the pizza box does not overheat.
The lowest heat setting of an oven actually imitates a similar climate to temperatures inside the pizza box. In addition, the cardboard will not catch on fire as it will when the oven is set over 400 degree Fahrenheit.
When uncertain, look for an oven-safe symbol on the bottom of the cardboard box. To maximize the flavor and texture of leftover pizza, safely transfer into an oven-friendly dish for reheating.
How long do you put a box pizza in the oven?
The only way to put a pizza box in the oven is applying the lowest temperature. Aside from that, it is not recommend to use a pizza box for reheating on higher temperatures.
At 170 degrees Fahrenheit or 76 degree Celsius or less, Keep the pizza box in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until you see the cheese bubble.
Leaving the pizza box more than 30 minutes is risky because it may catch on fire or leach harmful chemicals into your food as the anti-grease layer starts to melt.
Storing Leftover Pizza
The best way to store leftover pizza is inside a large ziplock bag. Allow the slices to fully cool down, then stack slices on top of each other with a piece of wax paper between the layers.
Remove as much air as possible from the resealable bag, and place in the fridge or freezer to keep fresh. The pizza will not be exposed to air that causes it to turn stale or dehydrate.
- In the refrigerator, leftover pizza will remain edible for up to 3 days.
- In the freezer, leftover pizza will remain edible for up to a month.
Transfer to an oven safe container and reheat until the cheese bubbles and pizza is crispy.
Pizza Box in Oven: Conclusion
Pizza boxes are useful to keep freshly baked pizza moist, warm and mobile for delivery or takeout. However, it is not the best container for storing or reheating leftover slices.
Pizza boxes are generally made out of cardboard, which lacks durability at extreme heat or resistance to air circulation. In fact, storing the leftovers in a pizza box will result in dehydration and stale taste overtime.
Reheating pizza in the oven using the box may lead to catching fire.
The ultimate usage for a pizza box is to keep food warm at the lowest oven setting for 10 to 15 minutes.
For reheating purposes, transfer the slices on a preheated pizza stone, oven rack, pizza pan, or aluminum foil to keep the crust crispy and juicy without drying out.
Using a pizza box for storage or reheating in not the best way to treat leftover pizza. Store pizza in a resealable bag to lock in moisture and prevent drying out, the reheat on an oven safe container to prevent potential dangers.