How to Reheat Pizza in Air Fryer: Easy Tips for Perfectly Crispy and Delicious Slices

There’s nothing quite like leftover pizza, but reheating it can be tricky. Microwaves often leave it soggy, and ovens take forever. That’s where your air fryer comes to the rescue. It’s the perfect tool to bring back that crispy crust and gooey cheese without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Using an air fryer to reheat pizza is quick, easy, and delivers results that taste almost as good as freshly baked. Whether it’s a late-night snack or a next-day lunch, you’ll love how effortlessly the air fryer transforms cold pizza into a slice of perfection. Plus, it’s energy-efficient and saves you time.

Why Use An Air Fryer To Reheat Pizza?

Using an air fryer to reheat pizza is a game-changer. It offers a quick, hassle-free way to warm up your slices while preserving the original flavors and textures. Unlike a microwave, which can leave your pizza soggy, the air fryer revives its crisp crust and perfectly melts the cheese. Additionally, it’s significantly faster than preheating and using a conventional oven, making it an efficient choice for busy days.

The air fryer’s rapid circulation of hot air ensures even reheating, preventing cold spots or overly dried-out edges. This method is also energy-efficient, using less electricity compared to an oven. Whether you’re reheating a thin-crust pizza or a deep-dish slice, the air fryer can handle it without compromising the taste or quality of your meal. It’s the perfect tool for giving your leftover pizza a fresh-from-the-oven feel.

Tools And Equipment Needed

To perfectly reheat your pizza in an air fryer, you’ll need a few essential tools and pieces of equipment. Gather everything below to ensure an efficient and seamless reheating process:

Air Fryer: A vital tool for this method. Any model or size will work as long as it has a basket or tray for placing pizza slices.
Tongs: Use tongs to safely place or remove hot pizza slices from the air fryer without burning your hands.
Parchment Paper (Optional): Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Ensure it’s air fryer-safe.
Knife Or Scissors (Optional): Trim pizza slices to fit smaller air fryer baskets, if needed.

With these simple tools, you’re ready to reheat pizza efficiently and achieve a crispy crust while maintaining the original flavors.

Ingredients

To reheat pizza in an air fryer, you need just a few essential items. Gather these simple ingredients and optional add-ons to ensure your pizza reheats perfectly.

Leftover Pizza

1-4 slices of leftover pizza, any type (thin crust, deep dish, or stuffed crust)

1 teaspoon olive oil spray (to enhance crispiness)
Shredded cheese (to add extra gooeyness if desired)
Fresh herbs, such as basil or oregano (for added flavor)
Red pepper flakes (for a spicy kick)
Garlic powder (for seasoning)

Directions

Reheating pizza in an air fryer is quick and easy, requiring just a few steps to achieve crispy perfection. Follow these directions to transform your leftover pizza into a hot, delicious treat.

Prep The Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for about 3 minutes. This ensures even heating throughout the process.
Optionally, line the air fryer basket with a sheet of parchment paper to prevent the cheese from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
Avoid overcrowding the basket so that hot air circulates properly around the slices for even reheating.

Lightly spritz the crust of your pizza slices with olive oil spray to enhance the crispiness and flavor.
If desired, sprinkle optional toppings like shredded cheese, fresh basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, or garlic powder for an added flavor boost.
Trim any slices that are too large with scissors or a knife to ensure they fit comfortably in the air fryer basket.

Instructions

Reheating pizza in an air fryer is a simple and efficient way to enjoy your leftover slices, whether you’re warming one slice or several. Follow these detailed steps for perfectly crispy and gooey pizza every time.

Reheating A Single Slice

Preheat The Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F and preheat it for 3 minutes. This ensures even heating.
Prepare The Basket: Optionally, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Place The Slice: Lay a single slice of pizza flat in the center of the basket. Do not let it overlap the edges.
Enhance The Crust: Lightly spritz olive oil spray over the crust to add crispiness while reheating.
Heat: Close the basket and heat the slice for 3-4 minutes. Check at the 3-minute mark to ensure the slice doesn’t overcook.
Check And Adjust: If needed, heat for an extra minute until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted thoroughly.

Preheat The Air Fryer: Begin by preheating your air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes to ensure optimal results.
Prepare The Basket: Optionally, line the bottom of the basket with parchment paper for quick cleanup.
Position The Slices: Arrange 2-4 slices in a single layer with a small gap between each for proper air circulation. Avoid stacking slices.
Spritz The Crust: Lightly spray olive oil on all the crusts to boost crispiness.
Enhance Flavor (Optional): Sprinkle shredded cheese, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, or garlic powder for added taste before heating.
Reheat: Close the air fryer basket and heat for 4-5 minutes. Check at the 4-minute mark to avoid overcooking.
Monitor And Adjust: Heat for another 1-2 minutes if necessary, depending on the thickness of the crust and your preferred level of crispiness.

By using these precise steps, you’ll have reheated pizza slices with a golden crust and perfectly melted cheese, all in just a few minutes.

Tips For Perfectly Reheated Pizza

Reheating pizza in an air fryer is simple, but knowing a few tips can make a big difference in achieving restaurant-quality results. Follow these tips to ensure your reheated pizza comes out hot, crispy, and delicious every time:

1. Preheat The Air Fryer

Always preheat your air fryer to 350°F for about 3 minutes before reheating the pizza. Preheating ensures the air fryer reaches an even temperature, allowing the pizza to heat consistently without overcooking or undercooking certain areas.

2. Avoid Overcrowding The Basket

Arrange your pizza slices in a single layer without stacking them. Ensure there’s enough space between slices to allow hot air to circulate freely. This prevents soggy spots and ensures both the crust and toppings heat evenly.

3. Test And Adjust Cooking Time

Start with the recommended reheating time of 3-4 minutes for a single slice or 4-5 minutes for multiple slices. Check the pizza’s doneness halfway through and add more time in 30-second increments if needed. Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model and the thickness of the crust.

4. Spritz The Crust For Extra Crispiness

Lightly spritz your pizza crust with olive oil spray before reheating. This step enhances the crust’s texture, delivering that perfect crunch without over-drying it.

5. Use Parchment Paper For Easy Cleanup

If you’re reheating pizza with extra cheese or oily toppings, lining the air fryer basket with parchment paper can prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. Ensure the paper is snug so it doesn’t block the airflow.

6. Revitalize With Fresh Toppings

To recreate a fresh flavor, consider adding shredded cheese, fresh herbs like basil or oregano, or a drizzle of olive oil before reheating. The heat will melt the cheese and release the herbs’ aroma, giving your leftovers a gourmet twist.

7. Monitor Cheese Melting

Keep a close eye on your pizza while reheating. Overheating can cause the cheese to become rubbery or overly crisp. Remove the slice as soon as the cheese begins to bubble for the perfect gooey texture.

8. Reheat In Portions

For larger quantities, reheat pizza in batches to avoid overfilling the air fryer. Tackling a few slices at a time ensures each piece reheats perfectly with no compromise on taste or texture.

By following these tips, you’ll consistently transform your leftover pizza into a crispy, cheesy treat that tastes as if it just came out of the oven.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When reheating pizza in an air fryer, you can easily make errors that affect the flavor, texture, or appearance of your slices. Understanding these common mistakes helps you achieve reheated pizza that tastes as fresh as possible.

1. Skipping Preheating The Air Fryer

Failing to preheat your air fryer can lead to uneven heating and a longer reheating process. Always preheat to 350°F before placing your pizza slices inside. This ensures a consistent crispy crust and gooey cheese.

2. Overcrowding The Basket

Placing too many slices in the air fryer basket at once prevents proper air circulation. This results in unevenly reheated pizza, with some slices remaining cold or undercooked. Arrange slices in a single layer with space between them.

3. Using High Temperatures

Reheating at temperatures above 400°F might seem like a quick solution but can lead to burnt edges or dried-out cheese. Stick to a moderate temperature of 350°F for optimal results.

4. Neglecting To Monitor Cooking Time

Every air fryer and pizza type varies. Leaving slices unattended can cause overheating or burning. Always start with 3-4 minutes of reheating and check frequently to ensure the pizza is perfectly warm without overcooking.

5. Forgetting To Spritz The Crust

Skipping a light spritz of olive oil on the crust can lead to dryness. A quick spray keeps the crust crispy on the outside while staying soft inside.

6. Ignoring Residual Toppings

Loose toppings like pepperoni or mushrooms can fall off and end up burnt or stuck in the air fryer. Check your pizza for loose toppings before reheating or secure them gently back onto the slice.

7. Not Using Parchment Paper When Needed

Some air fryer baskets or trays can cause cheese or sauce to stick, leading to messy cleanup and damaged pizza. Use parchment paper sparingly to protect slices and simplify cleaning without hindering airflow.

8. Reheating Cold Pizza Directly From The Fridge

Putting cold pizza into the air fryer without letting it sit out for 5-10 minutes may lead to uneven reheating. Allow slices to reach closer to room temperature for consistent warmth throughout.

By avoiding these mistakes, you ensure your reheated pizza retains its delicious flavors with the perfect blend of a crispy crust and melty toppings.

Adjustments For Different Types Of Pizza

Different types of pizza require slight adjustments to achieve the best results in your air fryer. Tailor the cooking process to suit the crust thickness and toppings for optimal flavor and texture.

Thin-Crust Pizza

Thin-crust pizzas are delicate and crisp by nature, so take care when reheating them. Here’s how you can achieve perfection:

Temperature: Set your air fryer to 350°F to avoid over-browning the thin crust.
Time: Reheat for 3-4 minutes, checking after 3 minutes to ensure the edges don’t burn.
Placement: Arrange slices in a single layer without overlapping for even reheating.
Optional Spritz: Lightly spritz the crust with olive oil to maintain its crunchiness.

By following these steps, your thin-crust pizza will come out just as crispy and flavorful as it was fresh.

Deep-Dish Pizza

Reheating deep-dish pizza requires more time and care due to the thicker crust and heavy toppings. Here’s how to handle it:

Temperature: Lower the air fryer temperature to 325°F to allow the interior to heat thoroughly without drying out the crust.
Time: Reheat for 5-6 minutes, checking every minute after 5 minutes to gauge doneness.
Covering Option: If you notice the cheese over-melting or browning too much, lightly cover the top with aluminum foil.
Layering: You may need to reheat in batches if slices are too large to fit properly.
Test the Center: Use a fork to ensure the middle is heated evenly before serving.

These minor adjustments will ensure your deep-dish pizza reheats evenly, with a warm, gooey center and a perfectly cooked crust.

Storing And Reheating Leftovers Again

When dealing with leftover pizza, proper storage is crucial to preserve its flavor and texture. After enjoying part of your pizza, let the remaining slices cool to room temperature before storing. Avoid leaving pizza out for more than two hours to prevent bacterial growth. Use airtight containers or wrap each slice in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it fresh. For best results, place the wrapped slices in a zip-top bag or food storage container before refrigerating. Properly stored pizza can last for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.

Reheating leftover pizza multiple times can be challenging, but with an air fryer, you can still achieve delicious results. To reheat leftovers for the second time:

Preheat The Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F and allow it to preheat for 3-5 minutes. Preheating ensures even heat distribution.
Prepare The Pizza: Remove your slices from the fridge and let them sit for 5-10 minutes to reduce the chill. Arrange slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket; avoid stacking to maintain even heating. Use parchment paper if desired for easier cleanup.
Lightly Spritz The Crust: Spray the crust with a light coating of olive oil to restore its crispy texture.
Reheat: Cook for 3-4 minutes for thin-crust pizza or 5-6 minutes for thick-crust or deep-dish styles. For second reheats, check slices after halfway through the cooking time to ensure they don’t dry out or overcook.
Check For Doneness: Ensure the cheese is melted and the crust is crisp by visually inspecting the slices. If needed, add an extra minute in the air fryer while closely monitoring.

By following the proper storage and reheating methods, you can keep your leftover pizza tasting delicious even after multiple reheats.

Conclusion

Reheating pizza in an air fryer is a simple yet effective way to bring your leftovers back to life. With its ability to deliver a crispy crust and perfectly melted toppings in just minutes, the air fryer ensures your pizza tastes as good as it did the first time. By following the right steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can enjoy restaurant-quality results without hassle. Whether it’s thin-crust or deep-dish, your air fryer is the ultimate tool for transforming cold pizza into a delicious meal you’ll savor every time.