Whether you buy a fresh pizza and then freeze it or purchase one directly from the frozen aisle, pizza is a staple dinner in many households. From ham to pepperoni, the topping options are endless, making it a versatile dinner that the family can enjoy.
However, according to one pizza expert, three simple hacks turn a frozen pizza into a true “fakeaway experience”. James Nice, pizza expert at Craft Pizza, available at Tesco, recommended starting by letting the pizza sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking.
James said: “This is the first step and probably the most important, which many people often skip. If you put a pizza straight from frozen into the oven, the outside, especially the crust and cheese, can cook and brown before the centre has had time to properly heat through.
“Letting pizza rest for 20 minutes before putting it in the oven brings the temperature up slightly, so everything bakes evenly, mimicking how fresh dough behaves in a pizzeria oven, giving that balanced crisp on the outside, and soft in the middle.”
A simple yet effective way to “upgrade” your frozen pizza experience is to add a sprinkle of high-quality cheese before it hits the oven.
The expert added: “From being made to entering the oven, the cheese is often the first to slide off the pizza and sometimes even tastes flat.”
By topping it up with some delicious fresh cheese, you can “transform” not only the taste of your pizza but the presentation too.”
James noted: “It’s important not to go overboard here, as adding excessive amounts can ruin the pizza by weighing it down and making it soggy. To see homemade results, sprinkle a dash of low-moisture mozzarella to get that crisp cheese melt and scatter a small helping of parmesan for some extra flavour.”
Lastly, another pizza secret to achieving restaurant-quality pizza at home lies in the position of the pizza in the oven.
The pizza pro recommended placing pizzas in the lower third of the oven. Heat naturally rises, so the bottom section of your oven is where it’s most intense.
James said: “By positioning pizza in the lower third, you’re exposing the base directly to that heat, which helps it cook through and crisp up, just like it would on the stone floor of a pizza oven.
“It can be hard to reheat pizza at home and achieve that same restaurant quality, but again, don’t overthink it. Simply sprinkle some water on the pizza crust before placing it in the oven to reheat.
“The water will stop the crusts from burning and keep them as fresh as possible.”
