How long can frozen pizza be left out? If you have frozen pizza, you probably end up asking the same question. Let’s talk about it in this post.
Freezing pizza is the best way to keep its shelf life long. When needed, you just need to thaw it or leave it at room temperature before heating.
However, although thawing pizza is easy, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration. One of which is the time that pizza should be left out at room temperature before cooking.
So, how long can frozen pizza be left out? Frozen pizza can be left out for not more than two hours. As a general rule, foods that are left at room temperature for more than two hours are not safe to eat even after heating.
The main reason behind this is that at room temperature, bacterial growth is rapid. As the food, or in this instance, pizza gets warm, bacteria spread faster. So leaving the pizza for more than two hours is not a good idea.
Many food experts suggest that instead of thawing, frozen pizza should be cooked immediately as it comes out from the fridge. The reason for this is not for safety but to eat it at its best quality.
But cooking frozen pizza will not only save the flavor but also keep you safe. There will be no more thawing.
How to Cook Frozen Pizza?
As mentioned, you can directly cook pizza without thawing. This is the best way to achieve great flavor as well as safety.
In this post, I will share with you two quick and easy ways you can do to cook a frozen pizza. Any of these ways are easy and quick. You can enjoy delicious pizza in a short period of time.
Here are the simple steps…
1. Baking Frozen Pizza in the Oven
Cooking frozen pizza in the oven is one of the best ways. Although it is not the quickest method, it works well if you have enough time to cook.
All you need to do is to follow the instructions specified on its box. The most important one is the temperature the pizza will be cooked. The commonly recommended temperature range is between 375 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here’s what to do when cooking frozen pizza in the oven:
1. Put the pizza o the baking sheet. Use the nonstick one for a better result. Make sure that it is sitting flat on the center of the baking sheet.
2. Place the pizza inside the oven. Make sure that it is in the center of the rack. This will give an equal amount of heat from the top and bottom of the oven.
3. Always follow the recommended baking time. Pizza will be cooked for about 15 to 25 minutes. But the time is arbitrary depending on the toppings and the size itself. Bigger and thicker pizza will take a longer time to cook completely.
4. Set a timer to make sure that you won’t forget the time. This is optional though. But I found it helpful especially if you are multitasking.
5. As the pizza cooked through, remove it from the oven.
6. Let the pizza cool for a couple of minutes. Then slice it. Use a pizza cutter to somehow get an equal size of slices.
Enjoy the pizza.
2. Baking Frozen Pizza in the Microwave
Another great way to bake pizza is in the microwave. This might be the fastest way. This method is perfect if you don’t have enough time to cook for dinner. The good thing is that it only involves a few steps.
Here’s what to do when cooking frozen pizza in the microwave:
1. Put the pizza in the center of the microwave-safe plate.
2. Follow the recommended time when cooking pizza in the microwave. On high heat, it can be completely cooked within 3 to 4 minutes. Follow the cooking instructions to ensure a successful result.
3. Remove the pizza from the microwave after it is cooked through.
4. Let it cool for a couple of minutes, slice, and serve!
There you go. You have just successfully cooked pizza in the microwave.
Cooking frozen pizza is quick and simple. However, there are many questions you might have come across. I included some of the common questions I often get from my readers.
Is A Frozen Pizza Still Good Left Out Overnight?
Storing perishable foods is crucial. This is because these types of foods are vulnerable to rapid bacterial growth.
It is for this reason why a frozen pizza should not be left out overnight. The U.S Department of Agriculture, for instance, does not recommend leaving pizza or any food at room temperature for more than two hours.
Personally, I do not leave frozen pizza at room temperature for several hours. Bacteria can grow rapidly after two hours at room temperature. Foods that are left at room temperature for more than two hours are not safe to eat.
How Long Can You Keep Leftover Frozen Pizza?
The shelf life of perishable foods in the freezer depends on many factors. The first one is the type of container being used. If you want to keep pizza for a long period of time, you need to put it inside an airtight container.
You can also wrap it with plastic or aluminum foil. Leftover frozen pizza can last for about 1 to 2 months if stored properly.
When needed, you can thaw the pizza in the refrigerator before reheating. Or, you can put it straight into the oven or microwave before eating it.
I suggest that, once you reheat the leftover, consume it and do not reheat it again. Perishable foods are meant for reheating once.
Can You Get Food Poisoning from Left Out Pizza?
Eating a left out pizza can put you in a dangerous situation. It increases the risk of having illnesses associated with eating spoiled foods.
Experts do not recommend eating foods that are thawed or left out at room temperature for too long. It is not worthy of the risk.
How Can You Tell If Pizza is Bad?
It is easy to identify spoiled food. For pizza, you know it is already bad when it has a dry and hard texture, there are some molds growing, and of course, undesirable odor.
This usually happens when you left out pizza at room temperature for too long. I do not recommend eating it. Reheating won’t resolve the problem. The best thing to do with a pizza that has gone bad is to discard it.
Is a Frozen Pizza Safe to Eat if It’s Been Out of the Freezer for One Hour Before Cooking?
Yes, it safe to eat pizza that has been thawed at room temperature for one hour before cooking. Thawing at room temperature is one of the common ways people do before cooking pizza.
Thawing helps the pizza to be cooked faster. Also, it allows you to preheat the oven or prepare additional spices for the pizza.
But because thawed pizza can be cooked quickly, you might need to adjust the temperature or the time of your cooking tool. I suggest that you follow the instructions on the label.
Final Thought
Pizza is one of the perishable foods that need to be stored properly in the fridge. When left at room temperature, it potentially becomes spoiled in a short period of time.
Frozen pizza can only be left out for 1 to 2 hours at room temperature. For more than two hours, pizza will not be safe to eat even after heating.
The main reason is that bacteria grow rapidly in perishable foods at a warm temperatures. If pizza is left at room temperature for 3 hours or more, discarding it is the best thing to do.
Always go with the safe route. It is not worthy to take some risks.
I hope this helps.
