How to Cook Frozen Pizza – 3 Best Methods

Last Updated on 19th July 2023 by

I love fresh pizza from Pizza Hut, Dominos or one of the other major chains, and I like to make pizza at home from scratch. The downside to ordering pizza is that it is expensive and often very unhealthy. Those pizzas are usually drowning in fat and oil. The homemade pizza is great but it can be a lot of work, and it’s not always convenient to have all the ingredients on hand.

So, it can be nice to make a quick frozen pizza, simply warming it up to have your dinner. Simple and delightful- the frozen pizza is a good go-to option when you don’t have the money for delivery and you don’t want to go through all of the trouble to make pizza from ingredients at home.

How to cook frozen pizza so it comes out right? I would say just follow the instructions on the packaging, but that’s not always detailed enough. You should know how long to cook frozen pizza and how to make sure it comes out right every time. No one wants a black brick instead of a pizza, but that’s what happens when you don’t cook it properly and when you don’t know how long to cook frozen pizza in the oven.

Let’s look at some of the do’s and don’ts of cooking frozen pizza so that it comes out perfectly every time.

Oven Cooking Tips and Tricks

Let’s start with the basics of how to cook a frozen pizza. It needs to be completely removed from all packaging. There may be a plastic wrap over it or a box it is in, and these need to be trashed for you to cook the pizza properly. They can catch fire if they are left on.

You also need to keep pizza frozen before it goes into the oven. It should go directly from freezer to oven and not be allowed to thaw. It doesn’t need to thaw, and it won’t cause a watery mess in the oven as it cooks. Keeping it frozen ensures a fresh tasting pizza that is delicious and safe to eat. Keeping it frozen before cooking the pizza also ensures that the pizza has the right texture when it comes out of the oven.

There are some exceptions to that rule. If you are looking up how to cook a frozen Papa Murphy’s pizza, the instructions will say not to freeze the pizza. They are meant to be thawed before they are cooked and eaten, so pay attention to the packaging instructions from the manufacturers. They are not going to be the same for every pizza.

Some frozen pizzas come with a small cardboard pan underneath, and you can use that in the oven. It is okay to cook pizza with that cardboard tray to pan under it, and that can double as a cooking tray. This is best not to lay the pizza directly on the oven rack when it is cooking. The cardboard should not catch on fire if you are using regular cooking temperatures.

There is a problem with using cardboard in the oven to cook frozen pizza, though, and it has nothing to do with anything catching on fire. The issue is that some cardboard will prevent the pizza from cooking properly. That would be corrugated cardboard, so check the cardboard that comes with the pizza and be careful about using your own makeshift cardboard baking sheet.

Before you put the pizza in the oven, be sure to preheat the oven. You will need to follow the cooking times and temperatures listed on the packaging. Those are designed to accommodate the pizza size and thickness. Also, if you are trying to bake more than one pizza at a time in the oven, you will need to increase cooking times so that they all cook properly.

Use this same method and these tips for how to cook frozen pizza in convection oven.

Big Mistakes Everyone Makes With Frozen Pizza

Microwave Cooking Tips and Tricks

You know how to cook frozen pizza in oven, but now I want to tell you how to cook a frozen pizza without an oven. You can do it in the microwave, if you like. This isn’t the ideal way, but everything cooks in the microwave eventually. I have cooked chicken in the there before and other raw meats, and that works, even if it may not be the best way to cook certain foods. If your microwave is large enough to accommodate the pizza, then this method for how to cook frozen pizza in microwave will work for you.

If your microwave is too small to fit the entire pizza, you can always break apart the pizza while it is still frozen and cook it in parts. This isn’t ideal either, but it may be the only thing you can do if your oven is broken or you simply don’t have an oven. A lot of people don’t have ovens these days and just make due with a stovetop or a microwave. You can do the same.

Once again, for best flavour and texture, you will need to take the pizza straight from the freezer into the microwave for cooking. Don’t let it thaw out at all. Also be sure to remove any packaging, and you can cook the pizza on a microwave safe plate for minimal mess and fuss.

Most frozen pizzas have no instructions for cooking in the microwave and may recommend against it. You can use your microwave, though, but the texture may come out a bit different from what you are expecting. This isn’t technically baking the pizza, after all, and pizzas are meant to be baked.

How long to cook a frozen pizza in the microwave? I would suggest cooking it in 10 minute intervals. Check it every 10 minutes and once you can see that the pizza is getting close to being done, you can reduce the cook time down to about three minute intervals. Be really careful about checking on the pizza to see if it is done and taking it out of the microwave. It will be very hot, and you should use a pot holder to handle it.

How to Cook Frozen Pizza on Stove Top

Another way to cook your frozen pizza is on your stovetop. This is easy enough if you have the right tools. You can use what is known as a tawa or any frying pan that is large enough to accommodate the pizza. I say use a tawa since it is designed for warming and cooking flatbread and it often has no sides, making it large enough to fit just about size of pizza. The frying pan can be more difficult, as your pizza may climb up the sides slightly, if you are cooking a large pizza.

It’s best to preheat the cooking instrument of choice and let it get really to before you cook your pizza on it. Then, once it is hot, turn the heat down and place your pizza on top. It should take about the same time to cook on the tawa or frying pan that it would on the oven. You do not need to grease or otherwise prepare the frying pan or tawa. It is best to use a nonstick pan if at all possible, but it is not required.

Those are my top ways for cooking frozen pizza, and I hope these tips help you. I know some people can make pretty silly mistakes with their frozen foods, so it’s good to have all the do’s and don’ts laid out in an easy to understand manner. If your frozen pizza doesn’t always turn out right, just follow the instructions I have listed here, and it should be just fine.

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Pauline

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I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!

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