Buzz
As someone who loves frozen pizza and prides myself on critical thinking, I can't believe it took me this long to discover this game-changing trick. I'm also slightly annoyed that now there’s no reason to devour an entire DiGiorno in one sitting. I used to think of frozen pizza as a one-time deal: buy it, bake it, eat it all, and store the leftovers—though they never taste the same. Turns out, the leftovers don’t have to be a problem anymore. Pre-slicing your pizza gives you a much better experience.
Why Pre-slicing Your Frozen Pizza is a Game Changer
Slicing your frozen pizza before storing or baking it brings many advantages over keeping it in the original packaging.
No more wasted pizza. I have a knack for devouring large quantities of food by myself, but that's more of a skill than the norm. A whole frozen pizza can be too much to handle. If you're eating alone, just a few slices might be all you need. But what happens to the remaining slices? Instead of leaving them to turn rubbery in the fridge, you can pre-slice the pizza into portions so you can pick exactly how much you want whenever you're in the mood.
Save precious freezer space. There was a time when I had three pizza boxes crowding my freezer while prepping for a holiday party, and it was a total space disaster. These boxes are real space hogs. By cutting the pizza into smaller servings, you can stack and store the slices more efficiently. For added convenience, wrap each slice individually and squeeze them into any extra gaps in your freezer.
Quick and easy reheating. Whether you cut your pizza in half or into several small pieces, these portions will reheat much faster than a whole pizza. The smaller the slice, the quicker it cooks. If you have an air fryer, it gets even faster. My air fryer basket is just nine inches wide, so I can't fit an entire pizza, but a few slices fit perfectly. Even better, it only takes five minutes to air fry pizza slices at 400°F.
You can cut pizza into virtually any shape you desire! It’s a fact that while you can slice a hot pizza into wedges or slabs, it can be a bit tricky. The cheese tends to ooze out, the sauce is sizzling hot, and many toppings are fragile when warm. However, when the pizza is cold or frozen, cutting it becomes much easier. Although I don’t have children, I can imagine how cutting pizza into small squares could be quite handy if there are little hands in the house. For a fun twist, you can even use cookie cutters to create heart, star, or dinosaur shapes. While I don't have kids myself, I still enjoyed having a tiny pepperoni pizza shaped like a heart.
How to pre-slice pizza: Start by leaving your frozen pizza at room temperature for roughly 10 minutes. This will allow the pizza to thaw just enough, which prevents it from cracking uncontrollably when you slice it. Use a sharp knife and apply a firm downward cutting motion. Once sliced, wrap your pieces with plastic wrap, foil, or place them in zip-top bags or reusable containers to store. Afterward, freeze them until you're ready to enjoy them.
Let the frozen pizza sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to slightly thaw, which helps prevent it from cracking. Use a long knife and press down firmly to make clean cuts. Wrap the slices in plastic wrap, foil, or zip-top bags—or any combination of these—and place them in the freezer until needed.
When those pizza cravings inevitably strike, bring your frozen slices out of their icy slumber. Unwrap them and bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the conventional oven, or slide them directly onto the rack of your air fryer. Space them a few inches apart for crispier edges, or place them closer together for a softer, meltier result. While this may mark the end of your leftovers, it also means less waste and more space in the freezer.
