Can You Cook A Totino’s Pizza In The Microwave?

Totino’s pizzas are a great way to have a convenient meal without making much of an effort. 

But just how convenient are frozen pizzas? Can you simply just prepare them in a microwave or do you always have to follow the instructions at the back of the box? 

Frozen pizzas are super helpful for many people around the world and the demand for pre-baked pies has also been steadily increasing, not just in the US, but worldwide.

This is one of the reasons why most manufacturers try to make their products as convenient and delicious as possible.

This means that brands will use clever manufacturing techniques, better ingredients, and additives so that their pizzas cook fast and remain fresh.

While pizzas are meant to be cooked in an oven, some people may want to microwave them to save time.

Can you cook a Totino’s pizza in the microwave? The answer is both a yes and a no. The thing with frozen pizzas is that they almost always require an oven so that they slowly defrost and heat up. A microwave heats food up differently and you are almost always going to get a soggy but edible pizza.

To understand how to properly microwave a frozen pizza, we must first learn a few basics of heating and cooking.

Read on to learn more about how you can use any microwave to cook a Totino’s pizza!

Oven Vs Microwave

Pizzas are designed to be cooked in an oven, due to the fact that they have flour-based dough.

To cook this dough, you need steady heat to evaporate the moisture within the dough so that it firms up and develops that distinct and delicious crust. 

Microwaves work a bit differently; they use microwave radiation to vibrate water molecules within the food which then heats the food via friction and atomic movement.

Don’t be alarmed, though! Radiation in this case just means heat, as microwaves are “nonionizing.” 

Nonionizing radiation is completely safe and no different from visible light or infrared light.

When it comes to pizzas, frozen pizzas have a very high percentage of moisture in them because they are frozen. Also, they have fat in the form of cheese. 

Most manufacturers will usually fully or half-bake a pie and all the ingredients before packaging them so that you only have to heat the food rather than “cook” it as you would a completely raw pizza. 

When it comes to ovens, the story is completely different. Pizzas and ovens are a match made in food heaven and it is also one of the best ways to cook pizzas thoroughly while also maintaining their distinct texture and firmness. 

Ovens work by heating the surrounding air which is why they take so much time to heat food.

They essentially first heat the air through a heating element which then slowly increases the ambient temperature within the oven chamber. The chamber temperature rises until the pizza starts to defrost and evaporate its moisture.

While this happens, the heat will also start to firm up and cook the other ingredients on the pie as well. For example, the cheese will start to bubble, melt and then finally catch on a brown color as it heats.

Should You Microwave Pizzas?

The question really shouldn’t be “can you microwave pizza” but rather, “should you microwave pizza”, because it comes down to preference and your situation. 

Microwaves are great for heating all types of food, but when it comes to food like bread and pizzas, they will turn the dough soggy and floppy.

This is because while they do evaporate water molecules, they do it all over the pizza, all at once, including from the inside. 

Imagine the pizza getting hot from all over at the same time and not just the outside like it would in an oven.

This means that the pizza will heat up quickly and will not have enough time to firm up or evaporate enough moisture from the upper layer of the pizza. 

You will essentially be left with a soggy pizza that is difficult to slice since it will also overly melt the cheese without browning it. But for some people who are in a hurry, a soggy pizza will not be a huge deal.

It is important to know that microwaving a pizza will not make it inedible, it will just turn its texture into something that isn’t like a pizza. But there are a few ways that you can improve the quality of microwaved pizza.

Tips On Microwaving Totino’s Pizza

The best way to microwave and heat a pizza is to heat pre-cooked, non-frozen leftover pizza. 

If you don’t have an oven at hand and want to use a microwave to have pizza at home then there are a few ways you can do this.

First, we recommend that you start by heating the pizza on the stove first and then moving the pizza to the microwave to finish melting the cheese. 

For this method, you will need: a cast-iron or aluminum pan, oil, frozen pizza, and a microwave.

To prepare the frozen pizza, first, heat a cast iron pan over the stove. You want it to be warm and not scorching hot.

Spray on or brush in some neutral oil like canola oil so that the pizza does not stick to the pan.

Set your microwave at the defrost setting and defrost the pizza for about 2-3 minutes or until it’s not frozen.

Now place the pizza over the cast iron pan and cover it using an inverted bowl that is big enough to completely cover the pizza. Now, allow the pizza to melt on the pan.

This method will caramelize the crust of the pizza while the heat on top cooks the toppings perfectly. 

When the pizza has adequately melted and has become a bit firm, you can then put it in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes at its high setting.

Cook until the cheese and toppings are warm. This method will ensure that the dough doesn’t get overly soggy like it would if you had just used a microwave.

Microwave Pizza Wrap

Another great way to use a microwave to cook pizzas would be to utilize the sogginess of the dough to turn it into a burrito or wrap of sorts. 

To do this, simply microwave the pizza for about 2-3 minutes until it is hot and then fold it up on each side and eat it like a wrap! Convenient and delicious! 

Do remember, however, while you can easily heat a frozen pizza in the microwave, it will not be as good as it would if you were to heat it in an oven.

Ovens heat food by raising the ambient temperature within the cooking chamber, slowly cooking the pizza from the outside in.

Meaning that the outer layer will lose more moisture and firm up while the pizza slowly cooks from the inside. In contrast, a pizza will heat from everywhere while in the microwave, which results in its soggy outer and inner texture.

So, while you can microwave a pizza and there are a few ways to improve how microwave pizzas taste and look as we discussed above, they will always come second to oven toasting a frozen pie. 

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over how you can cook a Totino’s pizza in the microwave, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

Are frozen pizzas raw?

Frozen pizzas are either half-baked or fully baked with cooked or semi-cooked ingredients. Some manufacturers will cook their pizzas completely before flash freezing them to ensure longevity and freshness. 

Other brands may leave some ingredients half-cooked so that they can taste fresher when you heat or cook them at home. 

Can you reheat frozen pizza?

Yes, you can reheat a frozen pizza that has already been cooked in either a microwave or an oven.

Please be advised that the pizza has to be first properly cooked in an oven before you reheat it or it will become soggy once it is microwaved. Always use an oven for all purposes for the best results. 

Can you refreeze cooked frozen pizza?

While it isn’t advised, you can freeze cooked frozen pizza again by placing it in airtight packaging and then storing it in the freezer as soon as possible.

Please make sure that you store the pizza at -18°C throughout the storage time. 

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