How to Cook Frozen Pizza

3 Recipe Ratings

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 26, 2023 References Tested

Preparing Your Pizza

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Baking

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Microwaving

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Frozen pizza can make an easy, delicious, and inexpensive meal when you’re short on time. To cook a frozen pizza at home, preheat your oven to the temperature specified by the instructions listed on the box. Once it's nice and hot, slide your pizza in on a baking sheet or pizza stone, or set it directly on the rack for a crispier crust. You can also put smaller pizzas in the microwave to save time. Heat the pizza for the recommended length of time and allow it to cool before enjoying your first slice.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Pizza

1
Preheat the oven to the temperature specified on the box. The instructions included with most frozen pizzas recommend temperatures in the 375–425 °F (191–218 °C) range. To ensure that your pizza cooks evenly, set your oven to either “bake” or “convection.” While it’s warming up, you can finish getting your pizza ready.^{[1]
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- Another option is to turn your oven up as high as it will go to simulate the intense heat of a commercial pizza oven. If you try this, though, keep in mind that it will be easier to burn your pizza.^{[2]
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- Avoid using the broiler. The one-directional heat is likely to get your pizza too done on top while leaving the rest undercooked.
2
Allow your pizza to defrost for 1-2 hours. Before you get cooking, pull your pizza out of the freezer and set it on your countertop to thaw to room temperature. If you bake your pizza while it’s still frozen, the outer layer of frost will melt and turn to steam, leaving the crust and toppings a soggy, chewy mess.^{[3]
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- Be sure to put your pizza in the oven as soon as it’s finished defrosting.^{[4]
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- The simplest way to ensure that your frozen pizza is thoroughly thawed is to leave it out of the freezer when you get it home from store (unless you’re not planning on eating it right away).
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3
Remove your thawed pizza from the box. Pull away the tear strip sealing the opening of the box and separate the cardboard flaps. Slide the palm of your hand underneath the pizza and pull it out, making sure it’s facing up. Then, peel away and discard the outer plastic wrap and cardboard base.^{[5]
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- You may need a pair of scissors to help you get the plastic wrap open.
- If you accidentally open your pizza upside down, the toppings may fall off or end up distributed unevenly.
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Brush the crust with olive oil for additional flavor and crunch. Dip a basting brush in extra virgin olive oil and go over the ring of crust around the edges of the pizza. As it heats up in the oven or microwave, it will absorb into the crust, producing a smooth, subtle taste and extra crispy texture.^{[6]
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- A light coating of olive oil will also help brown the cheese next to the crust nicely.
Tip: Sprinkle on some garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or parmesan cheese for an even more delicious finish.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Baking

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Place the pizza on a nonstick baking sheet. Position the pizza so that it's lying perfectly flat at the center of the sheet. If necessary, take a moment to rearrange loose or clustered toppings so that they cover more of the pizza.
- If you have a pizza stone you want to use, go ahead and stick it in the oven while it’s preheating. Pizza stones absorb excess moisture, which also helps keep the crust light and flaky.
Alternative: Cook your pizza directly on the center rack of your oven. Doing so will allow heat to circulate around the pizza, resulting in a crispier crust.^{[8]
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2
Slide the pizza into the oven on the center rack. Situating the pizza on the center rack ensures that it’s not too close to the heating element at the top or bottom of the oven. Once it’s inside, shut the oven door to prevent heat from escaping.^{[9]
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- If you’re using a baking sheet, put it in lengthwise so it will be easier to remove once your pizza is done.
- Set your pizza down slowly and carefully to avoid burning yourself if you’re cooking it directly on the rack.
3
Cook your pizza for the recommended length of time. It usually takes about 15-25 minutes for a frozen pizza to cook all the way through, depending on the size and amount of toppings. Be sure to set a timer so you don’t forget about it while it’s in the oven.^{[10]
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- You’ll know your pizza is done when the cheese turns a light golden brown color and begins to bubble steadily.
- Your pizza will only need about 5-8 minutes if you’ve got your oven cranked up as high as it will go.^{[11]
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4
Remove your pizza from the oven with the aid of an oven mitt. When your cook time is up, open the oven door, reach inside carefully, and take hold of the edge of the baking sheet with your oven mitt. Place the baking sheet on a flat, heat-safe surface.
- To take out a pizza that’s been baked directly on the rack, use a metal spatula, pie server, or similar utensil to slide it onto an awaiting baking sheet, or simply remove the whole rack.
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Let your pizza cool for 3-5 minutes before slicing it. “Resting” your pizza will allow it to reach a safe temperature for eating. It will also give the melted cheese time to firm back up a little, which can make slicing much easier and less messy.^{[12]
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- Avoid handling your pizza or the baking sheet its sitting on—both will be extremely hot when they first come out of the oven.
- If you attempt to slice your pizza without letting it cool first, you’ll most likely just end up pulling all the cheese and toppings off of each piece.
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Cut your pizza into slices with a pizza cutter. Run your pizza cutter over the center of the pizza, rolling the blade along with a back-and-forth motion a few inches at a time. Then, turn the pizza 90 degrees and slice through the center again, crossing your first cut. Continue turning and cutting until you have as many slices as you want to serve.
- You should be able to get 6-8 slices out of an average-sized frozen pizza.
- Assuming you don’t have a pizza cutter handy, you can also use a sharp chef’s knife. Press down on back of the blade with your palm to “chop” through the crust in a perfectly straight line.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Microwaving

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Place the pizza on a microwave-safe plate. Make sure you choose a dish that’s big enough to hold the entire pizza while also fitting comfortably in the microwave. Set the pizza in the center of the plate, then open the microwave door and put the plate inside.^{[13]
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- Never use metal cookware or foil in the microwave. Doing so could create sparks or even start a fire or cause permanent damage to your microwave.
Tip: Many microwavable pizzas are packaged with heat-reflective trays designed to produce a crispier crust. If your pizza came on one of these trays, be sure to use it.^{[14]
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Microwave the pizza on high heat for the recommended time. Most microwave pizzas will need to cook for about 3-4 minutes, while particularly large or thick varieties may need closer to 4 or 5. Check the box your pizza came in for more detailed directions.^{[15]
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- Watch your pizza closely as it cooks to make sure it doesn’t get too done.
- Cook times may vary for pizzas made with garlic bread, flatbread, or other special types of crusts.
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Allow the pizza to cool for 2-3 minutes before eating it. Be careful removing the plate from the microwave, as it will most likely be very hot. If you like, you can cut your pizza into smaller pieces to make it shareable after it’s had ample time to cool. Enjoy!

Community Q&A

Question

Should you thaw frozen pizza before cooking it?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

While you can thaw your pizza first, it isn’t necessary. While thawing the pizza first will help it cook faster and make the crust a little crispier, most frozen pizzas will come out perfectly fine if you cook them long enough.
Question

Do you cook frozen pizza with the cardboard?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, don’t cook the pizza on the cardboard. While it’s unlikely to cause any serious problems, there’s a chance the cardboard could burn or give your pizza an unpleasant flavor.
Question

Can you put a frozen pizza directly on the oven rack?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can, and in fact the cooking instructions on many frozen pizzas advise you to do so. However, there’s a chance the pizza could sag through the wires or drop toppings on the bottom of your oven, especially if you allowed it to thaw before putting it in the oven.