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How’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 161,136 times. 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. 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.
Be sure to put your pizza in the oven as soon as it’s finished defrosting. 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.
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. 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. 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. Preheat the oven to the temperature specified on the box. While it’s warming up, you can finish getting your pizza ready. 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. The one-directional heat is likely to get your pizza too done on top while leaving the rest undercooked.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.