Everyone loves calzone. Crisp on the outside and soft, juicy and cheesy on the inside, these little pockets of goodness offer a perfect blend of textures and flavors that create a party in your mouth. While nothing can beat the deliciousness of a freshly baked calzone, many people make big batches of calzone to freeze for quick and convenient lunches throughout the week. However, just because you’re eating a frozen or leftover calzone doesn’t mean you’ve to compromise with a soggy crust and a dry center. A stored calzone can be made as good as fresh – you just need to know how to reheat calzone the right way!
The Best Way to Reheat a Calzone – Use an Oven
While you may reheat a calzone on the stove, using a skillet, it may not warm up properly from the inside. Using a microwave is a big NO for reheating a calzone; it will completely ruin the texture by making the crust very soggy. The best way to reheat a frozen or refrigerated calzone and have it taste as good as fresh is by using an oven.
Reheating a Refrigerated Calzone
Here’s how to reheat calzone that has been stored in the fridge:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the calzone on a baking sheet. You can drizzle some oil onto the calzone to make the dough a little a crispy and give it a nice golden color.
- Place the calzone in the oven and let it cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. This is to ensure that it is heated thoroughly and the temperature in the center is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Not heating leftover food to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Reheating a Frozen Calzone
Ideally, a frozen calzone should be thawed in the fridge for a few hours before reheating. You can extend its cooking time in the oven if you don’t have time to thaw the calzone.
Bake a thawed calzone in the oven, preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 to 20 minutes. You can spritz it with some oil before placing it in the oven to give it a crispy and golden finish.
An unthawed calzone should be baked for about 30 minutes. To prevent it from overcooking, you can wrap a frozen calzone with an aluminum foil before placing it in the oven. Bake it for about 20 minutes, unwrap and then bake for another 10 minutes to get it nicely crisp from the outside.
Reheating a calzone in the oven takes longer than reheating in a skillet or microwave, but it is truly worth the wait. Using an oven ensures the calzone is well heated through, and there are no cold patches left. It also helps prevent the crust from getting soggy or burned.
Now that you know how to reheat calzone perfectly go ahead and make a big batch to continue enjoying comfort food throughout the week.