Do you know how to properly reheat a calzone?
Who doesn’t love a good calzone? These folded-over pizza carry all the deliciousness of a regular pizza. First introduced in the 18th Century, calzones are a convenient option to eat pizza on the go, since they are much less messy.
But just like pizzas, they are so fulfilling that devouring an entire calzone can be little difficult, and you may end up with a leftover. The good thing is that it is actually easier to store and reheat a calzone than it is to do the same with leftover pizza.
How to Store a Calzone?
Before reheating, it is necessary to store calzone properly so they don’t go bad or lose their flavor and texture. Follow these simple steps to store a calzone.
- Place the leftover calzones in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Make sure they are airtight.
- If you plan on consuming them within three days, place them in the fridge.
- If the calzones need to be stored for longer, place them in the freezer. They will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months before their quality starts to deter.
How to Reheat a Calzone?
There are a few ways you can reheat a calzone. But no matter what method you use, always remember to thaw frozen calzones before reheating them as this will give a better end results than reheating frozen calzones.
The Oven Method
The best way to do it is by using an oven. Since calzone are baked in the first place, repeating the same process is most likely to preserve the flavors and texture of the calzone. This method will also heat them evenly all the way through.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the calzones on a baking sheet or tray
- Brush or spray the calzones with some oil or butter. This will give them a golden, crispy finish.
- Put the dish into the oven and let it bake for about 20 minutes.
- Take the calzone out of the oven and cut through the center to check if it has heated all the way through. If not, put it back in the oven for an additional five minutes.
- Take the dish out when the calzones are completely reheated.
- Allow it to cool for a bit before serving so it doesn’t burn your mouth.
* If you do not have the time to thaw the calzones, wrap the frozen calzones in aluminum foil and place them in the oven for half an hour. Follow the other steps the same way as above.
The Skillet Method
This method takes a lot less time than the oven method, but it requires more skill and a lot more attention to successfully reheat a calzone in a skillet. It is a matter of second before a perfectly warm calzone can end up with burnt exterior, so make sure you follow the timing.
- Preheat a non-stick skillet on stove on medium heat for a few seconds.
- Place the calzones in the skillet and heat it for about 2 minutes until the bottom side turns crispy.
- Flip the calzone and allow it to heat for another 2 minutes.
- Turn the heat to low.
- Add four drops of water in the skillet away from the calzone.
- Use a lid to cover the skillet.
- Let the water steam. This will allow the filing to reheat all the way through.
- Turn the heat off and let the calzone sit for one minute without removing the lid. This will distribute the heat.
- Remove the calzone from the skillet and serve immediately.
* This isn’t a good method to reheat frozen calzones. So always thaw them before reheating on a skillet.
Never Use a Microwave
Although using a microwave to reheat any leftovers may seem like the most convenient way to do it, you should avoid doing it when it comes to calzones. Microwaving a calzone will turn the crust soggy and it will lose all the texture and crispiness that make calzone so delicious.
So stick to the oven or the skillet, and you will be able to enjoy leftovers calzones as if they were fresh out of the oven.