Can You Microwave Totino’s Pizza? (And How to Do It?)

If you are a big fan of pizza, you must have come across Totino’s Party Pizzas. These are frozen pizzas that are incredibly cheap & easy to make.

Additionally, they come in small sizes and are easy enough for someone who lives alone to enjoy. All you have to do is take them out of the box & heat them.

Now, when it comes to whether or not you can microwave Totino’s pizza, the answer is, Yes, you can. However, be ready to know that you will be sacrificing a lot in quality. The microwave might not be the perfect appliance to cook your pizza thoroughly. Therefore, you’ll probably have a hot, soggy mess for a pizza.

If you are in a rush & don’t mind the hot, soggy mess, go ahead and microwave it. Yet, if you do mind, you might want to look for another option.

And we will be describing the perfect way to microwave Totino’s pizza without making them soggy. So, Let’s read on.

Can You Cook Totino’s Pizza in the Microwave?

The answer is both yes and no. According to the manufacturer’s instructions located right on the box, it’s best not to use a microwave for cooking Totino’s pizza. However, if you don’t have access to an oven, you can use the microwave.

The fact that you can do so does not necessarily mean that this is the most effective method for cooking Totino’s pizza.

In most cases, the microwave is a convenient and speedy option. Even though the end product won’t be excellent, there is no doubt that the pizza will still be edible.

There are two possible outcomes: the pizza will either be dry and piping hot or soggy and chewy.

Moreover, for us to be able to instruct you on how to cook Totino’s pizza, you will first need to be familiar with the operation of a microwave.

LEARN MORE: Can You Microwave Cold Pyrex?

Why Does Pizza Cooked in the Microwave Get Soggy?

Microwaves are excellent for heating all kinds of foods. However, when it comes to foods such as pizza or bread, they will quickly turn the dough soggy. This is because the microwave’s way of heating food is entirely different from conventional ovens.

When a microwave heats food, it does so through radiation. This radiation often heats the water molecules within the food. The water molecules then start to vibrate & release kinetic energy, thus, heating the food.

As this goes on, the water molecules then convert to steam & get released within the microwave.

Most microwaves don’t have any proper air circulation. Therefore, the water, which has now turned into steam, starts to condense within the microwave & makes its way back down to the food.

This makes the bread completely soggy. This is because a microwave might not cook the pizza thoroughly. The result will be a steaming-hot, soggy pizza that’s exceptionally soft and is even hard to separate.

Techniques to Microwave Totino’s Pizza Perfectly

Although the microwave might speed things up when it comes to cooking the pizza, we don’t entirely recommend depending on the microwave only to cook the pizza.

In case you don’t have an oven at home to cook the pizza, here’s a way that you can get your Totino’s pizza to cook with quality results.

Technique 1: Heat Your Pizza on a Stove Then Transfer it to a Microwave

• Take hold of a cast-iron or aluminum pan.
• Spray the pan with non-stick oil so that the pizza doesn’t stick to the pan.
• Transfer the pan to the stove & start heating it at low heat.
• Place the pizza on the pan & cover it with an inverted bowl.
• Once the pizza has cooked & become a bit firm, simply transfer it to the microwave.
• Cook it for about 1-2 minutes on the high setting, ensuring the toppings & cheese are warm.

Technique 2: Heat the Pizza in the Microwave, Then Transfer It to a Frying Pan

• Place the pizza into the microwave & start heating until the cheese melts.
• Once the cheese is well-melted, transfer the pizza onto a frying pan.
• Ensure that you use non-stick oil to prevent the pizza from sticking to the pan.
• Heat over the stove for a few minutes until the crust is as crispy as possible.

It’s safe to mention that you should never use aluminum foil or any other kind of metal to heat the pizza inside the microwave. This might cause the microwave to produce sparks, catch on fire, or destroy the microwave. 

Both of the techniques listed above will allow the crust of the pizza to caramelize & let the toppings cook perfectly. The dough won’t get as soggy as if you just used a microwave.

LEARN MORE: How Long Does It Take to Defrost Beef in the Microwave?

Steps to Prevent Your Totino’s Pizza From Getting Soggy

There are several ways that you can prevent your pizza from getting soggy. The results won’t be as quality as if you were baking or toasting. However, they’ll be above a soggy, messed-up pizza. These methods include:

• Placing a cup in the microwave: Microwaving pizza with a cup of water next to it helps the pizza retain its texture.
• Use a stove first, then microwave it or vice-versa: This method ensures that you get a crisper pizza than you usually get by microwaving.
• Use an Oven (Electric, Wooden, or Pizza Stone Oven): This is a perfect way to ensure that you get a crispy pizza that’s both delicious and up to quality.

Can You Reheat Totino’s Leftover Pizza Straight From the Refrigerator?

When reheating leftover Totino’s pizza in the microwave, it is best to do so when the pizza has already been cooked and is not frozen.

On the other hand, if you are cooking pizza that has come straight from the refrigerator or freezer, you might want to leave the pizza out on the counter to thaw for approximately an hour before cooking it.

You also have the option of first defrosting the Totino’s pizza in the microwave using the defrost setting for approximately two to three minutes.

Simply ensuring that the pizza is no longer frozen is the purpose of this step. After that, you can easily cook the Totino’s pizza using any of the methods presented earlier.

LEARN MORE: How to Reheat Philly Cheesesteak in Microwave?

Final Thoughts

According to Totino, the manufacturer, the best way to cook a Totino pizza is to use an oven or a toaster oven. However, if you don’t have an oven or are simply in a hurry, you can still microwave your Totino’s pizza in the microwave.

For best results, we recommend using one of the dual-cooking methods above. Your final result will be a crispy outside crust with an evenly cooked center.