A Detailed Guide on Can You Put a Pizza Box in the Oven

The majority of foodies love pizza from the core of their hearts due to its savory treat with crispy crust, mozzarella, and delicious toppings. A research report shows that 90% of Americans consume pizza in a year. 

When it comes to pizza packaging, they usually come in rectangular, hexagonal, round pizza boxes, or square-shaped cardboard boxes. But when pizza gets cold on delivery or leftovers in the freezer, people want to put the box directly in the oven to enjoy the eating experience when they want.

But here the question arises: can you put a pizza box in the oven or not? Hence, read this blog to get a detailed answer to this query and find useful ways to keep your pizza fresh, warm, and crispy!

Are Pizza Boxes Oven Safe?

Regarding the question, can you put a cardboard pizza box in the oven or not, the answer is a big no due to multiple factors. Firstly, cardboard packaging material is a problematic factor because it can’t withstand high temperatures. 

And even kraft pizza boxes might not be a good fit for oven because the bleach might leak out of the kraft paper. Though cardboard boxes are a good choice for preserving freshness, warmth, and secure delivery of pizzas, here are some reasons not to put them in the oven. Have a look at them: 

Fire Hazard Probability 

Cardboard pizza boxes in oven are not safe because of their flammable materials. Once you put them in the oven, cardboard boxes may catch fire in the kitchen and might turn your pizza-reheating experience into a hazardous fire incident. 

Keep in mind, cardboard pizza boxes usually don’t catch fire instantly, but they release unpleasant odors or toxic fumes. Consider here some temperature levels of the oven associated with potential risks: 

Toxic Inks and Chemical Coatings

Many pizza businesses use coating for additional protection and enhanced presentation. But coatings can serve as a crucial factor in safe pizza deliveries. However, they are also hazardous for oven use of pizza boxes. 

This is because some pizza box coatings contain harmful chemicals that release fumes even upon exposure to minor heat. Have a look at some chemicals used in coatings on pizza boxes, which are:

• Perfluorinated Compounds: May result in hormonal imbalance, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol once pizza boxes are exposed to minor heat in the oven.
   
• Fluorocarbons: This chemical might cause chronic respiratory failure and respiratory illnesses upon exposure to heat.
   
• Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: Severe neurological disorders and cancers might come as chronic health diseases despite the nonstick and water resistance properties of this chemical. 

Poor Eating Experience 

Being a bad conductor of heat, cardboard boxes make your pizza uneven, with a soggy crust and cheese melting in the oven. Plus, a lack of crispiness and loss of aroma and flavor become common, which results in a poor pizza-eating experience. Due to uneven heating experience, pizza crust may become soggy, and cheese may become stiffened more likely. 

Important Considerations for Putting Pizza in Oven

Now the question is how you can serve pizza lovers with a fantastic unboxing experience and a pristine condition of pizza? Keep in consideration these factors to turn your pizza serving into a momentum-eating experience: 

• Optimize Temperature

Cardboard usually catches fire at around 450 degrees Fahrenheit. So, it is generally advised to reheat pizzas in the oven by setting the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. But still stay vigilant during this baking time, too!

• Moderate Baking Time

Ensure you don’t exceed the baking time of 10 to 15 minutes and remain in the kitchen till your pizza gets reheated. Keep checking in and make sure every few minutes that nothing is burning or gives a burning smell. 

• Prepare Pizza Toppings Carefully

Before placing the pizza box in the oven, prepare pizza toppings in advance to avoid a mess and ensure a clean yet quick shift to the oven. Firstly, avoid overloading pizza with delicate toppings, which can prevent the crust from getting crispy. 

Reliable Methods to Reheat Pizza 

Apart from the above considerations, there are a few methods that pizza lovers or businesses should adopt to satisfy pizza cravings. Consider these tried-and-true methods for your next amazing pizza reheating experience!

• Oven Method

It is possible to reheat your pizza in the oven, but without a cardboard packaging box. For this, utilize the oven method as the most effective and easiest one to warm up your pizza. Set the temperature in the range 350°F-375°F in the first step.

Then, use food-safe paper on the oven rack and place your pizza slices on it. Let it bake for 6-7 minutes, or directly put slices on a clean oven rack and heat for 2 minutes for a crispy and warm pizza. But here are some pros and cons of the oven method for reheating pizza:

• Skillet Method

After the oven method, the skillet method brings convenience to reheat pizza without any hassle. You just need to place your pizza slice in the skillet. And then cover it with a lid. Afterward, set it on fire for 3 to 4 minutes to experience an exciting pizza taste and texture.

Meanwhile, you can add a few drops of water around the pizza to keep it rehydrated. Keep in mind not to apply water drops directly onto the pizza. Have a look at the pros and cons of the skillet method, like the oven method:

• Microwave Method

Compared to the above two methods, the microwave method is the quickest one to reheat pizza within a matter of seconds. But this method needs a meticulous process to warm pizzas. You simply need to put a pizza slice on a microwave-safe plate and then leave it there for 30-45 seconds. 

Plus, don’t forget to place a cup of water on this plate to prevent the drying of the pizza crust. Otherwise, your pizza crust may get stiff. Observe both pros and cons of the microwave method to weigh your suitability for pizza reheating: 

• Air Fryer Method

To preserve flavor, crispiness, and warmth of pizza, the air fryer method is the best one compared to all the above-discussed methods. In this method, you need to place your pizza slices into the basket. Then, let it heat for about 4-5 minutes. 

Ensure your multiple slices of pizza don’t overlap while placing them in the fryer. Doing so will maintain a fuss-free pizza presentation and eating experience. Also, consider the pros and cons of the air fryer method mentioned below:

Choose Pizza Boxes for Effective Reheating

In crux, avoid putting cardboard boxes in the oven as it may cause several health risks. Whether you are craving pizza leftovers or want to enhance the pizza-eating experience of your customers. If you want to take things up a notch, custom pizza slice boxes can also be a good choice. 

Choose high-quality pizza boxes and follow above mentioned precautions and instructions in the blog to satisfy pizza cravings. Contact Custom Boxes Lane to get premium-quality pizza boxes made from food-safe and eco-friendly materials to enhance the unboxing experience!