How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer

A microwave reheats pizza by exciting water molecules, which turns the crust rubbery and soggy within minutes of eating. The air fryer instead blasts hot dry air around the slice, re-crisping the underside of the crust at the same time as it melts the cheese on top. The result is close to freshly baked pizza. This works because pizza has the right geometry for an air fryer: a flat, thin item that hot air can circulate around evenly on all sides.

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes. Place pizza slices flat in the basket in a single layer — do not stack or overlap. Cook for 3–4 minutes (thin crust) or 4–6 minutes (thick crust or deep dish). Check by lifting the edge of a slice: the underside should be golden and crisp, and the cheese on top should be fully melted with slight browning at the edges. Remove carefully — the cheese will be hot. If reheating multiple batches, the second batch may need 30–60 seconds less since the fryer is fully up to temperature.

Do not cover the pizza with foil — it blocks the airflow that crisps the crust. If the pizza has a very thick crust or lots of toppings, lower the temperature slightly to 325°F (165°C) and add a minute or two, so the center heats through before the edges over-brown. For slices straight from the refrigerator, always let them sit at room temperature for 2–3 minutes first to avoid a cold center with a burnt edge. Frozen pizza slices that were fully baked and then frozen reheat well at 350°F for 5–7 minutes.

A conventional home oven (pizza stone or baking steel at 500°F) is still the gold standard for fresh-baked pizza. The air fryer is not ideal for cooking raw pizza dough from scratch in most basket-style models — the basket shape limits slice size and the dough can puff unevenly. However, for frozen pizza slices or individual-size flatbread pizzas, the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 6–9 minutes produces excellent results. For leftover reheating specifically, the air fryer is the best method available at home.

What temperature should I use to reheat pizza in an air fryer?

350°F (175°C) is the standard temperature for reheating leftover pizza — hot enough to re-crisp the crust and melt the cheese in 3–5 minutes without burning the edges. For very thick crust or deep-dish slices, lower to 325°F (165°C) and extend to 5–7 minutes so the thick dough heats through evenly. Thin-crust slices at 350°F are usually done in 3 minutes.

Can you reheat frozen pizza in an air fryer?

Yes — individual frozen pizza slices or personal-size frozen pizzas reheat well in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 6–9 minutes. Full-size frozen pizzas typically do not fit in a basket-style air fryer, but can be cooked in an oven-style air fryer. For frozen slices that were previously cooked and frozen, 350°F for 5–7 minutes produces a crisp bottom and fully melted cheese.

How does reheating time differ for thick-crust vs thin-crust pizza in an air fryer?

Thin-crust pizza reheats in 3–4 minutes at 350°F (175°C) because the thin base crisps up fast and toppings warm through quickly. Thick-crust or deep-dish pizza needs 5–7 minutes at the same temperature, and you may want to tent loosely with foil for the first 3 minutes to prevent the cheese from burning before the dough center is hot. Always check with a quick press to the center — it should feel warm, not cold or doughy.