Pizza perfection: How to make frozen pizza better

Learn how to make frozen pizza better with these expert tips and tricks. From adding fresh toppings to creative seasoning, discover simple ways to transform your frozen pizza into a gourmet delight.

Frozen pizza is a quick and easy dinner option for those busy nights. However, sometimes the taste and texture of frozen pizza can be lackluster. Fortunately, several simple ways exist to upgrade frozen pizza and make it taste better.

One way to improve the taste of frozen pizza is to add extra toppings. Fresh ingredients such as vegetables, meats and herbs can be added to recreate your favorite classic pizza recipes. This way, you can customize your frozen pizza and make it taste more homemade.

Another way to upgrade frozen pizza is to invest in a pizza stone. Using a pizza stone can help maintain an excellent crust consistency and improve the overall taste of the pizza. Additionally, ignoring the instructions on the pizza box and cranking up the temperature on the oven to its max can bring an ultra-crispy crust and result in a tastier pizza even faster.

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Enhancing the crust

When it comes to how to make frozen pizza better, enhancing the crust is an essential step. Here are a few tips and tricks to achieve a perfect crust every time.

Choosing the proper oven position

The position of the oven rack can make a significant difference in the texture of the crust. For a crispy crust, place the frozen pizza on the bottom rack of the oven. On the other hand, if you prefer a softer crust, place the pizza on the middle rack or top rack of the oven.

Using a pizza stone

A pizza stone is a great investment for anyone who loves homemade pizza or wants to improve the texture of a frozen pizza. To use a pizza stone, preheat your oven with the stone already inside. Once the oven is hot, place the frozen pizza on the hot stone and bake as directed. This will help to distribute the heat evenly, resulting in a crispy and evenly cooked crust.

Improving texture and flavor

Try brushing the crust with olive oil and minced garlic before baking. This will give the crust a delicious flavor and help to prevent it from becoming soggy.

If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can still achieve a crispy crust using a cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet. Preheat the skillet or baking sheet in the oven before placing the frozen pizza on top. This will help to create a crunchy crust by allowing the heat to circulate around the pizza.

Finally, avoid thawing the pizza before baking it to prevent a soggy crust. Baking a frozen pizza helps to retain its shape and texture, preventing it from becoming mushy.

“There are a few things that I also do to upgrade a frozen pizza. First, drizzle olive oil over the edges of the crust before baking. Second, add extra cheese. Lastly, bake the pizza on a pizza stone to get it nice and brown and add flavor.”

— Jere’ Cassidy, One Hot Oven

Upgrading the toppings

When it comes to frozen pizza, the toppings can often be lackluster. Here are some ways to upgrade the toppings on your frozen pizza:

Experimenting with cheese

One of the easiest ways to upgrade the toppings on your frozen pizza is to experiment with cheese. Instead of using the standard mozzarella cheese, add some feta, blue cheese or smoked gouda to your pizza. These cheeses can add a new depth of flavor to pizza and take it to another level.

Adding fresh ingredients

Adding fresh ingredients to frozen pizza can make a big difference. Try adding some fresh basil or spinach to your pizza after it comes out of the oven. Add sliced tomatoes, mushrooms or zucchini to give your pizza a new twist.

Incorporating leftover ingredients

If you have leftover ingredients in your fridge, don’t let them go to waste. Leftover chicken, sausage or chorizo can add protein to your pizza. While leftover cooked produce like squash or eggplant add a wonderful texture.

Upgrading the toppings on frozen pizza is a simple way to make it taste better. You can turn a bland pizza into a delicious meal by experimenting with cheese, adding fresh ingredients and incorporating leftover ingredients.

“Take your frozen pizza to the next level by cooking it in an outdoor pizza oven. It’s fine to cook frozen pizza in both gas and wood-burning pizza ovens so long as you keep a close eye on the pizza. Rotate the pizza multiple times and use a pizza stone to enhance the crust texture and flavor.”

— Dan, Fire and Saw

Perfecting the sauce

The sauce is the foundation of the pizza, and it can make or break the overall flavor. Here are some tips to perfect the sauce on frozen pizza.

Trying homemade sauce

Homemade sauce can be made with fresh ingredients tailored to your preferences. A simple tomato sauce can be made with canned crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, Italian seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. 

Exploring flavor enhancements

If making a homemade sauce isn’t an option, there are still ways to enhance the flavor of store-bought pizza sauce. One option is to add some honey to the sauce to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. Oregano, garlic powder and freshly grated parmesan cheese are great additions to pizza sauce.

Cooking the pizza at a higher temperature can also help caramelize the sauce and enhance the flavor. By perfecting the sauce on frozen pizza, you can take it to the next level and enjoy a delicious, flavorful meal.

“When I make frozen pizza, I always sprinkle on some Italian seasoning and some extra toppings if I have them. It’s a great way to get rid of extra veggies in the fridge or leftovers.”

— Susannah, Feast + West

Final touches and serving suggestions

To elevate the taste of frozen pizza, some final touches can make a big difference. Here are some more suggestions on how to make frozen pizza better:

• Add fresh herbs: Adding fresh herbs like basil, oregano or marjoram to your pizza can enhance the flavor and aroma. Sprinkle them on top of the pizza before serving.
• Try hot honey: A hot honey drizzle can add a sweet and spicy kick to your pizza. Simply heat honey in a saucepan and add red pepper flakes or hot sauce to it.
• Broil for extra crispiness: If you want your pizza to be extra crispy, broil it for the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
• Use a wood-fired pizza oven: If you have access to a wood-fired pizza oven, use it to cook your frozen pizza for an authentic and delicious taste.

Following these final touches and serving suggestions, you can make your frozen pizza taste better and elevate it to a restaurant-quality dish.

Kristen Wood is a photographer, food writer and creator of MOON and spoon and yum and Schisandra & Bergamot. She is also the author of Vegetarian Family Cookbook, Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Kristen is a certified functional nutrition expert. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, Martha Stewart, Yoga Journal and more.