Storing Your Pizza The Right Way To Keep It Fresh And Tasty

Delivery pizza is a popular and tasty meal that you can often get for a great deal. Because this food typically comes in large portions, you can eat it for dinner and then for breakfast or lunch the next day. In order to enjoy your pizza for more than one meal, it must be stored properly. Leaving this food at room temperature can help promote the growth of bacteria. Several of the ingredients that are commonly placed on pizza, like meat, cheese, and vegetables, can harbor dangerous bacteria if it is not stored properly. The best way to keep pizza fresh is to follow the food storage guidelines provided by the Department of Agriculture. These include keeping the food warm or cold, and reheating it properly the next time you go to eat it.

Keep your pizza warmed up

You should store your delivery pizza in the oven if you will be eating it soon after it arrives. This will keep it warm and lower the chance of bacterial growth. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says that bacteria are most likely to multiply between the temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you leave your pizza out on the counter, it is likely to cool below 140 degrees quickly and develop bacteria.

Cool or freeze your pizza

If you have leftovers, put your food in the refrigerator or freezer within two hours of delivery or sooner. Your freezer should be set at zero degrees Fahrenheit, which stops bacteria growth. However, bacteria will begin to grow as you thaw this meal. You can help prevent this by putting your food in the fridge to thaw. Your fridge should be set at 40 degrees F or lower to prevent bacteria from growing while the pizza is stored.

Safely reheating your pizza

You should heat your pizza up to 165 degrees when reheating it. Use a cooking thermometer to check the internal temperature of your meal. Besides making your food hot and tasty, heating it to 165 degrees kills off bacteria that grew your food before or after delivery. When using the microwave to heat your leftovers, be aware that all parts of the pizza may not reach 165 degrees due to uneven heating. Make sure to check your food with a thermometer every time you reheat it.

Knowing when you need to throw leftovers away

You should only keep delivery pizza in your refrigerator for three to four days after delivery. The best way to store pieces of pizza in the fridge is to lay them out in a single layer in a covered storage dish. You do not want to stack pieces on top of one another, as this creates more room for bacterial growth.

This meal will stay good in the freezer for at least one to two months, but it may start to taste strange after that length of time. If your power goes off, pizza will stay fresh for two days in a separate full freezer. According to the USDA, if you do not open the freezer door, pizza will stay good to eat for one day in a half-full freezer.

Order fresh and tasty foods from Pizza Planet in Amarillo, Texas

If you are looking for a fresh meal, contact Pizza Planet in Amarillo, Texas today. We have been serving the best pizza in Amarillo since 1974. View Our Menu to see the fresh pizzas, appetizers, salads, and desserts we have to offer. If you need additional information, or you have questions about us, call today at (806) 352-6666 or Contact Us by email.