Pizza is a favorite for many, if not most, but this isn’t always the case when it comes to preparation. Up to this moment, different appliances have been invented to make the ultimate pizza. Just to show how prominent this meal is, there are different cutting tools as well, including pizza cutters, knives, and stencils for making different shapes of the meal. A pizza stone is a ceramic dedicated to heating the pie just right for a good bake. Nevertheless, no cooking appliance beats the microwave oven in matters of speed, space, and convenience.
Wondering how the microwave can help make a pizza? You have landed on the answers!
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Can you cook pizza in a microwave?
Forget those reviews that have trashed the microwave oven as a no-go appliance for any serious cook. The truth is you can cook a pizza in the microwave, and we’ll see exactly how in a moment. If you’ve hated the rather tedious oven method of baking a pizza, welcome to this easier and possibly faster method- the convection microwave way.
You might also be wondering why you need a convection microwave to bake a pizza. The reason is that this type of microwave circulates heat in convection waves. This makes the appliance function as an oven and a traditional microwave, allowing you to roast and bake crispy crust foods.
A convection microwave’s ability to crisp and brown both sides of a meal gives this appliance a chance at making that pizza.
Convection microwaves are also better at reheating foods since they function as smaller ovens and as conventional microwaves. You could do other things in a convection microwave if you like, including cookies, chicken roasts, green beans, and a nice pizza crust on your treat.
How long do you cook pizza in the microwave?
Baking a pizza in the microwave takes 20 to 25 minutes. This doesn’t include prep time, which could take much longer than cooking.
As we shall see from the guide below, a lot goes into making microwave pizza and the cooking time.
How to cook pizza in the microwave, step by step
Here you are! From kneading that dough to enjoying a slice of pizza with a crispy crust, I will take you through the entire process. The following microwave instructions will guide you through making a microwave pizza.
Mixing the dough
A well-made dough is the key to a good pizza. You’ll need to thoroughly mix the flour with milk and salt in a bowl. Self-rising flour is always preferable, but ordinary flour will make the cut if mixed with baking powder. Knead the dough for at least 15 minutes, adding more milk if it comes out dry or a little flour to thicken it.
Fermenting the dough
For uniform fermentation, spread a thin layer of cooking grease over the dough and store it in an airtight container for 50 – 60 minutes. Fermentation occurs at room temperature but can be slower, especially in the cold season.
Getting the toppings ready
Toppings are an essential part of the pizza. As the dough ferments and rises, it’s time to prep your toppings. Any toppings that may not cook through during the short pizza baking window should be cooked beforehand. Italian sausage is a good example.
Others like veggies will need roasting to reduce the water content, which could otherwise give your meal a soggy crust.
Stretching and shaping the dough
A typical pizza is round. Once the dough has risen, use a rolling pin to stretch it evenly, maintaining a consistent thickness. You can still spread the dough evenly without a rolling pin, but isn’t it better or easier?
Adding the toppings
Toppings are an integral part of the pizza.
- Start by placing the crust on a microwave platter that has been lined with parchment paper, and spread pizza sauce over it, avoiding the sauce from covering the edges.
- Place the veggies and such on top and sprinkle some salt over them. Finally, grate cheese over the veggies.
- If you aren’t watching your diet, you can pour half a tablespoon of oil over the toppings, and you are ready to bake your microwave pizza.
- Overall, this method of adding toppings takes 3-5 minutes.
The second method involves cheese going before the veggies.
- After spreading, transfer the pizza base to a microwave-safe plate, and drive a fork into it to make small holes. These holes help the cheese melt faster (owing to the short baking period) and get absorbed in the inner parts of the pizza base.
- Spread the toppings over the cheese, and then grate more mozzarella cheese over the toppings
Baking the pizza
Place the pizza inside the convection microwave oven on a microwave-safe plate lined with parchment paper. Ensure the plate is at the center of the rotating plate, and select the oven setting.
Let the pizza bake for 20 – 25 minutes, and then switch it off.
Let the pizza cool for 30 seconds, and serve hot!
How can you microwave a pizza?
You can still microwave it to reheat if you already have a pizza. This is mostly the case for frozen pizza or leftover pizza heating. Either way, it’s a simple thing that anyone can pull off. So, how do you reheat pizza in the microwave?
Place your slice of pizza on a microwave-safe plate and put it inside the microwave. Put a microwavable cup or small bowl of water next to the pizza and select the medium-high power level. Let the pizza slices heat for 40 minutes, and stop to check.
The water molecules from the cup will absorb some microwave radiation, allowing the pizza to absorb lesser energy and thus heat up slower and more uniformly.
Depending on the type of pizza and whether it’s a cold pizza, you may have to reheat for up to a minute.
How long to microwave pizza?
There are two scenarios in which you’d typically need to microwave pizza. The common is when reheating. This takes between 40 seconds and one minute.
The other situation is when baking pizza in the microwave. This takes 20 -25 minutes, plus the prep time (7-8 minutes)
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Video: how to bake a pizza in a regular oven
Wrap up
Microwave pizza is neither an impossibility nor poor quality. From the instructions we’ve just shared, you can avoid the toaster oven and nuke your frozen pizza, or you can still enjoy a crispy crust right from a convection microwave.
Don’t be afraid of buying that 11 -12 inch pizza anymore. You can refrigerate any leftovers and still enjoy them hot the next day!