What Oven Temperature To Keep Pizza Warm: Full Guide

Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Lori Walker

**Hot pizza** with stretchy cheese, pepperoni, and just enough greasiness tastes like a slice of heaven.

If you accidentally ordered your pizza way too early for a party, fret not.

Read on if you want to know what oven temperature to keep the pizza warm. We had a team building the other day, and this is exactly what we did.

Table of Contents

Ideal Oven Temperature To Keep Pizza Warm

The ideal oven temperature to keep pizza warm is around 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit (93-121 degrees Celsius).

This temperature range is low enough to prevent the crust from getting too crispy but high enough to keep the cheese and toppings warm without overcooking them.

It’s important to keep an eye on the pizza to ensure it doesn’t burn or dry out. You can also wrap the pizza in foil to help retain heat and moisture.

But what makes your pizza dough tear?

Best Possible Oven Temperature

Pizza Is Inside The Box

Keep your pizza warm inside the box by preheating the oven to 200° F and lowering the temperature to 140° F before you put the box in.

Pizza Is Outside The Box

If it’s outside the box, you can keep your pizza warm by preheating a pizza stone inside the oven with a heat of 200° F.

Put the pizza on top of the pizza stone, lower the oven temperature to 140° F, and cover the entire setup with aluminum foil. But how can you tell if your pizza dough has gone bad?

How Long Can I Keep Pizza Warm In The Oven?

Depending on the type of warming method that you will use, you can keep the pizza warm inside an oven for at least 2-3 hours before the heat affects the crust.

Make sure to know the heating method and its effect on your pizza to prevent your crust from turning hard as stone.

Read: 5 Simple Ways To Keep Rolls Warm Transport

At What Temperature Will Pizza Box Burn?

If you’re curious about why your pizza box burned, maybe you turned the knob to 427° F. Any cardboard box will burn at this temperature, so be careful when setting your oven’s temperature.

Learn how long it takes for an oven to cool down here.

Alternative Ways to Keep Pizza Warm

Use Aluminum Foil

This method works best when the pizza is divided into slices. Wrap each slice with aluminum foil and insert it into the oven for ten minutes at a temperature of 400° F [1].

“Aluminum foil insulates best when it traps a dead air space above (or around) the food product.”
– Timothy Bowser, Food Processing Engineer

But how long should pizza rolls be microwaved?

Use a Frying Pan

Warm the pizza in the pan by putting the pizza on top of the pan for 2 minutes on medium heat. Drop 2 to 4 drops of water on the pan’s side and put a cover on top to create steam inside.

But how can you use the pizza stone if you don’t have a pizza peel?

Use an Insulated Box

Insulated boxes are usually used for deliveries to store heat longer, which means you can use this too if you want to keep your pizza warm for a long time [2].

Check out these simple ways to cut a pizza without using a pizza cutter here.

Tips & Tricks To Keep Pizza Warm

Preheat the oven to 200° F, then lower it to the lowest setting before putting the pizza inside.
Only preheat your pizza for a maximum of 3 hours to prevent the crust from drying out or turning hard as stone.
If you are doing this for the first time, start by preheating the pizza under the lowest setting of your oven. Always check the pizza from time to time.

Also Read:

FAQ

How do you keep pizza warm for 2 hours?

Use your oven to temporarily store the pizza, with or without the box, by preheating the oven first to 200° F, then lowering it to 140° F while the pizza is inside.

Check out these steps to remove pizza from the oven rack here.

What is the best temperature to keep pizza warm without drying out?

Generally, storing the pizza for two hours requires a constant 140° F of heat to keep it warm without drying out. Find out if you can bake cookies on a pizza stone here.

Let’s Wrap It Up

Heating a pizza may sound simple if you don’t care about the quality afterward. It is better to know the different methods so that you and your guests can continue to enjoy the pizza.

You can keep your pizza warm by reheating the oven first and dialing it down before putting it inside. You can also wrap each pizza slice with aluminum foil.

Remember that for every method, there is a different temperature needed, and the quality of your pizza will depend on how warm the oven is and how long the pizza stays in the oven.

References:

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/parchment-paper-vs-wax-paper-vs-foil
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2019/08/13/use-insulated-lunch-bag-keep-meals-safe

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Lori Walker

Lori is a self-taught baker and former owner of a successful bakery. She shares her love for baking through her blog, featuring delicious recipes, baking tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at running a bakery. You can speak with her directly at [email protected].