Do you prefer Cold Pizza?

[Chemicalkinetics]

Obviously, almost everyone prefer fresh baked pizza. However, once the fresh pizza has been cooled for hours, do you prefer reheating it before consumption? Or do you prefer eating it cold? I always hear people loudly profess their loves for cold pizza. I prefer reheating the pizza, but a few of my friends think that is plain nasty.

So my question to you is:

***
Do you prefer eating cold pizza or reheated pizza?
***

Explanations are welcome, but a short answer of "Cold" or "Reheated" is sufficient too.

[Pincus]

If there is a toaster oven present, then reheated. Otherwise, room temperature. (I'm a member of the group here that leaves pizzas out overnight.)

[Chemicalkinetics]

Here is the tally for people who prefer cold pizza vs those who prefer reheated pizza. Most of the opinions are very easy to understand. Some are a bit less clear and I tried the best to categorize them and hopefully did not misinterpret them. For people who indicates "equal preference" I count them as both.

Final results:
21 people prefer cold pizza while 29 persons prefer reheated pizza.

It is not one-sided, but it shows a stronger preference for reheated pizza.

Thanks for your responses and I apologize for not doing this earlier.

[Chemicalkinetics]

A table

[Davwud]

Actually CK, my response should be heated. The question is...do I prefer cold pizza?? No I don't. I like cold pizza very much but warm is better.

DT

[Chemicalkinetics]

Davwud,

Are you sure that you are not switching because you want to be on the winning team? Just kidding.

[Cynsa]

Thanks, Chenicalkinetics, for your tally. Might I inject yet another factor? In our house, it depends on the pizza. A not very interesting pizza became very delicious cold from the refrigerator the next morning - the difference was Night and Day (won't order pizzas from that place again - but I would have its pizza COLD the next morning - if they'd market it as COLD Next Day Pizza, then they might sell more pizzas). Microwaving leftover slices made pizza crust chewy but zapped for less than a minute made the cheese melty hot goodness. Reheating in a hot cast iron skillet on the stove top crisps the blistered charred thin crust and bloomed the flavors of a fig and Gorgonzola topping. The ricotta, black pepper, and spinach required reheat to tune up tasting. But, finally - Cold Pizza at its BEST is pepperoni-cheese-tomato sauce munched in the am, standing in the open door of the refrigerator in my bare feet and pj's.

[srsone]

weird...my other post about my answer has disappeared
but i said ..
if "big if" there is any left over ...warmed up...

[nobadfoodplz]

It is rare that pizza survives the night, but I like to microwave it so I can burn the roof of my mouth for a second time.

[Whinerdiner]

I love my pizza gooey, greasy, and so piping hot it burns the roof of your mouth.
Leftovers, though, are great cold the next day for breakfast. I never reheat. Even using the frying pan method, it's not the same. The crust is never right. So for me it's either hot and fresh, or old and cold.

[woodleyparkhound]

reheated - always

[laliz]

a different note here. I'm a low carber and cold pepperoni is a joy to behold. No crust.

[benbenberi]

I can't bear either cold or reheated pizza -- if there's any leftover from a meal, whoever I'm with is welcome to keep the lot because once it's no longer fresh it's just garbage to me.

[Midlife]

I tended to agree until I tried reheating pizza in a dry fry pan. It's not quite like fresh, but it negates the limp quality most reheating methods seem to produce. I cover the pan at the beginning to concentrate the heat, then remove it to keep it from 'steaming'. Works for me on day 2.

[monavano]

I plop my leftover slices on my pizza stone. It does a decent job of keeping it crisp.

[Midlife]

If I had a pizza stone it would most likely wind up buried in the back of the closet along with the breadmaker and the espresso machine. ;o)

[monavano]

Nah, you just keep it in your oven at all times. Helps to cook everything evenly.

[mucho gordo]

I wouldn't say "cold"; room temperature works as well as hot.

[monopod]

Can I ask WHY the cold contingency likes it better that way? To me, cold pizza loses most of the flavor (since cold mutes flavors generally), the crust gets hard and overly chewy, and the cheese turns into a solid block of cold, hard, tasteless white wax. If it's a neopolitan pizza or other style with less cheese and a very thin and light crust then I can see eating it cold I guess, but it's always more flavorful and better textured (in my opinion) if you pop it in the toaster oven first. Curious to know what the rationale is for cold.

Whereas, I think chinese and indian food are best eaten cold directly out of a takeout container while standing in front of the open fridge. Not entirely consistent, I know.

[Midlife]

I never could understand eating cold pizza. It just LOOKS like the cold cheese would stick right in your arteries. I know that's not the way the body works, and that the cheese was cold before it was put on the pizza in the first place, but it sure gives that impression. Also...... cold sauce is not something I'd eat on its own .............. AND the crust is usually hard as a rock (or close) when it's cold.

I guess all that makes me a "NO" person.

[hyacinthgirl]

As a liker of cold (though preferably room temperature) leftover pizza, I will say that, I like room temperature bread. I like cold cheese. Why wouldn't I like pizza that way?
I prefer it piping hot and fresh, but really, I've never been able to reheat it so that it tastes the same as it did the night before. So when I reheat pizza, I mostly just taste disapointment, something that is a sadder version of the dish I had enjoyed. When I eat the pizza cold, it's like a completely different dish. I'm no longer comparing it to the hot fresh pizza, now I'm enjoying a sort of open faced sandwich.

Strange psychology maybe, but I think that's what it comes down to for me.

[Pincus]

Well-said. Reheated pizza is never the same experience for me, either, and rarely an enjoyable one. (Parts are too cold, or too hot, and the cheese is never the same.)

[junescook]

Again, try reheating low and slow in a covered nonstick fry pan lightly oiled or sprayed. Crust gets crispy and the cheese and toppings stay moist.

[hyacinthgirl]

That definitely sounds worth trying... as long as I can overcome the impatience factor.

[Pincus]

I will get out the cast iron frying pan for my next cold pizza experiment. Thanks!

[jmckee]

You can't discuss this topic without hearing this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFe5zQ...

[monavano]

I don't prefer cold pizza per se, but I'll eat it! Especially if I'm just plain too lazy and hungry to wait for leftovers to heat in the oven.

[Sooeygun]

Same for me. Cold is okay if I'm hungry and impatient, but re-heated in the oven until lovely and crisp is better.

[beevod]

The most reliable way to "re-heat" cold pizza is under a sofa cushion for 10 minutes.

[Midknight]

Like many other suggestion on CHOW, very creative, bee!

But how do you keep the mozzarella from sticking all stretchy-like to the bottom of the cushion? Pam cooking spray? :)

[Lixer]

Oh man, I dearly miss a cold Canadian bacon with pineapple. But really, I loved eating pizza at any temperature!

[alliegator]

I'm going to have to go for neither. I find that most pizza doesn't reheat well. One from a real italian place near me does ok if it's heated in the oven. I usually just get them smallest pizza I can and enjoy hot from it's original oven. That's the way pizza is best for me.

[Chemicalkinetics]

I have accidentally come upon this BBC news, titled "Cold pizza passes the taste test"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/scotlan...

[Godslamb]

Reheated!!! for me
Cold!!! for my daughter

[ursy_ten]

Cold. Reheating does something to the texture that I don't really like.

[smileyko]

I alway reheat pizza, best in a toaster oven and not the microwave, sometimes I even put extra cheese on top, almost feels like another pizza and not leftovers.

Now leftover roasted chicken, I often just eat them cold out of the fridge.

[beevod]

Once out of the oven, pizza should, to extract its ultimate goodness, be eaten no fewer than two hours later. Eating pizza bubbling hot not only makes it tasteless,, but can lead to oral cancer.

[Chemicalkinetics]

"Once out of the oven, pizza should, to extract its ultimate goodness"

Agree. But if you are able to finish the pizza and you took some home and put them in the refrigerator, would you like the left over pizza cold (directly from the refrigerator) or would like to reheat the pizza warm (put in oven or microwave or whatever).

[jamieeats]

i like cooled down to room temperature pizza best, but not as much once it's been in the fridge. i love when the cheese has congealed but the crust is still soft and not dried out.

[junescook]

The way I reheat pizza we like it better than fresh even. I spray a large non-stick pan with a cover, put the pizza in, cover it and heat on medium-low to low heat on the stove-top until the bottom gets crispy and the topping gets heated through but not dried out. I use either a 12 or 14" covered pan for this, and it probably takes 12 to 15 minutes.

[Sandwich_Sister]

Great tip, I'm going to try this next time. Thanks

[uwsister]

This is exactly what I do, except I use a regular frying pan.

I'll eat a cold slice if I have to, but I much prefer reheated.

[raytamsgv]

Cold pizza for breakfast. Reheated pizza at other times.

[Harters]

Neither.

If it isnt eaten when first hot it gets thrown. I don't find it reheats well and I find cold pizza nauseating.

[Sean]

I despise cold pizza unless it is the bakery, pizza strips we here in RI...

[missmar79]

absolutely not.

i prefer it bubbling hot from the microwave when the crust gets really soft then all of a sudden geets super hard because its stale. ill take that any day over cold.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Based on the responses here, it appar half of people like cold pizza and half prefer reheated pizza. This is news for me, as I always presume most people prefer reheated pizza and cold pizza lovers only belong to a small passionate group. I guess I were wrong. Thanks.

[Sam Salmon]

"Based on the responses here....."

Based on the responses most people posting to this thread have access to Pizza that is worth little more than the box it was delivered in.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Ha ha ha. True, true, but do you think that wil make a difference in term of prefering "cold" vs "reheated" pizza?

[bagelman01]

BAD ASSUMPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'worth little more than the box it was delivered in'

I have never ordered pizza delivery. I have taken home fine apizza from Sally's or Pepe's that was not finished in the restaurant.

Not all pizza comes in boxes, some old timers still wrap in brown butcher paper and tie with string.

I also make my own apizza and often have leftovers..........................it has never seen a cardboard pizza box.

[Chemicalkinetics]

bagelman01,

But that is exactly Sam's point. He is saying that most people here have access to good pizza: "most people posting to this thread have access to Pizza that is worth little more..."

Therefore, Sam is saying that the responses here do not reflect the entire US population, when most people eat cheap and lower-quality pizza.

[bagelman01]

No, I believe that Sam is saying that the people posting here do not have access to or consume pizza better than middle America chain takeout.

"Based on the responses most people posting to this thread have access to Pizza that is worth little more than the box it was delivered in."

If Sam thought the responder had access to good pizza, the quote would have said worth MUCH more than the box.

Sam's response/obervation makes it seem that the responders are not chowhounds or typical of those who frequent these boards.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Bagel,

Thanks. You are correct. I misread it, I think.

[Sandwich_Sister]

Bagel,
I agree with you but wouldn't take sams opinion too seriously as Sam would have to know regionally where we were at, what our pizza choices actually are and how many of us chowhounders make our own pizza.

Sam is just assuming something that may or may not be true based on sams own opinion.

I myself think a lot of it does depend on the crust and what was done with the pizza the night before.

Sometimes we leave the pizza out all night, room temp pizza can be quite good.

If its refrdigerated I ask myself a few quesitons, what can the crust handle, am I hungry and do I want to wait for the oven or toaster oven.

I'm not a fan of microwaving pizza, its makes it ooey gooey which is great for the cheese toppings but not great for the crust.

and lastly what am I in the mood for. Cold pizza in the morning is something that brings back memories, and it quite good. I've also eaten cold home made spagetti in the morning with a side of toast.

This doesn't make anyone less foodie, its just personal opinions on what to do with left overs.

[bagelman01]

cold spaghetti is my 14 year old daughter's favorite breakfast-straight out of the fridge

As I stated in an earlier post, I prefer my pizza leftovers romm temp, left out all night (in a box).

In this area it is not uncommon to see trays of room temp pizza on display at pizzarias to be sold by the slice. The customer is asked it they want it heated or not.

[srsone]

but does cheap always mean bad?
the 5 pizza i tried from little ceasars wasnt horrible...

[RealMenJulienne]

I'm from Indiana, so the vast majority of my pizza eating has been done at the national chains. I can't imagine how someone could choke down a Little Caesar's cold, when they are not even that good fresh out of the store. So no cold pizza for me thanks. The peculiar thing about chain pizza is that it always tastes better re-baked in your own oven.

[cheesemaestro]

Straight off the fire
The temp. must be higher.
But when it gets old,
It's much better cold.

[Davwud]

Cold, reheated, room temperature. It's all good IMHO.

DT

[Sandwich_Sister]

I concur with the old addage that pizza is like sex even when its bad it's still pretty good.

[Bada Bing]

I recalled the same adage for this query!

[Sandwich_Sister]

Depends on the mood and sometimes the crust or how much time I have.

I like reheating it in the toaster over, I don't microwave pizza is makes it soggy but in the over or the toaster over the crust gets resurrected.

[Perilagu Khan]

I'm a cold man.

[Dan G]

Good pizza: hot.
Crappy chain delivery pizza: cold.

I used to have a co-worker in a retail store who would, many nights, buy a couple of pizzas, put them in her fridge, then on her way to work each morning go along the street and sell slices to people opening up other stores. Perfect audience, young often hung over retail workers... and it allowed her to supplement her income by about $20 per day.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Wow. Amazing story. Cool the pizza overnight and sell them at a higher price point. :)

[Vexorg]

If I can reheat in the oven I will, but I'd rather eat the pizza cold than microwave it.

[bagelman01]

Actually,
ROOM TEMPERATURE....................

I grew up in New Haven, where mozzarella was an extra on apizza. A great new haven pie had sauce, oil and grated romano cheese. This did not require refrigeration for leftovers (according to my mother) and dinner leftovers were left in the Sally's box on the kitchen table, and were eaten at room temp as a late night snack or for breakfast.

I like it either piping hot or room temp, but not in between.

OTOH, pizza with thick dough, and/or thick congealed masses of cheese needs refrigeration, so if eatring leftovers, I take the slice, put it in the toaster oven and toast it on the dark setting to crisp it up.

Never much of a problem, as with kids and dogs, we seldom have any leftover pizza.

[ipsedixit]

Cold. But if it's for dinner, then reheated (on a pizza stone in the oven, never the micro).

[ITry]

I wouldn't say that I prefer it. At the same time, it's perfectly acceptable. Esp. in the morning! Yum!

[Chemicalkinetics]

I assume you mean "cold pizza"

[Mag454]

I failed being a college student since I would NEVER eat cold pizza for breakfast. My roommates would come stumbling home with a box of pizza and on the times that we couldn't finish it, my roommates would wake up the next AM and have it for breakfast. Sometimes it was put in the fridge, sometimes it wasn;'.t I like to have mine heated up, preferably in the toaster oven.

[Chemicalkinetics]

But your roomate may simply tolerate a cold pizza as opposed to prefer it. I have no problem eating a cold pizza when pressed for time, but I rather reheat one if time allows.

[aggiecat]

Back when I could eat pizza, I actually preferred it cold, right out of the fridge, for breakfast. Yum, good times. Miss 'em.

[EWSflash]

cold

[Sam Salmon]

In my country cold Pizza is referred to as The Breakfast of Champions and is truly the only way to eat a pie.

[goodhealthgourmet]

neither. buy it by the slice and you don't have to deal with leftovers ;) but when there are leftovers, ALWAYS reheated.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Thanks.