Pizza is a great meal; it makes the perfect dinner, doubles up as a late-night snack, and is amazing for breakfast. There is never an inappropriate time to have pizza.
While most people find it convenient to order their pizza online, there is still a good number that likes to make theirs at home. And guess what? These days, it is also possible to bake pizza in a microwave, which makes the process much easier.
Here, we explain in detail how to make pizza in the microwave and exactly what you need to get the best results. Let’s start!
Do You Need a Special Microwave to Bake Pizza?
To make pizza in a microwave and obtain the best results, you need a convection microwave.
This microwave combines the features of both a traditional microwave and an oven, making it possible for you not only to heat foods but also to bake and roast them.
You can make your favorite pizza in just a few minutes, all thanks to this microwave’s browning and crisping capabilities. A convection microwave will cook both the inside and outside of your pizza, unlike the regular microwave which will only cook the outside.
Regular microwaves warm foods by heating the water molecules in them. They are therefore also called conventional microwaves. Convection microwaves come with this feature as well. But they also include a function that allows them to act as a small oven.
Not only can you bake your pizza in a convectional microwave, but you can also make cookies and cook green beans as you roast chicken in your main oven.
How to Properly Bake Pizza In a Microwave
Materials/Ingredients Needed
- Self-rising flour or all-purpose flour and baking powder
- Salt
- Milk
- Seasoned tomato/pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Mixing bowl
- Rolling pin
- Air-tight container
- Fork
- Parchment paper
- Greased oil
- Baking dish
Step 1: Mix the Dough
Put self-rising flour, milk, and salt in a bowl and mix thoroughly. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can use the normal all-purpose flour and baking powder. Just make sure you are not packing the measuring cup tightly, or the dough will come out too dry.
Knead the dough with your fist until it comes together. Depending on the flour you use, it can take up to 15 minutes for the dough to attain the consistency needed to produce quality pizzas.
If your dough is still sticky after the kneading period, add some flour. If it is dry, add a little bit of milk.
Step 2: Ferment the Dough
Cover the dough with greased oil. Then transfer it to an air-tight container and let it ferment for about one hour at room temperature, that is, about 86° F. You may want to let it sit a little longer if you are baking during the cold season.
Ideally, you should increase the fermentation time if the temperature is lower than 86° F and decrease if it is higher than 86° F. The hotter your kitchen is, the faster the fermentation will take place. Just don’t let the dough sit idle for too long or it will turn sour.
Step 3: Prepare the Toppings
As you wait for the dough to rise, prep your toppings and cook those that need pre-cooking. Perhaps you want to throw in Italian sausage, for instance. Make sure to cook this before adding it to your pizza because the small baking window may not allow it to cook properly.
If you wish to add some veggies like red peppers, consider roasting them first. It will help get rid of the excess water that may cause the pizza crust to get soggy.
Step 4: Stretch Out the Dough
Once your dough has fermented, roll it into a ball and spread it out on a flat surface. Use a rolling pin so you can stretch the dough ball evenly. You could also use the tips of your fingers here. The goal is to end up with a crust with even edges, so whichever method you choose is fine.
Step 5: Add the Toppings
Transfer the crust onto a greased baking dish or a microwave platter lined with parchment paper. Then, make some holes in the dough using a fork
The small cuts will help the cheese melt faster and penetrate the inner parts of the crust. They will also enable the crust to bake faster. Next, spread the toppings on the pizza crust. Then cover it up with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 6: Bake Your Pizza
Set the pizza inside the microwave, making sure the platter or the baking dish sits properly at the center of the microwave. Hit the oven settings on the microwave and let the pizza bake for between 20 and 25 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Step 7: Remove the Pizza From the Microwave
Once your pizza has cooked, remove it from the microwave and transfer it onto a serving plate. Give it about 4 to 5 minutes to cool. Now slice up your delicious pizza and serve to eat.
The Best Pizza Recipes For Microwaves
There is quite a number of pizza recipes that cook well in a convection microwave. From the regular tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese pizza to the fancier versions of goat cheese and arugula, you can make your pizza as delicious and nutritious as you please.
If you want extra protein, add sausage or pepperoni to your pizza, or try barbecue chicken pizza. For people with diabetes or those on a low-carb diet, a cauliflower crust would be great. To make sure the dough is not hurting your stomach, try a gluten-free crust.
You could also do away with the traditional cheese altogether and try non-dairy options like almond cheese or cashew cheese.
Once you have selected the recipe you want, follow the standard instructions of making pizza in a convection microwave and you will have a finger-linking pizza right at home.
How to Reheat Pizza In Microwave
Sometimes when we make homemade pizzas, we tend to go overboard and produce more than we need. When that happens, we end up with leftovers that need reheating before consumption.
But don’t you just hate when you try to reheat your pizza in the microwave but it turns out dry and chewy? It can be quite frustrating, but there is something you can do to enjoy softer and crispier pizza leftovers.
Simply put the pizza inside the microwave and place a cup of water next to it. Then select the appropriate microwave settings and heat for about 40 seconds to a minute.
The cup of water will absorb some of the waves emitted by the microwave and as a result, the pizza will warm up much slower but more evenly.
Without the cup of water, all the waves will be absorbed by the pizza, causing it to warm up much faster. Consequently, the water molecules present in the pizza will vaporize, leaving you with a dry, chewy crust.
Extended Tips: Tricks for Making the Best Pizza In a Microwave
Select the Right Settings
When baking or reheating pizza in the conventional style, the cooking time will vary based on what you are doing. And since your microwave has both the oven and microwave settings, you need to select the appropriate settings.
If you are baking pizza, for instance, you will want to select the oven setting but if you are just reheating leftovers, you will want to go for the microwave setting.
Stick to Instructions
When baking pizza, make sure to follow the guidelines for the traditional oven-baked pizza. Most open pizza recipes will take around 20 minutes to cook. Some can take less.
If you don’t know how long your pizza takes to be ready, keep an eye on it until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden brown.
Follow the Steps of a Regular Microwave When Reheating a Pizza
If you are reheating leftover pizza in a convection microwave, use the same procedure as when using the traditional microwave. Simply place the pizza on the microwave platter and heat for at least 40 seconds.
Please note that pizzas reheated this way may become a little chewy. That’s why some people prefer heating leftover pizzas in a toaster oven.
The Takeaway
Making your pizza at home is a great way to enjoy a tastier and more flavorful pie. And as you can see, you don’t need an oven to bake one. As long as your microwave has a convection mode, you should be able to make your favorite pizza right in your kitchen.
To get started:
- Prepare the dough and let it ferment.
- Next, stretch out the dough and add your toppings.
- Then place the crust inside the microwave and bake.
Looking to learn more on how to make pizza in the microwave? Let us know in the comment section.
Julie has five years of experience in the restaurant industry, she decided to share her knowledge about her liking and fondness for food and pizza, of course, cooking as her love language. She’s very passionate about what she’s doing, making all the things she writes regarding pizza recipes, very amazing!
It is very helpful to make delicious Pizza at home and also I opend a restaurant where i serve the pizza to my customers. Although I don’t make that much great pizza but now it is possible to make it amazing, the credit goes to Bella Bacinos and thank you for it…..!!!!!!!!!🤩🍕
And also I share this recipe to many people so that they could make better pizza too and enjoy the delite….