In our home, pizza is the most-loved dinner on Friday nights in our household. It’s fairly inexpensive, extremely practical, and requires minimal cleaning. It’s not even necessary to discuss the most important thing about pizza, the fact it’s delicious.
Although pizza delivered to your home doesn’t need cooking in the oven, the same cannot be said about pizza bought from the store. We typically prefer pizza delivered; pizza bought from a store typically costs less and is simple to prepare during a lazy evening.
You’ve probably noticed that the pizza you buy at the store is usually with a cardboard piece. A lot of people like us use this cardboard to hold the pizza when we bake it in the oven, and some make use of it to carry off and support slices of pizza when cutting them.
Surprisingly, some people place their pizzas right on the paper while it bakes in an oven. Are these safe, and is it advised? In this post, we’ll determine whether you should cook your pizza on cardboard before baking it in the oven.
Is it safe to place Cardboard in the oven?
No. It’s not safe to bake cardboard into the oven. It is combustible, and it could easily ignite when heated to high temperatures for prolonged periods.
Therefore, if cardboard shouldn’t go into the oven, why do we have so many assertions that people are using it safely without any problem? It’s because there’s a valid reason.
Suppose you decide to place it in your oven on a cardboard piece that isn’t going into direct contact with the heating element since the temperature increases in the oven and the risk of the cardboard becoming ignited. But, it’s not likely to burn as quickly as placing a piece of cardboard onto your stove with a flame.
Please take note that regardless of the claims made by people who put cardboard in the oven, some had their kitchen brimming with smoke and some that started fires. Although it might be a good thing for the majority of people, it’s not advised to place the oven with cardboard.
Even if it was secure from a fire safety perspective, There’s a second aspect to look into. A lot of cardboard bases that come with pizzas from stores contain an anti-grease coating that is located on the outside that is made of cardboard. The layer will contain chemicals that you may not want to be able to detect being absorbed into your pizza once it’s cooked.
Can You Place Cardboard in the oven?
The most secure option is to avoid using any cardboard in your oven. Even at the lowest temperature, there is the possibility of sparks of fire or spontaneous combustion due to the use of cardboard in the oven.
Manufacturers produce cardboard with an underlying paper structure and corrugated board. According to the authorities, the fire-proofing of paper starts at 451°F, and corrugated boards are slightly higher. However, the majority of frozen and homemade pizzas have to be baked at a temperature over 400 degrees. There’s not much flexibility between the temperature that your pizza has for baking and the temp that it needs to be burned by cardboard.
What’s the reason for the Pizza Base made of Cardboard Packaging?
Can you put frozen pizza Cardboard into the Oven?
The cardboard won’t cause fire or char in normal baking temperatures. However, corrugated cardboard is excellent insulation, and it can stop the pizza from properly heating. It is a bit of success; however, the bottom is extremely soft and possibly too wet. This is a bigger issue with frozen pizzas rather as opposed to take-and-bakes that are baked.
If you decide to bake them after you’ve thawed them, ensure that they’re not too tough to handle before putting them in the oven. If you decide to freeze them, be sure to freeze them to move off the cardboard piece they’re sitting on.
Pizza stones are best used for cooking pizzas. In the process of preheating the oven, prepare the stone using the lower side in the oven. The pizza should be placed on the stone. If there isn’t a stone, it is possible to move the pizza into the center rack of the oven to bake. Cook only just one slice at a stretch within the oven. If you want to add fresh garlic or some seasonings to the pizza before cooking, that’s fine too.
There are a few steps to follow if you wish to cook your pizza frozen:
- Bake at 430 degrees.
- Remove the pizza from the box.
- Get rid of the table for pizza (the small white plastic table that sits in the center of the pizza).
- Slide pizza on the stone or rack (don’t put the pizza on the cardboard circle in the oven).
- The cardboard circle to serve pizza if you prepared it on the rack directly.
- Bake the pizza for 15 to 18 minutes, depending on the number of ingredients in the pizza.
- After approximately 10-minutes of cook time, make sure to check the cooking every few minutes.
- If the cheese begins to brown, the pizza is ready.
- If the crust becomes good and the cheese does not appear brown, place the pizza on the top rack and then broil it for a couple of minutes to toast the cheese.
- If you’re having issues with the crust becoming burnt before placing the pizza in the oven, put foil around the pizza’s crust. Keep the foil in place all the time that the pizza is baking.
- If pizza is prepared straight on the rack, you can slide the pizza circle under the pizza and pull it off of the rack.
- If you have used the stone, you can serve pizza straight from the stone.
Can you put a Pizza Box into the Oven?
A few reviewers on the internet will suggest it’s safe to place your oven on the lowest setting and then slide the pizza box into it so that it stays warm since it’s well below the 400-degree mark. Even at a combustible temperature, there’s an opportunity for your cardboard to catch fire. The type of oven you’re using and whether you have plastic or paper connected to the cardboard are contributing factors to the flammability of the cardboard.
For instance, ovens with more exposed heating techniques could result in a higher risk of fire than a range that concentrates more on circulation of heat rather than direct exposure to heat.
The best way to cook meals in your home kitchen is to refrain from placing any cardboard into your oven. This will keep you safe, and the oven-safe and your food are of great quality.
What can you do to reheat pizza without using the Cardboard?
Suppose the reason you want to cook your pizza on the baking sheet inside your pizza oven might be because you’re looking to heat leftovers from the night before. There are other methods to get the task done. Let’s examine some of these alternatives below.
1 Oven
If you’re in a hurry, then one of the most effective ways to heat pizza is to place it back into the oven (using any of the methods described previously). The most important thing to remember when reheating pizza inside the oven is to warm the pizza first, resulting in an even crisper crust.
If you are reheating the oven, you can play with oven temperatures ranging from 350 to 425 F with baking times of around 5 minutes.
2 On the Grill
If the climate is suitable (or you’re one of the ones who likes grilling in winter), one of the best ways to cook your pizza is to place it in the oven. The same fundamental steps should be followed when you are reheating your oven. The outcomes should be similar too.
3 – In an Oven Toaster
If you don’t have an oven or you don’t wish to spend time heating the one you have, for just only a couple of slices, an easier alternative is to heat your pizza using the toaster oven.
Like grill and oven reheating techniques, heat your toaster oven, and then put a slice or two of cheese in it for a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt.
4- Stove
Another method for heating your pizza is to cook it up in a skillet on the stove. If you decide to use this method, ensure that you start heating the skillet before you do so. Be sure to cover the pan to ensure that the heat stays in. Cook until the cheese begins to bubble.
5 . Microwave
The microwave should be used as an option last resort; however, you’ll appreciate its use. If you microwave pizza, the crust is likely to be a little chewier than you’d prefer.
A simple way to assist with this is to place the paper towel on top of your pizza. This can help soak up some of the water. Make sure you reduce the temperature of your microwave to a range between medium and low.
Final Thoughts
Remember that when handling hot objects such as pizzas directly from the rack or cookie sheet, a pizza stone, the casserole dish, ensure that your hands are protected. These objects can be heated to temperatures that are hazardous to handle. Always wear oven gloves when you remove hot foods out of the oven.
Instead of asking, “Can you use it in your oven?” and leaving a possibility of a kitchen fire to possibility, you should keep the cardboard away from baking. Do not use it in your cooking, if you can and make sure it’s kept away from the oven rack.
Although cardboard can stand up to temperatures of up to 100 degrees under normal conditions, you’re not able to control all elements that can cause an explosion. The humidity of your oven, direct heat exposure, and the cardboard material are all factors that can contribute. It would help if you instead chose an option that is safer from this list. It will ensure that the food you eat is of the highest quality while ensuring your home is safe.