Pizza delivery can put a dent in your wallet. Despite being a convenient choice for a meal, especially after a tiring day, finding more budget-friendly options can be appealing. This is where frozen pizza comes into play. Dating back to its inception in the 1950s, frozen pizza has consistently offered a convenient take-and-bake solution for individuals on the move. Its popularity continues to soar, providing a quick and affordable alternative to traditional delivery options.
Frozen pizza is a cheap and convenient option for eating and can also be quickly transformed from ordinary to outstanding. In this tutorial, we’ll lead you through 12 methods to improve your frozen pizza to compete with your neighborhood pizzeria, from stocking up on necessary kitchen utensils to choosing a pie and toppings. I hope your stomach is growling!
1. Select the appropriate pizza foundation.
To get started, let’s review some fundamentals. You must choose high-quality ingredients because your finished product will only be as good as the frozen pizza and toppings you utilize. It just needs some before planning, so it doesn’t have to be a scary process. First, take a look in your cupboard to see what items, like sauces and chopped nuts, you already have on hand.
Next, you’ll have to decide on a pizza base. Your best bet will probably be cheese pizza, which will let you customize the toppings to your heart’s content. Cheese is a desirable option as well because the subtle flavor complements most toppings. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete with other options, like pepperoni; just consider how your additions will complement the base of pizza you’re creating.
Check out your local farmer’s market for fresh produce, fruit, meat, honey, and other things to use as toppings. Local produce has a higher nutritional value and is also a great way to support your neighborhood. Talk about a win-win situation. Check your local grocery store’s advertisement for bargains on seasonal produce if you live far from a farmer’s market but still want to take advantage of some great deals.
2. Put on a lot of seasoning
Pizza can be made or broken by its crust, and seasonings are a major factor. Use this as a chance to try something new. Basic spices like paprika, cumin, rosemary, and oregano make excellent complements to pizza crusts. Mix them into the dough before baking, add them as a last-minute garnish, or combine them with oil and drizzle it over.
You can stick to the tried-and-true, but you can also go daring and give your pizza a spicy edge by adding Cajun flavor. Greek spice enhances the savory tones of a vegetarian pizza, while popcorn seasoning gives a cheesy, nutty flavor that pairs well with pepperoni.
To make sure the seasonings complement the other items well, consider them before choosing your spices. When in doubt, adding garlic to your food is a great method to give it a fantastic flavor.
3. Add extra sauce toppings to get saucy.
Pizza enthusiasts are acquainted with the assortment of sauce bases that accompany a typical pizza, including but not limited to marinara red sauce, white sauce made from cheese, pesto, oil, and none at all. There are also pizzas where the sauce is piled on top, such as Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago, which makes Chicago-style pizzas. Additionally, there are dipping sauces like bleu cheese, ranch, spicy sauce, and sriracha that can enhance the flavor of every pizza piece.A splash of buffalo sauce or a sprinkle of spicy honey might be a special and simple way to dress up your frozen pizza. It’s likely that you already have them in your refrigerator.
Pizza enthusiasts are acquainted with the assortment of sauce bases that accompany a typical pizza, including but not limited to marinara red sauce, white sauce made from cheese, pesto, oil, and none at all. There are also pizzas where the sauce is piled on top, such as Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago, which makes Chicago-style pizzas. Additionally, there are dipping sauces like bleu cheese, ranch, spicy sauce, and sriracha that can enhance the flavor of every pizza piece.A splash of buffalo sauce or a sprinkle of spicy honey might be a special and simple way to dress up your frozen pizza. It’s likely that you already have them in your refrigerator.
Try different condiments like gochujang, balsamic, and barbecue sauce. The secret is to add this pièce de résistance without going overboard—if adding large amounts is more your style, then by all means!
4. Include new vegetables and herbs
There are other ways to acquire your recommended daily intake of vegetables besides salads. Vegetables are a great way to add extra texture, flavor, and color to your pizza, whether you’re thinking of making a prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic pizza or something more like a pizza taco with bell peppers and onions.
Herbs like parsley and basil offer a nutritional boost to your pizza while also enhancing the other ingredients with vivid, complimentary aromas. They provide the body with essential vitamins and antioxidants and function as anti-inflammatory agents because of naturally occurring molecules called polyphenols, according to Michigan State University. Additionally, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, several herbs may play a significant role in the long-term prevention of major illnesses including cancer and heart disease.
To restock on vegetables, herbs, and produce, take a trip through your garden, the farmer’s market, or the produce section of your supermarket. You’ll be consuming flavors that are in-season and fresh, but you’ll also be gaining extra nutrition.
5. Mound the meat high.
You may even replicate that experience with frozen pizza if you’re a carnivore who always orders the savory, meat-lovers pizzas. Other than giving in to your cravings, there aren’t any guidelines when it comes to increasing your protein intake. Makeover your pizza by duplicating your favorite meat-based dishes and deli sandwiches as toppings. For a unique take on buffalo chicken pizza, chop up some chicken breast and toss it with buffalo sauce. For a chili pizza, brown some minced beef in a skillet.
If you’re going for a more traditional pizza, adding cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, chorizo, or savory and salty crumbled bacon can offer a powerful umami flavor. Sliced steak, tender pig belly, or, in a rush, coarsely chopping some cold meats and piling them high on your pizza are other options.
6. Arrange your leftovers in layers.
Want to finish off some leftovers? Think of them like pizza toppings. It’s a chance to upgrade dinner as well as do a fridge cleanout. It takes some ingenuity to use leftovers on your pizza, but it can save you money and stop unnecessary food waste.
For protein toppings, use baked ham if you’re going for Hawaiian pizza, or slice up some meatballs from last night’s spaghetti for a savory touch. Want to finish off some seafood quickly? To make an impromptu seafood pizza, layer on your cooked shrimp, scallops, and crab. Cooked vegetables can be tossed quickly into a stir-fry pizza, or left raw for a traditional vegetable pizza that needs a little crunch. Your kids can also be added as a pizza topper if they eat their dinosaur chicken nuggets without touching them. If you want a pizza with a more prehistoric vibe, chop it up and mix it with barbecue sauce; otherwise, leave it alone.
7. Add extra cheese gratings
Without cheese, pizza isn’t quite complete. Undoubtedly the most satisfying component of this meal, there’s no disputing the thrill you get when you take a piece out of the pie and watch the warm, gooey cheese strings expand. There’s never a need to hold back when topping frozen pizza with more cheese. Simply carry it out. And here’s your chance, if you need a reason to visit the deli’s cheese department.
A generous serving of cheese, especially when combining different kinds, can yield a really good outcome. The most popular ingredient on any pizza is mozzarella, which melts beautifully. Goat cheese, burrata, brie, mascarpone, gorgonzola, and ricotta are examples of soft cheeses that add a smooth, creamy texture and a burst of flavor. Hard cheeses with nuttier, more robust flavors include gruyere, romano, and parmesan. These cheeses are available pre-grated or in blocks, but homemade parmesan tastes better and is far easier to produce, according to Ina Garten in a Time magazine article. It’s time to put on your work gloves and start grating to obtain a gooey, tasty reward.
8. Examine flavored oils.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a spicy pizza at your neighborhood pizzeria that has been infused with Calabrian chili oil, you are aware of how very hot these chilis can get. According to La Cucina Italiana, the thin, red peppers are native to Calabria in southern Italy and are used in a variety of Italian cuisines. Although Calabrian chiles are a specialty product and hence more difficult to find at the grocery store, you can make them at home using extra virgin olive oil and red chili flakes.
Jalapenos are another option if you’re in the mood for something flavorful or milder on the Scoville Heat Scale. A spicy drizzle or sauce requires extra virgin olive oil.
Recall that oil should be used for drizzling or dipping, not creating an oil slick. If you use too much, you run the danger of making your pizza soggy instead of crispy and chewy.
9. Place a layer over fresh fruit.
Probably the first fruit that comes to mind when you think of fruit on pizza is the notorious pineapple. Even though, according to a 2017 Slice survey, 54% of Americans strongly disapprove of pineapple as a pizza topping, pineapple can change the game.
As toppings, apples or stone fruits like cherries, peaches, or apricots are excellent choices. Put on your charcuterie hat and match each with a cheese that accentuates its flavor profile. To bring everything together, add some crushed nuts and a sauce topping, like balsamic or infused oil.
It can help achieve the desired savory-sweet flavor combination whether you choose fresh fruit or fruit preserves. In case you’re still unsure about putting fruit on pizza, keep in mind that tomatoes are fruits.
10. Try different culinary techniques.
There are ways to replicate the pizzeria experience even if you don’t own a brick or commercial-grade pizza oven (and escape the betrayal of soggy pizza slices). “Flash baking” is a foolproof method for quickly and efficiently achieving a crisp, evenly cooked crust on your pizza (via Cooking Light). Make sure to thaw your pizza in advance and preheat your oven to the highest setting possible. Place the pizza in the oven for up to eight minutes as soon as it reaches room temperature.
Even while using a pizza stone calls for some preparation, it’s a simple approach to improve your pizza because it makes the crust crisp and light, especially when used in conjunction with the flash-baking technique. To ensure that the pizza crust cooks uniformly, Cook’s Illustrated suggests preheating the clay disk for 45 to 1 hour. Pizza should be cooked by placing it on top of the stone and watching it until it gets the desired amount of crispiness.
You can make pizza gourmet-style without using a pizza stone. Your grill can be a terrific way to cook pizza to perfection, even though it’s not wood-fired. According to Weber, preheat your grill to between 425 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. After it’s hot, place your pizza straight onto the grill and cook it for 16–20 minutes. To cook your pizza indirectly over the flames, you can also use your pizza stone on the grill.
11. Permit it to remain
Once the cooking time has finished and you’ve taken it out of the oven, allow your pizza a minute to cool, just like you would when making cookies. When the pizza is still hot and oozy from the steaming cheese, if you cut into it too soon, the toppings may fall off and leave you with a plate full of toppings and no crust. However, some toppings, like spinach, are best added after the crust has cooked to prevent singing and wilting.
Your pizza can be carefully removed from the stone by using a pizza peel or rimless baking sheet. AK Crust advises using cornmeal, semolina flour, normal flour, or a combination of all three to keep your pizza from sticking to the peel for a smooth transfer. Use flour for your pizza peel if you wish to prevent the extra crunch that cornmeal can leave on the bottom of your crust.
12. Make use of breakfast items
There’s no reason to wait until Sunday brunch to enjoy a breakfast pizza—you can make pizzas that rival those made by top chefs at home. In case you intend to use eggs, chefs suggest utilizing a pizza stone and high heat, much like when cooking frozen pizza in a gourmet manner (source: The Columbian). Halfway through cooking (approximately 4 minutes if you use the pizza stone), crack the egg on top of the pizza, or poach an egg on top of the stovetop before serving.
There are more options for morning pizza besides eggs. Crumble in some bacon, sausage, or your preferred meat, then top with feta or a tiny bit of strong cheddar cheese. If you’re a true carnivore, you can stop there, or you can add some veggies and herbs like parsley and green onions. Another classic morning side dish is breakfast potatoes, or hash browns, which can be repurposed for frozen pizza. If Yukon gold potatoes are not readily available, thinly slice them and arrange them atop your pizza before putting it back in the oven. Add a little rosemary, salt, and pepper for finishing, then savor!
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