The Absolute Best Ways To Reheat Calzones

Calzones are a popular variation of pizza that contain the fillings of a pizza tucked inside a pocket of baked, crusty dough. The inside of the portable pocket has a melty mozzarella and ricotta cheese blend, pepperoni, sausage, veggies, or whatever ingredients you prefer.

The calzone originated in Naples, Italy, in the 1700s, according to Spizzico Restaurant. Traditionally they were filled with mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, and were made small and portable in size. According to the NY Eater, "calzoni" translates to "pants leg" and represents a portable, on-the-go form of pizza that can be eaten without the need for utensils.

Calzones are often mistaken for stromboli because they're both small pizza-like foods, but the two are somewhat different. Bon Appétit states that calzones are stuffed with a blend of cheeses including ricotta cheese. while Stromboli includes low-moisture mozzarella cheese and no ricotta. In addition, calzones never include tomato sauce inside the pizza pocket, while you may find sauce inside a Stromboli.

While calzones are made to be portable, you may not always finish it in one sitting. Here are some methods to use when reheating your calzone.

Calzones are delicious when they're dipped into a warm sauce. The Food Network's Ree Drummond lists a recipe for a homemade marinara sauce that consists of garlic, onion, white wine, crushed tomatoes, parsley, basil, and a pinch of sugar. The Pioneer Woman says, "We love calzones in our house! Always have, always will. They're easy to eat, and you can fill them with whatever ol' pizza-friendly ingredients you like. You can serve them with marinara as a dipping sauce, or you can pour marinara sauce over the calzones after they're baked." Even with all of this deliciousness, you may have leftovers that you will want to reheat later on.

According to Cooking Chew, reheating a calzone in the oven is the most common method. It recommends preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Then place the calzone on a baking sheet and spritz it with cooking oil. The oil provides a golden, crispy crust when it bakes. Bake the pizza pocket for 20 minutes if refrigerated and up to 30 minutes if frozen. After the allotted baking time, remove the calzone from the oven and cut it down the middle to ensure it is heated through. If it still feels cool to the touch, place it back into the oven and continue reheating in five-minute intervals. Allow the calzone to cool slightly before serving.

If you have a stove and a skillet, the stovetop method for reheating calzones may interest you. Pantry and Larder states this is its favorite method for reheating calzones because it perfectly crisps the crust and melts the cheese. To reheat a calzone on the stovetop, place the calzone in a ten-inch round skillet and heat it over medium-low heat for two minutes, then carefully flip it with a spatula. Cook for an additional two minutes on the opposite side.

Is the crust too dry? Pantry and Larder recommends adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet and cover the pan. Doing this will trap the moisture inside the skillet and warm the calzone in the moist heat of the steam. If you prefer a really crispy and flavorful crust, Pantry and Larder advises to spread garlic butter over the calzone before reheating. Allow the calzone to cool slightly before digging in.

Reheating calzones in the microwave isn't the ideal method (chewy crust, anyone?). The microwave, however, is a very convenient method for reheating foods because it is quick and easy. The Best Ever recommends wrapping the calzone in a damp paper towel first, then placing it on a microwave-safe plate. Heat the calzone for 30 seconds on high power and continue heating at 15-second intervals until it is warm. The important thing to remember is to not allow it to heat for too long. The microwave may cause the crust to become rubbery, hard, and dry. Allow the calzone to cool slightly before serving.

Want a side dish to serve with your calzone? Try pairing it with a salad or roasted vegetables. It is also recommended that anything you would usually serve with a pizza can be served with a calzone as well.

Now that you know the different methods to reheat your delicious calzone, enjoy!