Why You Should Skip The Baking Sheet When Making Frozen Pizza

Fresh over frozen is the motto, but let's face it, even a frozen pizza is better than no pizza. A favorite convenience food, these icy pies are a fixture in freezers across the nation. In fact, Statista reports that the U.S. industry alone is worth over $6 billion and has been increasing since the pandemic began. In the absence of dining at pizzerias, many learned to adapt, elevating frozen pizzas with a few tweaks — one of those being skipping the baking sheet.

Ready in significantly less time than a freshly-made pie, frozen pizza is budget-friendly and convenient when you're feeling too lazy to cook. Not to mention that these frosty disks are also ultra comforting with their carby, cheesy goodness. Though they have a rap for being unhealthy, Health recommends avoiding lengthy ingredient lists and opting for pizzas made with whole grain or cauliflower crusts for added fiber and nutrients.

Naturally, starting with a good quality brand will make all the difference, notes Bon Appétit. While there's nothing wrong with baking a frozen pizza as is, it can always benefit from a bit of doctoring, especially when it comes to how you bake your 'za.

If your frozen pizzas always end up baking unevenly, there's one thing in your baking routine that needs to change. Ditch the aluminum foil and baking sheets, advises Insider, and place the pizza directly onto your lowest oven rack. But before doing that, poke some holes in the bottom of the crust to help steam escape and prevent any sogginess.

Of course, super high heat is also a great way to make sure your frozen pizza turns out perfectly crisp. Forget about following the instructions on the back of the box. Turn your oven to the maximum heating setting (usually 550° F) and bake, explains Taste of Home. Just be aware that pizza will cook much faster, so keep an eye on your pie.

If you're still looking for ways to give your pizza a bit of dazzle, add ingredients. Chopped veggies, extra protein, toasted nuts, herbs, beans, extra (and fancier) cheese like Fontina or Gouda can all do wonders — you also crack an egg on your pizza halfway through baking. Conversely, top with fresh ingredients like arugula, speck, peaches, burrata or a drizzle of honey, infused olive oil, or balsamic glaze. As for that pizza crust, Allrecipes recommends brushing it with a bit of oil and sprinkling on garlic, cheese, or even everything bagel seasoning!