Cook Frozen Pizza In A Cast Iron Skillet And Throw The Instructions Away

Whether it's a Chicago deep dish or a New York slice, pizza stands as one of the most beloved, crowd-pleasing meals around. Due to its versatility and convenience, pizza is a great option as a quick weeknight dinner for big families and solo eaters alike. It's incredibly easy to get pizza on the dining table, making it perfect for those busy nights when all you want to do is sit down and eat. Modern technology allows you to receive restaurant-quality pizza delivered directly to your door without ever having to talk to another person. Or, if you have a bit more energy, it's simple to throw a few ingredients on the premade dough and let it cook while you tackle other chores. Of course, there's also frozen pizza, which is often regarded as being a cheap, less satisfying option, however, frozen pizza can be amazing if you cook it the right way.

Frozen pizza can be less-than-stellar. At its worst, frozen can have a cardboard-like crust, limp flavorless toppings, and goopy cheese. But that doesn't have to be the case. This awful fate can be avoided; all you have to do is completely disregard the instructions printed on the pizza box. The next time you make a frozen pizza, cook it in a cast iron skillet for a totally upgraded experience. You'll get a frozen pizza that tastes just as good as any homemade pie.

The reason your cast-iron skillet can make such a difference in this case comes down to temperature. Any pizzeria is going to cook their pies in a pizza oven that can reach temperatures upwards of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which enables them the ability to cook pizzas in less than five minutes. By cooking a pizza at such high temperatures (usually around 800 degrees Fahrenheit), restaurants and professional kitchens can achieve the ideal bake: pillowy yet crisp dough, gooey cheese, and well-cooked toppings, all without the pizza being burnt to a crisp. Unfortunately for home chefs, most regular ovens can only get to a bit over 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which will affect any pizza (even homemade ones) but will make it particularly difficult to get a nice texture on frozen pizza. But with the help of a cast iron pan, a great frozen pizza is easier to achieve.

For this hack, start by preheating your oven to the highest temperature you can without setting it to broil. Keep your cast iron pan in the oven as it heats up so that the pan gets nice and hot. Once the oven has finished preheating, pop the frozen pizza in the pan, and let it cook for five to eight minutes. Make sure to watch over the pizza as it cooks, as it can quickly get burnt with this method, and take note of the perfect cooking time for your oven.

The result should be a perfectly cooked pizza with a crisp, crunchy bottom crust and a soft interior. This works because your cast iron pan holds heat so well. While it certainly won't reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit let alone 1,000, it should help keep your pizza at a higher temperature than it would alone in the oven. As a result, your cast iron is able to quickly cook through the pizza without making it chewy or overdone. Plus, the direct contact with the pan should also help your frozen pizza develop a nice crispy crust. 

You can elevate your frozen pizza even further by adding a few finishing touches before you bake it. Use a brush to add some olive oil to the crust, then give it a dusting of garlic powder. Consider sprinkling on a bit of shredded mozzarella cheese for an extra-gooey bite, adding a few gourmet toppings like arugula or chorizo, or finishing the pie with some freshly chopped basil and oregano to kick things up a notch. You can also grab a few extra condiments or sauces like hot honey to drizzle over top your pie. After using the cast iron pan technique to cook the whole thing, it will be hard to convince people that the pizza isn't a handcrafted delicacy.

Getting the best meal out of this hack starts with choosing a quality frozen pie. Look for something with a regular or classic crust that's piled high with toppings. Frozen pizzas are meant to be affordable and easy to make, but that doesn't mean they can't also be delicious. Using a cast iron skillet to cook your frozen pizza can turn this cheap eat into a luxury.