The air fryer is genuinely the best tool for leftover pizza. Circulating hot air crisps the base and melts the cheese without the sogginess of a microwave or the drying heat of a full oven. Most videos give you a temperature and a timer and stop there; the detail most of them skip is whether the basket is already hot when the pizza goes in, and it makes a visible difference to the bottom crust.
Short verdict
Pizza Channel earns the top spot for showing exactly what a cold basket does to the underside of a slice and how preheating fixes it. For a no-preheat approach with clear settings, Rob Some Knowledge is the cleaner guide. If you want to see how the air fryer compares to oven, skillet, and microwave before committing, the Epicurious video covers all methods — though skip the foil Frank uses in the air fryer section.
The ranking
1
Best overall
The Key to Reheating Pizza in an Air Fryer
Pizza Channel · 3:24 · Feb 2022
Kevin from Pizza Channel runs two back-to-back tests in the same air fryer: one slice on a cold basket, one after a five-minute preheat. He measures basket temperature before and after 1:03 2:12 and shows the underside of each slice for direct comparison.
Why it ranks here: The cold-basket slice at 1:43 has a soft, soggy bottom despite perfectly melted cheese on top. After preheating, the basket reads nearly 360°F 2:14, and the underside at 2:37 is audibly crispy. No other air fryer video here isolates this single variable with a side-by-side result. He also notes at 1:53 to skip oil or spray on the basket, since friction helps the pizza grip and crisp rather than slide.
~3.5 min · air fryer only · one variable tested
2
Best no-preheat guide
How to Reheat Pizza in Air Fryer (Best Method)
Rob Some Knowledge · 3:33 · Aug 2020
Rob from Rob Some Knowledge reheats a single slice from cold in a basket-style air fryer at 350°F for five to six minutes 0:48–1:03, no preheat. He shows the cooking process and the finished slice close up at 2:01.
Why it ranks here: A clean, short video with specific settings and a clearly visible result. The slice at 2:01 shows good browning and a crispy crust. It contradicts Pizza Channel on preheating — Rob says no preheat is needed — so expect a softer underside than Pizza Channel's method produces. A commenter recommends dropping to 325°F for 4 minutes to reduce the risk of drying or darkening, which is worth trying if your model runs hot.
~3.5 min · specific settings · no prep needed
3
Best for method comparison
The Best Ways to Reheat Leftover Pizza (And the Worst) | Epicurious 101
Epicurious · 6:09 · Mar 2024
Professional chef Frank Proto tests seven reheating methods in a structured format — microwave, air fryer, nonstick pan, cast-iron skillet, oven, waffle iron, and toaster oven — scoring each on what he calls the Frank Pizza scale. The air fryer section runs 1:11–1:52; the toaster oven, which he rates 5/5, closes the video.
Why it ranks here: Useful if you want to place the air fryer alongside every other common method before committing. Frank gives the air fryer 3/5, citing a crispy top but a floppy bottom. A widely agreed-upon comment explains why: he lines the basket with foil at 1:23, blocking the air circulation that would have crisped the underside. His score reflects the foil, not the method. The remaining comparisons are fair and clearly demonstrated.
~6 min · 7 methods compared · professional presenter
4
Best for understanding why
What’s The RIGHT Way To Reheat Pizza?
The Food Theorists · 28:00 · Aug 2025
The Food Theorists channel runs through six reheating methods — microwave, oven, pizza stone, fan, air fryer, and skillet — scoring each on flavour, texture, and effort across a 27-minute video. A substantial early section covers the food science behind refrigerated pizza: starch retrogradation and changes to cheese proteins during cooling.
Why it ranks here: The only video in this set that explains the chemistry of leftover pizza, which helps when your results differ from the guide. The air fryer section begins around 20:35 and earns a flavour score of four and a texture score of four out of five. Multiple commenters note it accumulates the highest total across all methods, yet the spoken conclusion at 27:18 names the pizza stone and skillet without mentioning the air fryer. Watch through to the full scoring rather than skipping to the summary.
~27 min · in-depth · science-first approach
5
Quickest confirmation
BEST Way To Reheat Leftover Pizza?! (3 Ways)
Blatant Reviews · 0:59 · Feb 2023
Blatant Reviews compares three methods in 59 seconds: air fryer using the 'reheat' preset, stovetop skillet with oil and a water-steam step, and microwave with a cup of water. All three are tasted and assessed back to back.
Why it ranks here: No instructional depth, but a fast, clear demonstration that the air fryer outperforms both common alternatives. The verdict at 0:33 — 'so much better than the stove' — is backed by a visible crispy bottom and melted top at 0:37. Watch this if you want quick reassurance before committing five minutes to a longer video.
~1 min · three-way taste test · no settings given
