The Frozen Pizza Cutting Mistake You Need To Avoid

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Frozen pizza is wildly popular in the United States and becoming more popular every year. It's beloved for a reason, as it's affordable, convenient, and delicious (at least some brands of frozen pizza are delicious). But it's also a food that's surprisingly easy to ruin once it comes out of the oven. Have you ever eagerly cut into a piping hot pizza and ended up with a giant mess of cheese and toppings getting everywhere but the slice in your hand? It's a common mistake (and understandable when you're hungry and rushing). It's also easy to avoid, and doing so will improve your pizza significantly.

For a superior pizza experience, after your pizza has come out of the oven, wait at least two minutes before cutting into it. This both allows the flavors to meld together and makes it less likely that the cheese and toppings will stick to your pizza cutter or knife. Exactly how long you wait to slice your pizza depends on the thickness of the crust, but that two-minute minimum is a safe amount of time. If you're making a deep dish pizza, you can wait five to 10 minutes for it to cool. For less dense pizzas, wait the two minutes and then check on it, as you don't want it to sit too long and become rubbery.

When cutting into your favorite frozen pizza, it's also important to have the right tools for the job. Some people argue that a pizza should be portioned up with kitchen scissors, but they clarify that this advice applies more to fresh pizza, which is typically much thinner than the frozen variety. Americans more commonly use a pizza cutter or a chef's knife to cut their frozen pizza into slices. Whichever you're using, make sure that either tool has been sharpened recently so that it can slice through the thick pizza with ease. A dull tool will be likely to spread cheese and toppings everywhere, even if you've waited the allotted time for your pizza to cool down. If you're using a knife, it's also crucial to use the proper technique: instead of slicing, rock the knife back and forth to cut through the pizza. 

If you're making pizza fresh at home, the same advice still applies. The exception is if you've made a thin pizza and are confident in the sharpness of your pizza cutter or knife. Some professional chefs slice this type of pizza right out of the oven. However, keep in mind that they are working with tools the average person doesn't have access to, including screaming-hot pizza ovens and frequently-sharpened tools. For most people at home, it's safest to wait just a bit.