How to cook a frozen pizza in a convection oven

If you’ve got a frozen pizza and a convection oven, then you may not be certain that it is good for cooking the frozen food item.

Fortunately, convection ovens are great for cooking frozen pizzas.

And, they really do make the best tasting pizza at home, even when you’re starting from the freezer.

Baking a frozen pizza in a convection oven is really easy to do.

Below, I’ll share my tips on getting the perfect frozen pizza from your convection oven.

Why Convection Ovens Are Good For Cooking Frozen Pizza

In case you don’t know, convection ovens differ from your standard kitchen oven due to how they work.

When you cook something in a convection oven, the hot air from the oven basically hits it from all directions.

This means that you get a very even cooking since the heat it coming at the frozen pizza from all angles.

So, your crust gets crispy and brown while your cheese gets all melty and yummy – without you needing to use the broiler.

Basically, when you use a convection oven for a frozen pizza, the result is a perfectly cooked pie.

How Long To Cook & What Temperature?

The most important thing to remember when using a convection oven for your frozen pizza is that you have to adjust both the cook temperature and the amount of time for cooking.

As a general rule of thumb, you should reduce the cook temperature by 25 degrees and reduce the cook time by 25% to get a perfectly cooked frozen pizza from the convection oven.

Final Word

As you can see, using a convection oven is a great way to cook a pizza at home, even a frozen pizza.

Just remember to adjust your time and temperature settings so that you don’t over cook it!

image: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

It won’t be surprising that you are hearing of a convection oven for the first time. You might have thought at some point, just like me, that all ovens are the same, well they are not.

The convection oven differs from the conventional oven in a lot of ways. A convection oven can make a significant difference in the end product of your food.

If you are used to a conventional oven, you will be surprised at how cooking your frozen pizza in a convection oven setting can make a lot of difference.

This is what we will address in this article, and we will explore how you can cook your frozen pizza in a convection setting oven.

First of all, what is a convection oven?

In a convection oven setting, the oven has inbuilt fans in its compartment that circulates hot air around your food in the oven. This hot air cooks your food, which means that there are no parts of the interior that get warmer than others or some parts that are colder than others. Every part of the compartment heats up evenly.

While with the conventional oven, there is no fan to circulate the heat around the oven’s chamber. The oven heats up, and some parts can get heated up quicker than other parts.

This inequality sometimes means that some part of your food will cook faster and better than other parts, which is not a good outcome.

It is important to state here that the convection oven is a setting that comes with a regular or conventional oven. In the controls located on the out part of the oven, you will find controls to set the oven to the convectional system. If you switch on the convection setting, you are engaging the oven’s exhaust and fan system. If you switch it off, then you are using the conventional oven.

When you are using a convection oven setting, you do not have to worry about your crust burning if you put it at the bottom of the tray or your toppings overcooking if you put it at the topmost chamber of the oven.

Whichever part you place your frozen pizza in the convection oven, it will cook the same way because the hot air blows around evenly.

How to Use a Convection Oven in Cooking Your Pizza

Before you use the convection oven, there is one vital thing to take into consideration. The convection oven cooks faster and better than the conventional oven.

This means that you always have to reduce your temperature by 25 degrees of any temperature stated on your frozen pizza box.

Let’s say, if the instructions on your box ask you to bake the pizza at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, set your convection pizza at 425 degrees. If your convection oven sets itself manually, it would always adjust itself by going down 25 degrees of the stated degree.

Also, since this cooks faster than the conventional oven, I would advise you to check your frozen pizza halfway while baking your pizza. You want to make sure that all is well and you will have a pizza that you will enjoy.

How to cook a frozen pizza in a convection oven

Instructions

  1. Heat your oven 25 degrees lower than the stated temperature on your frozen pizza box. Heat your oven for 7 to 10 minutes.
  2. If you are using a pizza stone, it would be necessary to heat the pizza stone at the same period when you are preheating your oven.
  3. Take your frozen pizza off the pack, place it on the pizza stone, or the oven’s middle rack.
  4. Close your oven and bake for 12 to 18 minutes. Towards the end of the time you have set, check your pizza to ensure it is okay. Then close the oven and bake till you get your required result.
  5. Using a spatula, take the pizza from the oven and place it on a large plate on the kitchen counter or table.
  6. Allow your pizza to cool off for about three minutes, slice it up, and serve.

Note

One advantage of using the convection oven is that it can contain more frozen pizzas and cook them more than the conventional oven. This is an advantage, but you might be tempted to overcrowd the oven since it accommodates more pizza.

It would be right for you to remember that the convection oven relies on circulating air around the oven’s compartment to cook your food. If you over-crowd the chamber of the oven, you might disrupt the flow of this air. So, while it is good to take advantage of the fact that it can accommodate more quantity, it is also good not to overstretch your oven.

One final thing, do not rush to wash your pizza stone after you have finished baking. If you do this, there is a chance that you will crack up your pizza stone. Allow the stone to cool off, after which you should only wash it with water and a very soft sponge.

FAQs

Should I put my frozen pizza into the oven while It is frosty?

 It is possible to put the frosty frozen pizza into your convection oven as you bake it. But for you to get a better experience, it is advisable that you defrost your frozen pizza before you bake it in the convection oven.

Can I use a pizza stone when cooking my frozen pizza in the convection oven?

Yes, you can use a pizza stone while baking your frozen pizza in the convection oven. This pizza stone allows your crust to have an even browning at the bottom of your pizza crust.

Is there any special pan that I can use with the convection oven?

First of all, types of pans work well when you use them in your convection oven. It is much advised that you use lower-sided pans instead of higher-sided pans for a better experience. They give you a better result for your pizza crust.

Advantages of cooking your frozen pizza in convection oven

1. Convection Oven Settings Gives a better crispy crust result

With the convection oven, the hot air circulating the oven takes away the pizza dough’s moisture. This means there is a higher chance of having a dry, crispy crust than using a conventional oven.

With the conventional oven, since there is no ventilation, the pizza dough’s moisture might not dry out completely. This means there is a tendency for your pizza crust to be soggy and wet within. So, if you want a better crispy crust, the convection oven does a better job.

2. It cooks faster

 If you have had a rough and busy day and you are looking for a quicker and more convenient way to fix yourself a dinner, then cooking your frozen pizza in the convection oven is a faster way for you.

With the air circulating the food, you will use less time to cook your frozen pizza, and it will still come out perfect. So, you would not have to eat a lousy pizza.

3. It saves Power

If your pizza cooks faster, this means that you are going to spend less on your power bills. With the conventional oven, it would take you more time, and an extended period of cooking means more consumption of power. But the convection oven helps you to cut costs when it comes to power bills.

4. It Cooks Your Frozen Pizza More Evenly

The conventional oven does not circulate its heat, the heat sits around the food, and some parts of the oven get warmer. This means that your pizza might not be evenly cooked, or you might go through a lot of adjusting to arrive at what you want.

With the convection oven, the fan circulates the heat around your food. This means that all parts of your food get even heat and can cook the same way. You will end up with a crispy crust and a well-cooked pizza topping. And the best part is that you do not need to stress yourself so much by trying to turn and adjust your pizza all the time so that all parts can get heated up.

5. It Accommodates More Food

If you plan on baking more than one frozen pizza by chance, this might not be a bad idea at all. The convection oven can accommodate more food than the conventional oven, and you can be sure that it will cook well.

Cooking two or three frozen pizzas at a time will save you time and energy, and even usage of power. This is an impressive appliance that you should try out.

Finally

If you are looking for convenience, there is no doubt that the convection oven offers you the best option to cook your frozen pizza. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions stated here or on the box of your frozen pizza.

It is not a complicated method of cooking your frozen pizza. It saves your time and put you in the mood to enjoy your incredible pizza. I know that you will have a good experience if you try this out, I had a good experience, and I am sticking to the convection oven.

What temperature do you cook a frozen pizza in a convection oven?

This means that you always have to reduce your temperature by 25 degrees of any temperature stated on your frozen pizza box. Let's say, if the instructions on your box ask you to bake the pizza at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, set your convection pizza at 425 degrees.

How do you cook a frozen pizza in a conventional oven?

Remove pizza from all packaging and shrink wrap..
Set oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 450°F..
Place pizza on the middle rack. Do not use a pan or cookie sheet to bake pizza..
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the pizza is golden brown..

Is pizza better in a convection oven?

A convection oven is perfect for baking pizza. Because the hot air from it moves around, your pizza cooks more quickly than in a conventional oven. Because of this, your pizza will be crisper and have a more even surface than when you bake it in a traditional oven.