As much as I love cooking, there are some nights that I absolutely cannot fathom doing more than turning on the oven and heating up a frozen pizza. And while I won’t turn my nose up at any frozen pizza, I still want to have the best frozen pizza experience I possibly can.
To help me determine which frozen pizzas are particularly worth purchasing, I reached out to a few chefs to see what they keep in their freezers. After all, even professional chefs have been known to enjoy a frozen pizza.
The Chefs I Spoke To
Credit: Simply Recipes / Walmart
The Frozen Pizzas Chefs RecommendRao’s Brick Oven Frozen Pizza
Rao’s is Skogen’s pick for frozen pizza: “It does not compromise the flavor, and it is convenient whenever you’re not in the mood to cook.” She particularly called out that the sauce is excellent because it doesn’t overpower the cheese and other pizza toppings.
La Rossi Frozen Pizza
According to Viana, La Rossi is the pizza he keeps on hand at home. He noted that the brand “emphasizes regional grains and great sourcing, and you can really taste that difference. The crust is crispy, and the toppings have a bright freshness to them.”
He also said that it’s “family- and women-owned and run, so I like that I’m supporting actual people versus a big box brand.” Because it’s a smaller brand, the best place to shop for it is online from grocers such as Misfits Market.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Walmart ; Simply Recipes / DiGiorno
DiGiorno Classic Crust
Campbell’s recommendation is one you’ve probably seen a thousand times (and likely bought once or twice too). “I almost always go for DiGiorno pizza … It’s delicious, and you can find it in most stores, almost everywhere, a great easy option.” She specifically recommended the Classic Crust cheese pizza from the brand.
Campbell said the primary reason she reaches for this one is down to the crust. “I love a good, crisp crust, which is perfect in this pizza … it’s the perfect crisp outside but a little puffy in the middle.”
What To Look for in a Frozen Pizza
I asked the chefs what they look for in a frozen pizza, and there are a few things they highlighted. First, all three agreed that a good crust is vital. “A crust that gets crisp without leaving the chewiness in it—this one is always at the top of the list [of qualities to look for in a frozen pizza],” per Skogen.
The second thing to keep an eye out for is the balance of ingredients. “So many…pizza brands bury their ingredients with too much pizza dough,” said Viana. In addition to crust texture and a nicely cooked bottom, he looks for a reasonable “crust-to-topping ratio.”
Skogen noted that cheese can sometimes dominate a frozen pizza, and noted that there should be enough to complement the sauce and crust, but not overpower the flavor of the pie.
Finally, Viana says that, for him, quality ingredients matter. “As a chef, I’m actually looking for a frozen pizza whose taste really holds up to the quality of pizza I can make at home…when I don’t have time to whip up the dough and get my toppings from the farmer’s market. I don’t want a frozen pizza that’s loaded with preservatives and fake ingredients.”
When you’re buying a frozen pizza for yourself, look for pizza with a crisp crust and a solid ratio of ingredients. Skip the extra cheese options—you can always sprinkle on a bit of additional cheese at home if it’s looking scant.
And think of what value you’re looking for most out of your frozen pizza. If you’re looking for something that will taste pretty solid and familiar at a lower cost, DiGiorno might have the pie for you. If you want to pay a little more money for organic and/or local ingredients, keep an eye out for regional brands or smaller online brands you can have shipped. At the end of the day, Viana said it best: “Even bad frozen pizza is good.”
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