Leftover takeaway or homemade pizza should go in the fridge within two hours of cooking and be eaten within two days, in line with Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidance. And yes, you can freeze it, as long as it goes in the freezer within those two days.
Our WFS Finish At Home pizzas work a little differently, because they arrive chilled and haven’t been cooked all the way through yet. They keep for up to 4 days in the fridge, or you can freeze them on arrival and cook them straight from frozen. Here’s everything you need to know, whether it’s last night’s leftovers or a box of ours. It’s all part of our guide to finishing pizza at home.
How long does pizza last? The quick answer
| Room temperature | Fridge (5°C or below) | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takeaway or homemade leftovers | Up to 2 hours, then into the fridge | Up to 2 days | Freeze within 2 days. Defrost in the fridge and eat within 24 hours of defrosting. |
| WFS Finish At Home pizzas | Pop in the fridge or freezer as soon as they arrive | Up to 4 days from delivery | Freeze on arrival. Use within 1 month of the use-by date. Cook from frozen. |
How long does leftover pizza last in the fridge?
Leftover pizza lasts up to two days in the fridge. That’s the FSA’s guidance for leftovers, and it applies whether the pizza came from a restaurant, a takeaway or your own oven.
To get the most out of those two days:
Get it in the fridge quickly. First, let it cool, then refrigerate it within two hours of cooking.
Keep it covered. Wrap the slices or pop them in an airtight container. The cardboard box isn’t ideal, as it lets the pizza dry out and pick up fridge smells.
Check your fridge. It should be at 5°C or below.
If you’re not going to get through it within two days, freeze it instead. And yes, cold pizza for breakfast is absolutely fine, as long as it’s been stored properly. The FSA says leftovers can be eaten cold if they’ve been cooked properly, cooled and put in the fridge within two hours.
How long can pizza sit out at room temperature?
No more than two hours. After that, it needs to go in the fridge or the bin.
We know, we know. Pizza left out on the kitchen side overnight is practically a rite of passage. But bacteria grows quickly at room temperature, and you can’t see, smell or taste the ones that cause food poisoning. So if it’s been out all night, it’s time to let it go.
Can you freeze pizza?
Yes, you can freeze leftover pizza, and it freezes really well. Just stick it in within two days of cooking, and the sooner the better.
1. Cool it first. Let the pizza cool completely before it goes anywhere near the freezer.
2. Wrap it slice by slice. Wrap each slice separately in cling film or foil, then put them in a freezer bag or container. That way you can take out just what you need.
3. Label it. Pop the date on, so you know how long it’s been in there. Quality drops the longer it’s frozen, so we’d recommend eating it within a month or so.
4. Defrost in the fridge. When you want it, defrost it in the fridge overnight, then eat it within 24 hours.
5. Reheat once. Reheat it until it’s steaming hot all the way through, and only reheat it once.
For the best way to bring it back to life, have a look at our guide to how to reheat pizza.
How long do WFS Finish At Home pizzas last?
Our pizzas aren’t mere leftovers. They’re hand-stretched, part-cooked in our restaurants’ wood-fired ovens, chilled and sent out by DPD across mainland UK, ready for you to finish at home. That means they have their own storage rules.
In the fridge: up to 4 days from delivery, kept below 5°C. Always check the use-by date on the pack.
In the freezer: freeze them on arrival and use them within 1 month of the use-by date. There’s no need to defrost them first.
Your pizzas arrive chilled, not frozen, so pop them straight in the fridge or freezer when the box lands. You can find out more about how we deliver on our delivery page, and there are answers to the most common questions on our FAQs page.
How do you cook frozen pizza?
If you’ve chosen to freeze our WFS Finish At Home pizzas, they can go straight into the oven from frozen. No defrosting, no planning ahead. They’re wood-fired by us, finished by you:
1. Preheat your oven to 220°C (fan) and let it fully come up to temperature.
2. Remove the packaging and drizzle a little olive oil on the crust.
3. Place it directly on the top rack, not on a tray.
4. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes from frozen, or 5 to 8 minutes from chilled, and serve piping hot.
You’ll get a crispy, chewy base with a puffy, lightly charred edge, just as it should be.
For more tips, including why it goes straight on the rack, see our guide to cooking a part-baked pizza at home.
Why stock the freezer?
This is where our pizzas really come into their own. There’s no minimum order and they’re freezer-friendly, so you can order one pizza or an entire stack, freeze them on arrival and have a proper Neapolitan pizza ready whenever the mood takes you. Lazy Sunday, surprise guests or a Tuesday that’s gone on a bit too long, sorted.
Our Stock Up Box is the easy way to fill the freezer in one go.
Pizza storage FAQs
How long does pizza last in the fridge?
Leftover takeaway or homemade pizza lasts up to two days in the fridge, as long as it went in within two hours of cooking. Our WFS Finish At Home pizzas last up to 4 days from delivery, in a fridge below 5°C. They’re also freezable!
Can you freeze pizza?
Yes. Freeze leftover pizza within two days of cooking, wrapped slice by slice. Defrost it in the fridge, eat it within 24 hours and only reheat it once, until steaming hot. With our WFS Finish at Home range, freeze them on arrival and use within 1 month of the use-by date. There’s no need to defrost them before cooking.
Can you eat pizza that’s been left out overnight?
No. Cooked food like pizza shouldn’t be left at room temperature for more than two hours, so pizza left out overnight should be thrown away.
Can you eat leftover pizza cold?
Yes, leftover pizza can be eaten cold, as long as it was cooked properly, cooled and put in the fridge within two hours, and is eaten within two days.
How do you cook frozen pizza?
Our WFS Finish At Home pizzas can be cooked from frozen, without defrosting. Preheat the oven to 220°C (fan), drizzle olive oil on the crust and cook directly on the top rack for 7 to 10 minutes.