8

I've seen this claim various times on the Internet; for example at https://i.sstatic.net/X5jha.jpg

Put a small amount of water in a glass when you microwave your pizza to keep the crust from getting chewy

Does this really work? If so, could anyone explain why?

user20081
  • 83
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3

5 Answers5

9

I just tested 3 individual slices on the pizza setting. That setting basically just turns the heat on and off so the food heats more evenly.

I tried:

  1. A small shot glass of cool water
  2. A mug of cold water
  3. A mug of warm water

They were all the same. The only thing I noticed was that the pizza was cold where the shot glass was touching it. The #2 and #3 were done with the mug underneath the plate.

Stomach satisfied, but myth busted.

MrLore
  • 159
  • 7
s g
  • 191
  • 1
  • 3
6

The only possible reason it could work is by increasing humidity in the oven cavity, and to do so in any significant amount, the water would have to be brought to a boil. Even so, there is no reason to believe that increased humidity would have any effect on the crust.

Otherwise, the only affect of the water is to provide an additional mass in the oven that will absorb the microwaves in competition with the pizza, essentially slowing down the heating process. It is conceivable that this might make it easier not to heat the pizza to the "rubbery crust" phase, but then the same effect could be achieved simply by lowering the power setting.

So no, there is no scientific basis for this belief other than the placebo affect.

Reheating pizza is one of the most challenging tasks, and there are many methods, none ideal.

SAJ14SAJ
  • 73,452
  • 13
  • 158
  • 237
1

I just tried it, it doesn't work. End of story.

frankythetanky
  • 29
  • 1
-1

I think the increased humidity in the microwave would help.

When baking bread, adding some steam to the oven (via steam-injected or adding some water to a hot pan beneath the bread), helps get a nice crust on the bread. I believe the theory in this case is that the water making contact with the surface of the bread allows the surface to get little hotter and cook the outside of the bread more than the inside of the bread because the water transfers heat better than the air.

I don't see why this should not apply to reheating something as well, but as @SAJ14SAJ said, the water would need to get sufficiently hot.

I have also seen when baking bread someone use a spray bottle to mist the bread with water. Perhaps this too could be done to the pizza crust.

Aaron
  • 101
  • 1
-3

You're all wrong in fact. The microwave heats water particles. The exact reason you can cover a heating meal with a paper towel without it igniting. The glass of water is meant to alleviate the intensity of microwaves heating the pizza and crust, thus avoiding an overcooked, chewy crust. No myth needing to be busted.. Best way to solve it all, stop ordering a whole pizza for your lonely ass & share. No leftovers = no reheating

Hugh Jassle
  • 11