We’ve all been there. You’re in the mood for pizza, so you put a frozen pizza in the oven. But then you realize you don’t have any aluminum foil to put under the pizza. You start to wonder, can I put a pizza box in the oven?
I dug out a science-backed answer to this question. Let’s find out!
Can you put pizza boxes in the oven?
Yes, you can put the pizza box in the oven because the cardboard (of the pizza box) absorbs heat quite well. The Flashpoint of cardboard is 500OF, whereas the ignition point is 800OF. This ignition point is higher than that of paper (451 OF). However, when you place the pizza box in the oven, set the oven temperature below 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Material used in a pizza box | Percentage (%) |
| Cellulose | 51.9 |
| Hemi cellulose | 11.79 |
| Lignin | 17.43 |
| Caco3 | 21 |
Why cardboard (of a pizza box) is a good absorber of heat?
Cardboard is an excellent heat absorber. It is made of cellulose fibers, which absorb and retain heat. When cardboard is heated, the cellulose fibers expand and absorb the heat. This makes cardboard an ideal insulation material.
Cardboard has a high thermal conductivity, which means it can absorb heat without becoming hot. This makes it ideal for packaging and other applications where you need to keep things cool.
Cardboard is also fire resistant. When it burns, it produces a char that protects the underlying material from further burning. This makes it an excellent choice for use in packaging materials and other applications where fire safety is a concern.
What is the flash point of cardboard?
Cardboard, or paperboard, is a material made from paper that has been glued or fused to create a thicker sheet. It’s a versatile material used in packaging, construction, and even art. But what many people don’t know is that cardboard is also flammable.
The flash point of a material is the temperature at which it ignites and starts to burn. For cardboard, the flash point is around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. That means it will catch fire if you expose it to a flame or heat source that’s hotter than 500 degrees.
So why isn’t cardboard more widely known as a fire hazard? Well, it’s not usually considered one because it doesn’t ignite easily. You need an external heat source to get it going.
What is the difference between a flash point and an ignition point?
When it comes to fire, there are a lot of different factors to consider. The flash point and ignition point are two important considerations. Here’s a look at the difference between these two concepts:
The flash point is the temperature at which a substance can create enough vapor to ignite. The lower the flash point, the easier it is for a substance to catch fire. On the other hand, the ignition point is the temperature at which a substance will start burning.
For solids, the ignition point is usually much higher than the flash point. This means that it takes more heat for a solid to catch fire than it does for other substances. However, some solids have very low ignition points and can be extremely dangerous.
Is it safe to put a pizza box in the oven at 170?
It is safe to put a pizza box in the oven at 170. As discussed above, the flash point of the pizza box is around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so 170 is fine and a safe temperature for a pizza box.
How long do you put a box pizza in the oven?
A pizza is done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the crust is golden brown. This usually takes 15-20 minutes in a 350°F oven. If you have a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven for at least 30 minutes before baking it. This will help cook the crust evenly.
How do you keep pizza box crispy?
If you love pizza as much as I do, you probably know the feeling of disappointment when you open up a cardboard box to find your once-crispy crust has turned into a soggy mess. No one likes a soggy pizza, but how can you keep your pie from turning into a puddle? I did some investigating to find out how to keep your pizza box crispy.
It turns out that there are a few scientific explanations for why pizza gets soggy in its box. First, when hot pizza is placed in a closed container, the moisture from the cheese and sauce starts to condense on the cooler surface of the box. This creates an environment where mold and bacteria can grow, making your pizza taste bad and causing food poisoning.
Secondly, pizzas are usually made with a lot of air bubbles in the dough. When the pizza is baked, these bubbles get trapped in the crust. When you cut into a slice of pizza, the air bubbles are released as steam, making your pizza box wetter and soggier.
Conclusion
So, can you put pizza boxes in the oven? The answer is Yes, you can. Pizza boxes are made of cardboard which is an excellent absorber of heat. However, ensure that the pizza box is not exposed to a temperature over 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, there are chances that the pizza box might catch fire.
