Can you eat leftover pizza while pregnant?
Check firstYes, if it was refrigerated and reheated well. Pizza left on the counter overnight should go in the bin, but a box that went into the fridge within two hours is fine reheated to 165F until the cheese bubbles.
Why
Pizza carries cheese and often deli-style toppings, both of which can support Listeria growth, and Listeria keeps multiplying even at fridge temperature. The CDC advises pregnant women to refrigerate leftovers quickly and reheat them until steaming hot, and FoodSafety.gov sets 165F as the reheating temperature for leftover food. That means the classic cold slice straight from the fridge is the version to skip, while the same slice heated in a hot oven or a dry pan until the cheese is bubbling is a normal, safe meal.
Safer alternatives
- a slice reheated in a 400F oven or a covered skillet until the cheese bubbles
- a fresh slice from a pizzeria, served hot out of the oven
- frozen pizza baked from frozen per the box
- pita bread with pasteurized mozzarella and sauce under the broiler
Sources
- CDC https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/pregnant-women.html
- FoodSafety.gov https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat cold pizza while pregnant?
It is better to reheat it. Cold cheese and toppings that have sat in the fridge are exactly where Listeria can grow, and reheating until steaming is what removes that risk.
I left pizza out overnight, can I reheat it?
No, throw it out. Food held above 40F for more than two hours can build up bacteria and toxins, and reheating does not undo that.
What about pizza with deli meat or soft cheese on top?
Those toppings are higher risk when cold, so reheating matters even more. Once the whole slice is steaming hot at 165F, pepperoni, prosciutto, and soft cheeses are all fine.
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