How to Reheat Food in an Air Fryer and the Best Leftovers to Reheat
Many individuals use an air fryer instead of a microwave. After all, the air fryer is a collection of kitchen appliances in one. It can grill, deep fry, toast bread, and, best of all, reheat meals just like a microwave. But did you know that when it comes to reheating food, the air fryer outperforms the microwave?
This is because it restores the crispiness of the meal rather than making it mushy. Consider how many times you’ve reheated leftover pizza or garlic bread in the microwave and found it lacking in flavor. Or how you microwaved your takeaway fries and damaged them.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REHEAT FOOD IN AN AIR FRYER?
Food may be reheated in an air fryer. It’s really simple to accomplish, and it’s far superior to using the microwave. When you reheat leftovers in an air fryer, they never become soggy or dull.
Whether it’s restaurant leftovers or an extra batch from last night’s supper, learning how to reheat food in an air fryer can ensure that your food is perfectly cooked and flavorful. Your family will believe you were hard at work preparing a freshly prepared supper.
WHY USE AN AIR FRYER TO REHEAT FOOD?
- It’s Quick- Reheating food in an air fryer takes a tenth of the time it takes in a normal oven.
- So Simple- Simply place the food in the basket or tray and leave the rest in the air fryer.
- Cut Down on Waste – Using up all of your leftovers saves money and eliminates waste.
- Incredible Results – Food that has been reheated in the air fryer comes out flawlessly crispy and never soggy.
REHEATING FOOD IN AN AIR FRYER:
In an air fryer, reheating leftovers is the same as frying food for the first time. The main difference is that you’ll cook at a lower temperature to avoid overcooking your meal.
You’ll be astounded at how consistently your food comes out properly cooked and delicious! Check out each of the topics below for step-by-step directions on how to reheat in an air fryer. To go to the entire recipe, simply click on the link in each of the photographs.
To reheat thoroughly, various foods will require varying amounts of time in the air fryer. As a result, here are some pointers to assist you.
We don’t recommend using your air fryer to cook frozen items. Allow them to defrost completely on the counter, in the refrigerator, or in the microwave instead.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 10 minutes after turning it on. Place the leftovers in your air fryer basket as usual, then replace the basket inside the air fryer. If you’re reheating a lot of leftovers, we recommend doing so in smaller batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
Reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let the leftovers reheat for 3 minutes without being disturbed. Pull remove the basket and check the temperature of your meal once this time has passed.
Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for a few minutes more if it is still not heated enough. We recommend testing the temperature of your food every 1 or 2 minutes.
Not only will this procedure reheat your meal, but it will also crisp up the outside. Remove the basket from the air fryer and turn it off after you’re happy with the temperature. Before attempting to clean the air fryer, let it cool fully.
The following are recipes for air fryer reheating:
Burgers
Note: When reheating burgers, do not preheat the air fryer. Burgers are an exception to this rule since they combine several distinct foods (buns, protein in between, veggies, and sauces) into a single package.
When reheating a burger in a preheated air fryer, the different sections of the burger will heat up unevenly. As a result, you can wind up with a burger patty that is hot and juicy but a loaf of dry bread.
How to reheat a burger in an air fryer is as follows
1. Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the burger for 4 minutes.
2. After that, flip the burger and grill it for another 2 minutes.
3. Remove the burger with care (it’s hot!) and enjoy!
Pizzas
Note: Before reheating pizzas, you can and should preheat the air fryer.
Pizzas are another quick meal item that may be reheated in an air fryer.
To reheat pizza, follow these steps:
1. Heat the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the pizza pieces side by side in the air fryer. Make careful they don’t touch each other since the cheese may lead them to cling together.
3. After 4 minutes, check on the pizza. Because of the thickness of the dough and toppings, some pizza slices warm faster than others.
4. Continue to reheat the pizza slice if it isn’t hot enough. To avoid overheating or scorching the pizza slices, only do this for 30 seconds at a time.
5. Carefully remove the pizza pieces with spoons when they’re done. Keep your hand out of the air fryer basket since it’s still hot and you might burn yourself.
Crispy Fried Foods
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering reheating crispy fried foods like fried chicken, nuggets, or even french fries.
Let’s start with fried chicken and nuggets and how to reheat them. What you’ll need to accomplish is:
1. Do not immediately reheat the fried chicken. Instead, allow the fried chicken to come to room temperature on its own.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees after the chicken is ready.
3. Place the fried chicken in the basket of the air fryer. Make sure the chicken isn’t piled on top of each other and that there’s enough room between each piece. This will allow hot air to circulate between the pieces, fully heating them.
4. Heat the fried chicken for 4 minutes total. You may flip the chicken pieces halfway through to ensure that they are uniformly heated.
French fries can be reheated in an air fryer in the same manner that fried chicken can.
Here are some few important points to keep in mind:
- Don’t pile your french fries on top of each other. It will be difficult for the hot air to reach each individual fry and uniformly reheat it as a result of this.
- Don’t be frightened to work in groups. If you have a large batch of fries to reheat, split them into smaller portions to ensure that each one is properly warmed and crispy.
- Keep a closer eye on your fries. You may stop warming them as soon as you believe they’re crispy enough. Reheating fries often takes no more than five minutes, regardless of the variety of fries.
Pasta, rice, and noodles:
Rice, noodles, and pasta are prominent forms of carbohydrates or carbs found in fast food and takeout establishments. These dishes can be reheated in an air fryer as well, but there are a few changes.
The steps are as follows:
1. When reheating rice, noodles, or pasta, you don’t need to preheat your air fryer.
2. You must, however, place the meal on an air fryer pan or a plate that is air fryer safe.
3. Reheat the dish at 320 degrees for 10 minutes. Continue warming for 5 minutes at a time if the dish isn’t hot enough, checking on it periodically.
4. Stir the meal every few minutes when reheating rice, noodles, or pasta to ensure that it is uniformly cooked throughout.
5. Remove the food from the air fryer with care and serve.
PRO SUGGESTIONS:
- Before putting your food in the air fryer basket, make sure it’s clean and dry.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; allow for air circulation on all sides of the food.
- The temperature of an air fryer varies based on the brand and type. It’s a good idea to start with a shorter cooking time, check for doneness, and then add extra time if necessary.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the meal for the best results.
Bonus Tip: Want to reheat your delicious air fryer chocolate chip cookies from the day before? Simply place them in the air fryer basket and reheat for 2-3 minutes at 300F / 149C. They’ll be just as warm and tasty as they were when you first cooked them!
Conclusion
When it comes to reheating your meal, the air fryer may be the finest option. When compared to typical warming methods, the air fryer makes it easier and faster to reheat meals. According to some users, reheating in it can occasionally improve the taste of the dish.
FAQs
Q. Which foods are the best to reheat in an air fryer?
The air fryer is ideal for warming meals, and practically any item may be properly reheated in it. Pizza, steak, French fries, chicken wings, fried chicken, and fried fish are some of the greatest things to reheat in an air fryer.
Q. How long should leftovers be reheated in an air fryer?
The amount of time it takes to reheat leftovers in an air fryer is determined by several factors, including the amount of food in the air fryer basket, the size of the food, and the temperature employed.
Q. Are there any guidelines for warming foods?
After removing the food from the refrigerator, it must be reheated quickly, within 2 hours. Foods that are reheated in a microwave oven must be warmed to a temperature of at least 165°F throughout. After reheating, the meal must be mixed, covered, and left covered for 2 minutes.
Q. Can I reheat meals several times?
Although the Food Standards Agency suggests just reheating food once, it is safe to do it several times as long as it is done properly. Even so, it’s unlikely to improve the flavor.
Q. Can fried chicken be reheated in an air fryer?
You can absolutely reheat your fried chicken in an air fryer’s basket if you have one. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and let the fried chicken come to room temperature before using it. Then, in a single layer, fry the fried chicken for about four minutes, turning once to achieve even cooking.