Air Fryer: Reheating Food Safely And Efficiently

Air fryers are a great way to reheat your food and avoid the dreaded sogginess that often comes with using a microwave. They're especially good for crispy foods like French fries, onion rings, and chicken wings, which can be heated up in a few minutes without losing their crunch.

But it's not just crispy foods that benefit from the air fryer treatment. You can also use it to reheat pizza, keeping the crust crispy and the cheese gooey. Or, if you're a pastry fan, you can heat up slices of pie, quiche, or even sausage rolls, with the pastry remaining gloriously flaky.

So, if you're looking for a quick, easy way to enjoy your leftovers without compromising on taste and texture, it's worth giving your air fryer a go.

Reheating pizza in an air fryer

Yes, you can reheat food in an air fryer! In fact, it's a great way to make leftovers crispy again, rather than soggy, as they might become in a microwave.

How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer:

Firstly, step away from the microwave! Microwaving pizza will render it unevenly heated, with a rubbery crust that quickly becomes too stiff to bite.

The air fryer is a much better option for reheating pizza, as it is basically a mini convection oven. While a regular oven takes longer to heat up, an air fryer can reheat your pizza in about a minute.

Steps to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer: Most sources recommend preheating your air fryer to 350°F, though some suggest 325°F or even 400°F.
• Place the pizza: Put your pizza slices flat in the middle of the air fryer, preferably in a single layer to allow for even cooking. If you are reheating multiple slices, make sure they don't overlap. Thicker crusts may need an extra minute or two to warm up, so adjust accordingly.
• Set the timer: Depending on the thickness of your crust and the amount of toppings, set the timer for 2-6 minutes. For thin crusts, 2-3 minutes should be enough, while thicker crusts may need up to 6 minutes. Check the pizza regularly to ensure it's not burning and adjust the time as needed.
• Check and remove: Keep an eye on your pizza, and once it's heated to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and enjoy!

Tips:

• Use parchment paper or a silicone liner for easy cleanup.
• If you notice the pizza starting to brown, especially near the crust, turn the heat down by 25-30°F.
• Remove the pizza from the air fryer as soon as it's warmed through. If you leave it in, it may dry out or burn.
• If your toppings are at risk of burning, consider removing them before reheating and adding them back in during the last 1-2 minutes.
• For extra crispy slices, spray them with a little olive oil before cooking.

Now you can enjoy freshly reheated pizza with a crispy crust and gooey cheese, just like it was first made!

Reheating chicken in an air fryer

Step 1: Let the Chicken Come to Room Temperature

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. This helps the chicken reheat more evenly and prevents the outside from drying out while the inside is still heating up.

Step 2: Prepare the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C to 182°C). You can lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with perforated aluminum foil or air fryer-safe parchment paper to prevent sticking. However, if you're using parchment paper, make sure there is food on it, as it can catch on fire if heated without anything on it.

Step 3: Prepare the Chicken

Brush the chicken with a thin layer of oil, such as olive or avocado oil. This will help enhance crispiness. You can also add extra seasoning if desired.

Step 4: Place the Chicken in the Air Fryer

Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, making sure there is enough space between each piece for proper airflow. Avoid overcrowding, as this can affect cooking and crispiness.

Step 5: Reheat the Chicken

Place the basket into the air fryer and reheat the chicken for 5-6 minutes initially. Then, use tongs to carefully turn the chicken pieces over and continue reheating for another 2-5 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. For bone-in or larger pieces, the total reheating time may be closer to 15-20 minutes.

Step 6: Check the Internal Temperature

To ensure the chicken is thoroughly reheated and safe to eat, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).

Step 7: Optional Crisping Step

If you prefer your chicken to be crispier, you can increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) for the last minute of cooking. However, be careful not to overcook the chicken.

Tips for Maintaining Crispiness:

• Preheat the air fryer to create an ideal environment for crispiness.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper airflow and even cooking.
• Lightly coat the chicken with oil to enhance crispiness.
• Monitor the cooking time to prevent overcooking.
• If the chicken seems dry, add a small amount of liquid or sauce to the air fryer basket to retain moisture.

Safety Precautions:

• Always use a food thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Avoid reheating chicken multiple times to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and store them in shallow containers for rapid cooling.
• Wash your hands, utensils, and countertops thoroughly after handling raw chicken to prevent cross-contamination.

Reheating steak in an air fryer

Yes, you can reheat steak in an air fryer! Here is a guide on how to do it:

Firstly, remove your steak from the refrigerator and pat it dry. It is best to get it out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before reheating so that it can start to reach room temperature.

Next, lightly spray or brush your steak with olive oil. This will help the steak to reheat quickly and evenly, and will also keep it juicy. You can also add some steak seasoning if you want.

Now, preheat your air fryer to 380°F/ 190°C for 2-3 minutes. It is important that the air fryer is up to temperature as soon as you place the steak inside, to prevent it from becoming overcooked on the outside before the centre is warmed.

Place your steak in the air fryer basket. If you are reheating more than one steak, place them in a single layer, ensuring that they are not touching. This will allow the hot air to reach all sides of the steak and reheat it evenly.

Reheat your steak at 380°F/ 190°C for 2-3 minute intervals. After each interval, check the internal temperature, flip the steak, and continue reheating until the steak reaches at least 110°F/ 43°C in the centre of the thickest part.

Finally, serve your steak topped with garlic butter or your favourite steak sauce.

Some additional tips:

• It is best not to reheat steak more than once, so only reheat what you are going to eat.
• If you have leftover reheated steak, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Steak thickness is the main factor that affects how long it takes to reheat, so if you are reheating multiple steaks, group them into batches of similar thicknesses.
• The perfect temperature to reheat steak is 160°C/320°F. Any higher and you risk drying out your steak and overcooking it.

Reheating French fries in an air fryer

French fries are a popular choice for reheating in an air fryer, as they come out crispy and fresh again. Here is a step-by-step guide to reheating French fries to their former glory:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Start by preheating your air fryer. Most sources recommend preheating at around 350-400°F (175-204°C) for 4 to 5 minutes. However, some sources suggest skipping the preheating step if you are in a hurry.

Step 2: Prepare the French Fries

Place the desired amount of French fries in the air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket, as this will affect the cooking. For best results, arrange the fries in a single layer, and consider shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even heating.

You can reheat any type of fry, including steak fries, sweet potato fries, waffle fries, and crinkle fries. If you are using thicker fries, you may need to adjust the cooking time.

Some sources suggest adding a tiny bit of oil or spritzing the fries with cooking spray before cooking to prevent them from drying out. You can also add seasonings at this stage to ensure they stick to the fries.

Step 3: Air Fry the French Fries

Set the air fryer temperature to 350-400°F (175-204°C). The cooking time will vary depending on the quantity of fries and your air fryer model, but on average, it should take around 3-5 minutes. For a small amount of fries, start checking for doneness at 2 minutes.

Keep a close eye on the fries while they are cooking, as you don't want them to get too crispy or burnt. The fries are already cooked, so you are simply reheating and crisping them up.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the fries are heated through and have reached your desired level of crispiness, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips:

• If you have a large batch of fries, you may need to reheat them in multiple batches to ensure even cooking.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so adjust accordingly.
• If you are reheating other foods along with the fries, such as chicken wings or mozzarella sticks, keep in mind that they may have different cooking times and temperatures.

Reheating a burger in an air fryer

Steps to Reheat a Burger in an Air Fryer:

• Take the burgers out of the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
• Place the burgers in the air fryer basket or on a tray in a single layer, with space between them for optimal airflow.
• Reheat the burgers at 300°F for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
• If you're reheating fast-food burgers, remove any toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, and sauces before placing them in the air fryer, as these will get slightly cooked during the process.
• If you want to reheat the toppings along with the burger, place them back on the burger after it's heated through.
• For cheeseburgers, ensure the cheese is on the top side of the burger for maximum melting.
• If you're reheating the burger with the bun, you can secure the top bun with a toothpick to prevent it from flying off.

Tips:

• If you're reheating multiple burgers, do them one at a time to maintain proper airflow and prevent overcrowding in the basket.
• To avoid overcooking, keep the reheating time short, and don't leave the patties in the air fryer for too long after the timer goes off.
• Reheating a burger in the air fryer more than once is possible, but it may affect the quality, making the burger drier and less juicy.
• If you're reheating a quarter-pounder or a larger burger, it may need extra time to ensure it's heated through.
• Always check the center of the patty, either by touch or with a meat thermometer, to ensure it's hot enough.

What Not to Reheat in an Air Fryer:

• Water-based dishes are not suitable for reheating in an air fryer.
• Large pieces of meat, like roasts or whole chickens, are too big to be safely cooked through in an air fryer.

Advantages of Reheating in an Air Fryer:

• Crispy foods stay crispy when reheated in the air fryer.
• Leftover fried foods don't become greasy.
• Most foods can be reheated in less than 5 minutes.
• It uses less energy than heating up an oven.
• No more soggy leftovers!

Disadvantages of Reheating in an Air Fryer:

• You are limited by the size of the food you can reheat.
• It is better suited for reheating fast food than casseroles.
• If not carefully watched, foods can become dry or even burn.

Frequently asked questions