Reheating Pot Pie: Air Fryer Magic

Yes, you can reheat a pot pie in an air fryer! This method is great if you want to achieve a golden, crispy crust. It's also quicker than using an oven, which is a huge plus when you need to get dinner on the table fast.

Here's how to do it:

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the pot pie in the air fryer basket or tray. Cook for 8-12 minutes, or until the center is heated through and the crust is golden brown. Check the pie a few times while it's cooking to ensure it doesn't burn. If the crust starts to brown too much, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from burning while the inside continues to cook. Once the pie is heated throughout, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Preheat settings

Firstly, it is recommended to preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature setting is consistent across various pot pie recipes, including those for frozen and refrigerated pies. Preheating ensures that your air fryer reaches the desired temperature before cooking, promoting even cooking.

If you are using a smaller air fryer, such as a 3-quart model, you may need to adjust the preheat temperature. Some sources suggest preheating to 360 degrees Fahrenheit or even 380 degrees Fahrenheit for a shorter duration, such as 5 minutes, to achieve similar results.

For larger pot pies, you may need to increase the preheat time. One source recommends preheating for 5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a 10-ounce pot pie, while another suggests extending the preheat time to 7 minutes for a larger, 15-ounce pie.

It is worth noting that preheating instructions may vary slightly depending on the brand and model of your air fryer, so it is always a good idea to consult your air fryer's user manual for specific guidelines.

Once preheated, carefully place your pot pie into the air fryer basket or tray, ensuring it is secure and won't tip over during cooking. If your pot pie is frozen, you can wrap the edges of the crust with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

After preheating, you can proceed with the cooking instructions, adjusting the temperature and cook time as needed to ensure your pot pie is heated thoroughly and the crust is crispy and golden.

Covering the pie

There are a few different ways to cover a pot pie when reheating it in an air fryer. One way is to use aluminum foil. You can either cover the whole pie with foil or just the edges of the crust. Covering the whole pie with foil will help to prevent the crust from burning, while covering just the edges will allow the hot air to circulate and prevent the pie crust from drying out.

Another way to cover a pot pie in an air fryer is to use a piece of parchment paper. This will help to absorb any excess moisture and keep the pie from getting soggy. You can also try using a paper bag, which will help to absorb any excess oil and keep the pie from getting greasy.

If you are reheating a frozen pot pie in an air fryer, you may not need to cover it at all. This is because the frozen pie will take longer to cook, and the crust will not burn as easily. However, if you are reheating a refrigerated pie, it is important to cover it to prevent overbrowning.

When covering a pot pie in an air fryer, it is important to make sure that the covering does not touch the filling. This is because the filling needs to be exposed to the hot air in order to heat through. If the filling is covered, it may not heat evenly or may become soggy.

Additionally, when covering a pot pie in an air fryer, it is important to check on it regularly to ensure that it is not burning. If the pie does start to burn, you can remove the covering or adjust the temperature of the air fryer.

Cooking time

The cooking time for reheating a pot pie in an air fryer varies depending on the size of the pie, the power of your air fryer, and your desired level of crispiness. However, on average, it takes around 8 to 20 minutes to reheat a pot pie in an air fryer.

For a standard-sized pot pie, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Place the pot pie in the air fryer basket or tray, ensuring it is in a metal or aluminium tray, or an oven-safe baking dish if it's not already in one.

Cook the pie for 8 to 12 minutes, checking occasionally to ensure it doesn't burn. If the crust starts to brown too much, cover it with aluminium foil to prevent burning while the inside continues to cook.

For a 10 oz pot pie, preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 15 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 380°F and cook for an additional 6 minutes. Leave the pie in the closed air fryer for 5 minutes after cooking to allow the middle to continue warming.

If you're in a hurry, you can use the microwave to pre-heat the pie for 5 to 6 minutes before transferring it to the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to brown the top.

For larger pot pies, increase the cooking time accordingly. For example, a 15 oz pot pie will likely require a longer cooking time than a 10 oz pie.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model and the brand of pot pie you're using. Always keep an eye on your pot pie while it's in the air fryer to avoid overcooking or burning.

Avoiding a soggy crust

Yes, you can reheat a pot pie in an air fryer. It's quicker than the oven and will keep the crust crispy and tasty. Here are some tips to avoid a soggy crust:

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350°F. If your pot pie is in a metal or aluminium tray, you can keep it as is or transfer it to an oven-safe baking dish. Place the pie in the air fryer basket or tray.

Cooking time will depend on the size of your pie. For a 10 oz pot pie, cook for 40 minutes at 350°F until the temperature reaches 165°F. For larger pies, cover the entire pie with foil for the first half of the cooking time to prevent the crust from burning. You can also try wrapping only the edges of the crust in foil, leaving the centre exposed to allow hot air to circulate without burning the pie crust.

If your pie is almost done and the crust is browning too much, you can cover it with aluminium foil. This will allow the centre to heat up without overcooking the crust.

Once the pie is cooked, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

If you're in a hurry, you can also try cooking your pot pie in the microwave for 5 minutes before transferring it to the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the crust.

Reheating a frozen pot pie

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). This is the ideal temperature to ensure your pot pie cooks evenly.

Step 2: Prepare the Pot Pie

Place your frozen pot pie into the air fryer basket or tray. If it is in a metal or foil pan, you can leave it in that, or you may choose to place it in an oven-safe baking dish.

Step 3: Cook the Pot Pie

Cook your pot pie for around 8-12 minutes. The exact time will depend on the size of your pie and the model of your air fryer, so keep an eye on it. You are aiming for a heated centre and a golden, crispy crust.

Step 4: Check and Adjust

Check your pot pie a few times during cooking to ensure it doesn't burn. If the crust is browning too quickly, you can cover it with aluminium foil to prevent burning while the inside continues to cook.

Step 5: Finalise and Serve

Once your pot pie is heated throughout, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. This will ensure that you don't burn yourself and that the filling has a chance to settle, so it isn't too messy when you cut into it.

Tips for Success:

• For a whole pie, you may need to cook it for longer, and you can always finish it off with a few minutes of extra heat to get the crust perfectly crispy.
• If your pot pie is larger, you may need to cover the edges of the crust with foil to prevent burning, while leaving the centre exposed to get that flaky texture.
• To check if your pot pie is ready, insert a knife into the centre. If it comes out warm, your pie is ready to eat!
• For an extra crispy crust, you can combine the air fryer method with the microwave method. First, microwave your frozen pot pie for 5-6 minutes, and then finish it off in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to get that perfect golden crust.

Frequently asked questions