Reheating Pork Chops: Air Fryer Method

Pork chops are a delicious and versatile meat, but reheating them can be a challenge. No one wants to eat dry, chewy meat! There are several ways to reheat pork chops, including the microwave, oven, stove, and air fryer. Using an air fryer to reheat pork chops is an absolute breeze and can bring back that familiar savory goodness with minimal effort.

Preheat settings for an air fryer

When to Preheat:

• If you want to speed up the cooking time, preheating can help reduce the overall cooking time by a few minutes.
• Preheat when you want your food to be extra crispy. The hot air moving before cooking will create a nice, even toast on your food.
• Preheating is ideal for thinly cut meats, such as pounded-out chicken breasts or shaved steak, as it helps achieve a perfect sear while cooking the inside.
• Preheat when reheating precooked or frozen foods to ensure they cook evenly and quickly.
• If you're baking goods like cakes, donuts, or cookies, preheating is essential to ensure even cooking and browning.

When Not to Preheat:

• If you're cooking thick cuts of meat, it's best not to preheat as the outside may burn before the inside is cooked. Place the meat in the air fryer first and then turn it on.
• Avoid preheating if you want moist food. The high heat of the air fryer can dry out certain foods, so opt for an oven or another cooking method if you want to retain moisture.
• Always refer to your air fryer's manual. Some models may not be suitable for preheating, and it could be dangerous.

How to Preheat:

• Check your air fryer's manual for specific instructions, as different models may have varying preheat settings and requirements.
• Turn on the air fryer, ensuring it is clean, plugged in, and ready to use.
• If your air fryer has a preheat button, simply press it, set the desired temperature, and wait for the air fryer to reach that temperature.
• If there is no preheat button, set the temperature to 400 °F (204 °C) and let it heat up for 3 to 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can manually preheat for 3 to 5 minutes at the cooking temperature specified in your recipe.
• Leave the basket in during preheating to ensure even heating.
• Preheating usually takes 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Tips:

• Preheating can be beneficial for foods that need a good sear or crispy texture, such as steaks, burgers, fried foods, or breaded foods.
• For delicate foods like shrimp or vegetables, you may not want to preheat to avoid burning or drying them out.
• If the food will be cooking for an extended period, there is no need to preheat as it will have enough time to reach the desired temperature.
• Always ensure your food is at room temperature before placing it in the air fryer to avoid condensation and to achieve the desired crispiness.

How to avoid drying out pork chops

Yes, you can reheat pork chops in an air fryer. Here are some tips on how to avoid drying them out:

Before Reheating:

Let the pork chops reach room temperature by resting them outside of the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, or outside the freezer for a few hours. It is important to defrost them before reheating.

Preheating:

Always preheat the air fryer so that the chops start warming at full temperature right away. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F-400°F.

Reheating:

• Avoid stacking your chops. Keep the food in a single layer. If the air fryer basket is overcrowded, the chops will not warm evenly.
• Line the air fryer basket with aluminium foil or paper for easy cleanup.
• Spritz the chops with oil or cooking spray to enhance crispiness and keep them moist.
• Drizzle melted butter over the chops to add moisture and flavour.
• Add extra seasoning to ensure you don't lose any flavour.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Make sure you are only setting a single layer of pork chops each time.
• Pay attention to size. Bigger and thicker pieces will need more time to fully heat up. If you are reheating in batches, let the bigger pieces heat up first, then the smaller pieces.
• Avoid condensation by making sure the chops are completely cool and at room temperature before putting them in the air fryer.

After Reheating:

Let the chops rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping them moist.

General Tips:

• Check for doneness. Always check the pork's internal temperature to ensure it's thoroughly heated and safe to eat. The chops should reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
• Avoid reheating more than once to prevent drying out the pork.
• Add a splash of broth or sauce to add moisture when reheating.

Other ways to reheat pork chops

Steamer

Add a little water to a steamer basket and steam the pork chops for about 10 minutes. This method will not make the chops crispy.

Microwave

Wrap each pork chop in a damp paper towel and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on medium power for about 2-3 minutes, or until they are fully heated through. The time may vary depending on your microwave.

Oven

Place the pork chops on a baking dish and pour 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth for each pork chop. The liquid will help keep the meat juicy. Cover the dish with foil or its lid and bake at 350°F for 15-25 minutes, or until fully heated.

Stove

Add 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil to a frying pan and sear the pork chops for 3-5 minutes on each side over medium heat. Remove the chops from the pan when they are heated through.

Sous Vide

If you have access to a sous vide machine, this specialised equipment can be used to reheat your pork chops.

How to store leftover pork chops

If you have leftover pork chops, you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Wrap each pork chop individually in aluminium foil or plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. If you're not going to eat the leftovers within 4 days, it's best to freeze them.

To freeze raw pork chops, wrap each chop individually in foil or plastic wrap, or seal in plastic bags, squeezing out as much air as possible. Place the chops in a larger freezer bag or wrap in freezer paper, removing excess air before sealing. Label the package with the date, and use within 6 months.

For freezing cooked pork chops, cool the chops in the fridge before wrapping and freezing. Label the package with the date, ingredients, and heating instructions. Use within 2 to 3 months, reheating to at least 165°F (74°C) before consumption.

What to serve with leftover pork chops

There are many options for what to serve with leftover pork chops. Here are some ideas:

Sides

You could serve the pork chops with a green side salad, such as a creamy cucumber salad, or a bowl of cilantro lime rice. For a fast side dish, you could also serve air fryer asparagus, air fryer roasted broccoli, air fryer squash, air fryer garlicky carrots, air-fried waffle fries, or sweet potato fries.

Main dishes

Leftover pork chops can be used in a variety of main dishes. You could cube the pork and make it into a pot pie-style meal, or a casserole with noodles, veggies, salsa or diced tomatoes, and cheese. Alternatively, you could use the pork chops in a stir-fry, a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, or breakfast burritos.

Freezer meals

If you're not looking to eat your leftover pork chops right away, you can wrap them well and freeze them for a meal a few months down the line. You could also freeze them until you have enough to make a dish like quick pork fried rice.

Frequently asked questions