Air Fryer Chinese Food: Reheating Simplified

Air fryers are a great way to reheat Chinese food. They help retain the original texture and flavours of the food, ensuring that your leftovers taste just as good as when you first ordered them. The air circulation within the appliance ensures even heat distribution, preventing your food from getting soggy or cold in certain areas.

To reheat your Chinese food in an air fryer, first preheat the appliance to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). While the air fryer preheats, remove any sauces and set them aside. Place your Chinese food leftovers in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out evenly. Reheat in intervals, starting with a shorter time, such as three minutes, and then checking the progress. If your leftovers include sauces, it's best to warm them separately in the microwave or on the stovetop. Once your Chinese food is perfectly reheated, it's time to plate and enjoy!

Reheating Chinese food in an air fryer: a quick guide

Reheating leftovers can be tricky, but an air fryer can help you restore your Chinese food to its former glory. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving tasty, evenly heated results.

Air fryers have become popular due to their ability to cook food with less oil while producing crispy, evenly cooked meals. They're also excellent for reheating leftovers, especially Chinese dishes. One of the main advantages is that air fryers help retain the original texture and flavours of your food. The air circulation within the appliance ensures even heat distribution, preventing sogginess and cold spots.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reheating Chinese Food in an Air Fryer:

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). This step is crucial for even reheating.

Step 2: While the air fryer preheats, separate any sauces, soups, or gravies from your Chinese leftovers. It's best to warm these separately.

Step 3: Place your Chinese food in the air fryer basket, ensuring it's spread out evenly. Avoid overcrowding to prevent uneven heating. Work in batches if necessary.

Step 4: Reheat your Chinese food in intervals to prevent overcooking. Start with a short interval, such as three minutes, and then add more time as needed.

Step 5: Warm sauces, soups, or gravies separately in the microwave or on the stovetop. They may not reheat well in the air fryer.

Step 6: Check that your Chinese food is adequately heated throughout, especially if it contains meat or seafood. Use a food thermometer for accuracy.

Step 7: Plate your perfectly reheated Chinese food and enjoy! Garnish with fresh herbs or vegetables for added colour and flavour.

Tips for Enhancing Your Reheating Experience:

• Avoid using the air fryer for delicate items like spring rolls or dumplings with thin wrappers. Traditional heating methods may be better for these.
• Separate different types of food when reheating multiple dishes simultaneously for more uniform heating.
• For fried rice or noodles, consider adding a small amount of water or oil to prevent them from drying out.
• Adjust the heat settings according to the food you're reheating. Lower temperatures are ideal for breaded items, while higher temperatures suit meats or vegetables.
• Pay attention to the size of your leftovers. Larger pieces may require longer cooking times.
• Experiment with different temperatures and cooking times to find the perfect settings for your specific air fryer and the type of Chinese food you're reheating.

How to reheat Chinese food in an air fryer

Reheating Chinese food in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy your leftovers without the sogginess that traditional reheating methods can cause. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the best results:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and let it preheat for a few minutes. This step ensures even reheating.

Step 2: Prepare Your Leftovers

While the air fryer is preheating, separate any sauces, soups, or gravies from your Chinese food leftovers. It's best to warm these separately.

Step 3: Arrange the Food in the Air Fryer

Place your Chinese food leftovers in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out evenly. Avoid overcrowding the basket to prevent uneven heating. If you have a large amount of food, work in batches.

Step 4: Cook in Intervals

To prevent overcooking, reheat your Chinese food in short intervals. Start with three minutes, then check the progress. If more heating is needed, add one to two minutes at a time until your desired temperature is reached.

Step 5: Warm Sauces Separately

If your leftovers include sauces or soups, warm them separately. Use a microwave-safe bowl or a stovetop for best results, as these may not reheat well in the air fryer.

Step 6: Check for Doneness

Once your Chinese food is reheated, ensure it is adequately heated throughout, especially if it contains meat or seafood. Use a food thermometer to confirm the internal temperature.

Step 7: Plate and Serve

Your Chinese food is now ready to be plated and enjoyed! Garnish with fresh herbs or vegetables for added color and flavor.

Tips for Reheating Chinese Food in an Air Fryer:

• Avoid using the air fryer for delicate items like spring rolls or dumplings with thin wrappers. Traditional heating methods may be better for these.
• Separate different types of food when reheating multiple dishes simultaneously for more uniform heating.
• For fried rice or noodles, add a small amount of water or oil to prevent them from drying out.
• Adjust the heat settings based on the food type: lower temperatures for breaded items, and higher temperatures for meats or vegetables.
• Pay attention to the size of your leftovers—larger pieces may require longer cooking times.
• Experiment with temperatures and cooking times to find the perfect combination for your specific air fryer and Chinese food.

Best and worst Chinese foods to reheat in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great way to reheat Chinese food and keep it tasting delicious. Here are some tips and tricks for the best and worst Chinese foods to reheat:

Best Chinese Foods to Reheat in an Air Fryer:

• General Tso's Chicken/Kung Pao Chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, line the basket with parchment paper, and cook for 5-8 minutes.
• Fried Rice: Spray the pan with olive oil, set the temperature to 320°F, and reheat for 10 minutes. Then, spray with olive oil again and cook at 360°F for 5 minutes.
• Spring Rolls, Potstickers, and Dim Sum: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, spray the basket with cooking oil, and cook for 3-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Chow Mein: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F, spread the noodles in an oven-safe dish, and reheat for 4 minutes. Then, use a fork to move the noodles around and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Broccoli Beef: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, place the broccoli and beef in a heat-resistant dish, and reheat for 5 minutes. Then, flip the broccoli and beef and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Crispy Duck & Pancakes: Place the shredded duck in a silicone mould, spray with olive oil, and air fry for 3 minutes at 320°F. For the pancakes, air fry for 1 minute at 250°F.
• Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls: Reheat at 320°F for 5 minutes.
• Salt and Pepper Wings: Reheat at 320°F for 6 minutes.
• Prawn Toast: Reheat at 320°F for 3 minutes.

Worst Chinese Foods to Reheat in an Air Fryer:

• Delicate items like spring rolls or dumplings with thin, fragile wrappers. Traditional heating methods may be better.
• Rice: Rice should only be reheated once, and it is best to consume it within 2 days.
• Sauces: Sauces are best warmed separately in the microwave or on the stovetop, as they may not reheat well in the air fryer.

Why use an air fryer over a microwave to reheat Chinese food?

While both air fryers and microwaves can be used to reheat Chinese food, there are several reasons why an air fryer might be a better option.

Firstly, air fryers can make your Chinese leftovers crispy again. The circulating hot air in an air fryer creates a crispy exterior, making it ideal for reheating foods that benefit from a crunchy texture, such as fried chicken chunks, spring rolls, and prawn toast. In contrast, microwaves are known to make food soggy, especially fried foods.

Secondly, air fryers are more versatile. They offer settings that mimic frying, roasting, and grilling, allowing you to prepare a diverse range of dishes. With an air fryer, you can cook or reheat not only Chinese food but also dishes like steaks, roasted vegetables, and French fries. Microwaves, on the other hand, are better suited for heating and cooking foods with high water content, like vegetables, grains, and frozen meals.

Thirdly, air fryers are healthier. They require significantly less oil than traditional frying methods, allowing you to cut down on excess calories. This is especially beneficial when reheating Chinese food, which is often battered and fried. By using an air fryer, you can reduce the amount of oil and salt in your meal, making it healthier without compromising taste.

Lastly, air fryers are more time-efficient than ovens, as they are smaller in size and can preheat and cook food faster. This makes them ideal for individuals who want their food ready quickly without having to wait for a conventional oven to preheat.

Tips and tricks for reheating Chinese food in an air fryer

Reheating Chinese food in an air fryer can be a great way to preserve the texture and flavour of your leftovers. Here are some tips and tricks to get the best results:

• If you're reheating dishes with sauces, separate the sauce from the other ingredients before reheating. Heat the sauce separately in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• Avoid using the air fryer for delicate items like spring rolls or dumplings with thin, fragile wrappers. Traditional heating methods are better suited to these foods.
• For fried rice or noodles, add a small amount of water or oil to prevent them from drying out.
• If your air fryer has different heat settings, adjust them according to the food you're reheating. Lower temperatures work well for breaded items, while higher temperatures are better for meats or vegetables.
• Pay attention to the size of your leftovers. Larger pieces may require longer cooking times than smaller portions.
• Experiment with different temperatures and cooking times to find the perfect combination for your air fryer and the type of Chinese food you're reheating.

Reheating Different Chinese Dishes

Fried Rice and Noodles

To reheat fried rice or noodles, place them in a ramekin with a small amount of butter to prevent them from drying out. Reheat for around 4 minutes at 160°C/320°F.

Prawn Toast

Reheat prawn toast in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 160°C/320°F.

Spring Rolls and Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls

Spray these with extra virgin olive oil and reheat for 5 minutes at 160°C/320°F.

Spare Ribs

Place the ribs in a silicone container and reheat for 6 minutes at 180°C/320°F.

Crispy Duck and Pancakes

Place the shredded duck in a silicone mould and spray with extra virgin olive oil. Reheat for 3 minutes at 160°C/320°F. Then, add the pancakes (still in their wrapper) and cook for 1 minute at 120°C/250°F.

General Tips for Reheating in an Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to ensure even reheating. Set the temperature to 350°F/175°C and let it warm up for a few minutes.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent uneven heating. Work in batches if necessary.
• Reheat in intervals to prevent overcooking. Start with a short time, such as 3 minutes, and check the progress. Add more time in small increments until your food reaches the desired temperature.
• Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your food, especially if it contains meat or seafood.
• Garnish with fresh herbs or vegetables to add a pop of colour and extra flavour.

Frequently asked questions