Air Fryer: Reheating Food, Is It Worth It?

Air fryers are a fantastic way to reheat your food. They are a great alternative to microwaves and ovens, as they can preserve the texture of your food, leaving it crispy and delicious. Air fryers are versatile and convenient, and can be used to reheat a variety of foods, from pizza and fries to chicken and vegetables. They are also a healthier option, as they require little to no additional oil. However, there are some foods that are not suitable for reheating in an air fryer, such as leafy greens, soups, stews, pasta, and rice.

Reheating pizza in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great alternative to microwaves and ovens when it comes to reheating leftover pizza. They can revitalise your day-old pizza, reproducing the melted cheese, perfect crispy crust and fresh taste from the day before in a matter of minutes.

How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to around 350°F (175°C). If you want to prevent sticking, you could line your air fryer basket or tray with aluminium foil, parchment paper or disposable air fryer liners.
• Place the pizza slices in the air fryer basket. Arrange them in a single layer to allow the hot air to circulate around them and ensure crispiness. Depending on the size of your basket and type of pizza, you’ll probably only be able to fit 1 or 2 slices in each basket.
• Cook the pizza for around 3 minutes and then check on its progress. The pizza slices are ready when the crust is crisp (but not burnt) and the cheese is melted and bubbling. Thicker crust pizzas will need a little longer than thin crust pizzas.
• Before reheating, remove any toppings that might burn easily (pepperoni, fresh herbs, thinly sliced vegetables, sundried tomatoes, olives, etc.) and put them back on towards the end of the cooking time.
• If you want your air fryer pizza to be extra crispy, try spraying your pizza base with a light cooking spray before putting it in the air fryer.
• Don't overcrowd the basket. Remember, you want the air to properly circulate around the pizza to make sure it gets nice and crisp again.
• For the best outcome, only reheat pizza once!

• Air fryers are much faster than conventional ovens, which take longer to heat up.
• You are less likely to end up with a dry pizza base as a conventional oven takes much longer to heat up the pizza. The air fryer heats up rapidly using hot air that circulates evenly, ensuring a crispy exterior and tender interior.
• Air fryers are more hands-off than conventional ovens. There is less need to keep a constant eye on your food as there is less risk of it burning.
• Air fryers are versatile. You can reheat any type of leftover pizza, including takeout, homemade, deep dish, frozen pizza, thin crust, naan pizza, French bread pizza, and more.

Reheating chicken in an air fryer

Preheat the Air Fryer:

Start by preheating your air fryer to the desired temperature. The ideal temperature range for reheating chicken is between 350°F and 400°F (180°C). Preheat for a few minutes to ensure even cooking.

Prepare the Chicken:

Place your leftover chicken in the air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket to allow proper air circulation. Arrange the chicken in a single layer, ensuring that the pieces are not crowded. This will enable the hot air to circulate effectively around each piece of chicken.

Optional: Apply Oil or Cooking Spray:

Before reheating, you can optionally brush the chicken lightly with olive oil or a neutral cooking oil using a pastry brush. Alternatively, coat the chicken with cooking spray. This step helps to prevent the chicken from drying out and enhances a crispy outer layer.

Set the Timer:

Once the air fryer is preheated, insert the basket with the prepared chicken and set the timer. For chicken breasts, reheat for about 2-3 minutes at 360°F (180°C). For other chicken pieces, such as wings, tenders, or nuggets, reheat for 3-5 minutes, and for larger pieces like breasts or thighs, aim for 5-7 minutes.

Flip and Check:

Halfway through the reheating process, flip the chicken to ensure even heating. Keep a close eye on the chicken to prevent it from drying out or overheating. You may need to adjust the timing slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces and your air fryer model.

Monitor Temperature:

To ensure food safety, always reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken by inserting it into the thickest part, avoiding the bone.

Serve and Enjoy:

Once the chicken reaches the desired temperature, it is ready to be served! Enjoy your juicy and delicious reheated chicken.

Reheating steak in an air fryer

Yes, you can use an air fryer to reheat food! It's a great alternative to a microwave as it preserves the texture of food and keeps things light and healthy by cutting out excess oil.

Now, for reheating steak in an air fryer, follow these steps:

Preparation

First, take your steak out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Doing this ensures more even reheating and helps the steak heat up more evenly. You can pat the steak dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, which can affect the crisping process. You can also consider reseasoning the steak with a light sprinkle of salt, pepper, and your favorite steak seasoning to refresh the flavors.

Air Fryer Settings

Preheat your air fryer to around 350°F (175°C). This step is important as it prepares the cooking environment, allowing the steak to heat evenly and retain moisture.

Air Fryer Basket

Place the steaks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure proper air circulation, which is critical to achieving a crispy exterior.

Temperature and Time

Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). The time will depend on the thickness of your steak. As a guide, allow 3-4 minutes per side for a medium-rare to medium doneness. Adjust the time as needed, depending on your preferred level of doneness. Halfway through the reheating process, flip the steaks to guarantee uniform cooking. Keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking, as air fryers work efficiently and quickly.

Checking the Steak's Internal Temperature

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. For medium-rare, aim for 130°F (54°C); for medium, 140°F (60°C); and for medium-well, 150°F (66°C).

Resting the Steak

Once your steak has reached the desired doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute before you slice and serve.

Tips to Prevent Drying Out

To prevent your steak from drying out, you can wrap it in aluminum foil before placing it in the air fryer. This helps retain moisture. You can also spritz the steak lightly with olive or avocado oil using an oil sprayer. Additionally, it is recommended to reheat at a lower temperature for a shorter time compared to the original cooking instructions.

Reheating French fries in an air fryer

Yes, you can use an air fryer to reheat French fries! Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

Firstly, it is important not to overcrowd the fries. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. This allows for proper air circulation and even cooking. If you have a lot of fries, you may need to reheat them in batches.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. This temperature ensures that your fries will be heated evenly, with no cold or overdone spots.

You can then place the fries in the basket and cook them for 3-5 minutes. Some sources suggest giving the basket a shake halfway through to ensure even heating, while others recommend flipping the fries.

If you want to add herbs and spices, it is best to do so at the end. This prevents them from burning or falling off in the air fryer. Spraying the fries with oil before adding seasonings can help the spices stick.

Using an air fryer to reheat French fries is a great way to achieve that fresh-from-the-fryer crunch without the sogginess that can come from microwaving. It is also faster than using an oven, and you don't need to preheat it, saving time and energy.

Reheating a burger in an air fryer

Yes, you can use an air fryer to reheat food. In fact, it's a great way to make leftovers taste fresh again, and it's faster and more energy-efficient than using an oven.

Now, if you're looking to reheat a burger in an air fryer, here's what you need to do:

First, disassemble your burger. Remove the patty, and separate it from the buns and any toppings. This ensures that the buns become toasty, the patty gets hot, and your veggies stay crisp and fresh. Place the buns cut-side up on a wire rack or baking sheet. If your lettuce has gone mushy, discard it, but tomatoes, onions, and pickles are usually fine.

Next, place the patty in the air fryer basket and heat it for around 3-4 minutes. Then, add the buns and heat everything together for an additional minute. This method ensures that both the patty and buns warm up nicely without drying out or burning. If you're reheating a cheeseburger, you might want to scrape off the cheese before reheating to avoid a mess, and then add it back on top or replace it with fresh cheese during the last minute of cooking.

If you want to avoid any potential mess from cheese or toppings, you can wrap the patty in aluminum foil before placing it in the air fryer. Additionally, you can spritz the patty and buns with a little olive or avocado oil to help retain moisture and enhance flavor.

Finally, if you're reheating fast-food burgers, you may want to remove toppings like lettuce and tomato, as these will get slightly cooked during the process.

And that's it! A few simple steps, and your leftover burger is as good as new. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions