Reheating Chinese Food: Air Fryer Time And Tips

Air fryers are a convenient way to reheat Chinese food without drying it out or compromising on texture and flavour. The duration of reheating Chinese food in an air fryer depends on the type of dish. For instance, prawn toast and pancakes take the least amount of time, while ribs and salt and pepper chicken wings take the longest.

To reheat General Tso Chicken or Kung Pao Chicken, preheat the air fryer to 350°F, line the basket with parchment paper, and place the chicken on it for 5 minutes. Check if the chicken is heated through and place it back for another 3 minutes if needed.

For fried rice, do not preheat the air fryer. Place the rice in the pan and spray it with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set the temperature to 320°F and reheat for 10 minutes. Then, spray the rice with olive oil again and place it back in the air fryer at 360°F for 5 minutes.

To reheat spring rolls, potstickers, and other dim sum, preheat the air fryer to 350°F, spray the basket with cooking oil, and place the food inside for 3 minutes. Flip the items and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

Reheating Chinese food in an air fryer: a quick how-to guide

Air fryers are a handy way to reheat Chinese food quickly and easily, without losing much flavour or texture. Here is a simple guide to help you get the best results.

Most foods can be reheated in an air fryer, except water-based dishes such as soups and stews. Chinese meals with noodles or rice are possible to reheat, but they require extra consideration to avoid a mess.

How to reheat Chinese food in an air fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer to around 350-400°F.
• Line the basket with parchment paper to prevent food from sticking and burning.
• Place your food in the basket, ensuring it is not overcrowded, and cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Check your food. If it is not hot all the way through, return to the air fryer for another 3 minutes.
• For dishes with a lot of sauce, such as sweet and sour chicken, heat the sauce separately in the microwave.
• For fried rice, coat the rice with a few sprays of olive oil to prevent it from drying out and sticking to the pan. Reheat for around 10 minutes at 320°F, then increase the temperature to 360°F for another 5 minutes.

Tips:

• If you are reheating a large amount of food, you may need to do it in sections to avoid overfilling the air fryer.
• For dishes with a crispy element, like spring rolls, spray the basket with cooking oil and flip the food over halfway through to ensure an even crisp.
• For dishes with a sauce, separate the sauce from the other elements before reheating to avoid sogginess.

Foods to be cautious of:

• Noodles and rice: place in a heat-safe dish to avoid a mess.
• Dishes with a lot of sauce: separate the sauce and reheat it separately.
• Dishes with crispy elements: spray the basket with cooking oil and flip the food over during cooking.

Best and worst foods for reheating in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great way to reheat your food without drying it out or making it soggy. Here is a list of the best and worst foods for reheating in an air fryer.

Best Foods for Reheating in an Air Fryer

• French fries
• Fried chicken
• Pizza
• Nuggets
• Onion rings
• Stromboli & calzones
• Bread
• Rolls
• Flatbreads
• Dumplings
• Pot stickers
• Egg rolls/spring rolls
• Tacos
• Nachos
• Burritos
• Quesadillas
• Fajitas
• Tamales
• Roasted meats
• Pork/lamb/venison chops
• Roasted/pan-fried vegetables
• Bacon
• Quiche
• Corn on the cob
• Pies/pastries
• Fried fish
• Burgers
• Rice
• KFC
• Wings
• Ribs
• Salmon
• Chicken tenders
• Rotisserie chicken
• Chicken parm
• Chips
• Waffles
• Chinese food
• Prawn toast
• Spare ribs
• Crispy duck & pancakes
• Steak
• Chicken wings
• Mac & cheese

Worst Foods for Reheating in an Air Fryer

• Stews/curries
• Gravy/sauces
• Steak
• Pasta
• Soup
• Delicate greens
• Whole chicken

The time taken to reheat Chinese food in an air fryer depends on the type of food. For example, prawn toast and pancakes take the least amount of time, while ribs and salt and pepper chicken wings take the longest.

• Prawn toast: 3 minutes at 160C/320F
• Egg fried rice: 4 minutes at 160C/320F
• Spring rolls and sweet and sour chicken balls: 5 minutes at 160C/320F
• Spare ribs: 6 minutes at 180C/360F
• Crispy duck: 3 minutes at 160C/320F
• Pancakes: 1 minute at 120C/250F

Tips and tricks for reheating Chinese food in an air fryer

Reheating Chinese food in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get your food hot again without losing much flavour or texture. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your food is heated evenly and doesn't dry out or become soggy.

General Tips

• Use a heat-safe dish for meals with noodles or rice to prevent mess.
• Preheat your air fryer at between 350-400°F for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Spray the basket with a no-stick cooking spray.
• Place the food you want to reheat in the basket without overcrowding.
• Reheat for 3 to 5 minutes or until crispy and heated through.
• If your food has a sauce, heat it separately in the microwave if possible.
• If your food tends to dry out quickly (e.g. rice), cover with foil to start.
• If you are reheating a lot of food, you may need to do it in sections to avoid overfilling the air fryer.

Tips for Specific Chinese Dishes

General Tso Chicken/Kung Pao Chicken

• Line the basket with parchment paper to prevent the sauce from sticking to the basket and burning.
• Set the timer for 5 minutes.
• Check the chicken is heated throughout. If not, place it back in for another 3 minutes.

Fried Rice

• Do not preheat the air fryer.
• Spray the rice lightly with olive oil to prevent it from sticking.
• Set the temperature to 320°F and leave to reheat for 10 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, spray the rice with olive oil again and place it back into the air fryer at 360°F for 5 minutes.
• Once done, stir the rice and serve.

Spring Rolls, Potstickers, and Other Dim Sum

• Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for around 5 minutes.
• Spray the basket with some cooking oil.
• Place the food in the air fryer basket, ensuring there is space between the items.
• Reheat for 3 minutes.
• After 3 minutes, flip the items over if needed and place them back to cook for another 3-5 minutes.
• Remove the food when it is heated through and the outside is crispy.

Chow Mein

• Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
• Place the chow mein into an oven-safe dish that will fit into the basket of the air fryer.
• Spread the noodles and ingredients out as much as possible in the dish.
• Place the dish into the air fryer and leave to reheat for 4 minutes.
• Open the air fryer and use a fork to move the noodles around, to reheat thoroughly.
• Place the noodles back into the air fryer and leave to reheat for another 3 minutes.

Broccoli Beef

• Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
• Place the broccoli beef into a heat-resistant dish that will fit into the air fryer basket, keeping the broccoli and beef on separate sides of the dish if possible.
• Put the dish into the air fryer and allow it to reheat for 5 minutes.
• Remove the dish from the oven, flip the broccoli and beef over, and place the dish back into the air fryer for another 3 minutes.
• Once heated throughout, serve.

How to reheat different types of Chinese meals in an air fryer

Reheating Chinese Food in an Air Fryer

The air fryer is a great way to reheat Chinese food and keep it crispy. The key is to not crowd the basket and to preheat the air fryer. You'll also want to avoid using parchment paper when preheating, as it can catch on fire.

Reheating Different Types of Chinese Meals

Chinese Spare Ribs

To reheat Chinese spare ribs, place the ribs in a silicone container and then into the air fryer. This will prevent the sauce from dirtying your air fryer. Reheat at 180c/320f for 6 minutes.

Crispy Duck and Pancakes

Place the shredded duck into a silicone mould and spray with extra virgin olive oil to help make it crispy again. Reheat at 160c/320f for 3 minutes. Then, add the pancakes (still in their wrapper) and reheat for 1 minute at 120c/250f.

Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Place the wings and chips into the air fryer basket and spray with extra virgin olive oil. Reheat at 160c/320f for 6 minutes.

Prawn Toast

Place the prawn toast into the air fryer basket and reheat at 160c/320f for 3 minutes.

Egg Fried Rice

Place the rice in a ramekin with some butter to prevent it from drying out. Reheat at 160c/320f for 4 minutes.

Spring Rolls and Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls

Place the spring rolls and chicken balls into the air fryer basket and spray with extra virgin olive oil. Reheat at 160c/320f for 5 minutes.

Tips for Reheating Chinese Food

• It is best to consume leftover Chinese food within 2 days for rice dishes and within 3 days for meat or fish dishes.
• If your Chinese food has a lot of sauce, heat it up separately in an oven-proof bowl or in the microwave.
• Be sure to keep an eye on your food while reheating, as it can dry out or burn.
• You can also reheat Chinese food on the stovetop or in the oven, but the air fryer is a great option for crispy results!

Safety tips for reheating Chinese food

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking to slow down bacterial growth. Divide large portions into smaller containers to cool them faster and ensure even cooling.

Reheating Temperature

To kill any bacteria present, reheat Chinese food to a temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. This is especially important when reheating dishes with multiple ingredients, such as Chinese food, to ensure that all ingredients reach a safe temperature.

Stovetop Method

For dishes like stir-fries, fried rice, or noodles, reheat them in a skillet or wok over medium heat. Add a little oil or water to prevent sticking and stir frequently to ensure even heating.

Steaming Method

For dumplings, buns, or other steamed dishes, use a steamer basket over simmering water to heat the food gently and evenly.

Microwave Method

Place leftovers in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a microwave-safe lid or vented plastic wrap. Reheat at medium power, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. Be cautious of hot spots and uneven heating.

Oven Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and reheat the food in a covered oven-safe dish until it reaches the desired temperature. For dishes that may become soggy in the microwave, the oven is a better option.

Air Fryer Method

Preheat the air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F. Place the food in the air fryer basket and cook for 3-6 minutes, depending on the type of food. For example, prawn toast and pancakes will take less time to reheat than ribs and chicken wings.

Additional Tips:

• Do not reheat multiple times, as this can lead to uneven heating and increased bacterial growth.
• Avoid slow or partial reheating, as this can allow bacteria to thrive.
• Consume reheated food promptly and do not leave it sitting out at room temperature for an extended period.

Frequently asked questions