Reheating fries, pizza, pies, fried chicken, and more in an air fryer is one of the ways we see these nifty kitchen gadgets used most commonly. Though they’re a great cooking appliance in and of themselves and can substitute as an oven for a huge variety of dishes, they really come into their own when you want to reheat things.
We all know that the microwave makes fries and pizza go soggy, and that using a pan doesn’t work for everything. An oven is the best conventional method but it takes FOREVER and with the rising cost of electricity, it might be cheaper to just….buy a new pizza. So, that’s where your trusty air fryer comes in. Once you know how to reheat fries with an air fryer, or how to reheat pizza with an air fryer like a pro, you’ll never use any other way to get things hot, crispy, and bubbling with cheese all over again. Yay for the ‘fresh out of the oven’ taste whenever you want it.
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So, how do you do each one? Here are some of the most common foods you might want to reheat in an air fryer (fries, steak, pizza, chicken (tenders, nuggets or fried chicken), and even less common foods you’d reheat, like ribs and burgers in an air fryer. You can basically do it all!
Reheating Steak in an Air Fryer
Steak is another food that can be difficult to reheat without drying it out. Especially if you like your steak on the rarer side of things. To reheat steak in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. While preheating isn’t always important, it is for steak. You want it to be piping hot when the meat goes in.
Place the steak in the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the steak is still not heated through, you can cook it for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Reheating Chicken in an Air Fryer
Chicken can be tricky to reheat – you want it to be heated through without drying it out. To reheat chicken in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken in the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the chicken is still not heated through, you can cook it for an additional 1-2 minutes.
How to Reheat Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer
If you have leftover fried chicken (who ARE you and what’s wrong with you?) then you don’t need to resign yourself to cold, soggy, sad lunch the next day. To reheat fried chicken in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Take the chicken out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before you start reheating.
Put the chicken in the basket in a single layer and cook it for about 4 minutes. For maximum crunch, you’ll want to flip it over halfway through. Make sure the chicken is fully heated through. If not, err on the side of caution and put it back in for another minute or two.
How to Reheat Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a popular snack food, but they can get soggy when reheated. And we’re all about the crunch when it comes to chicken wings. To reheat chicken wings in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken wings in the basket and cook for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the chicken wings are still not heated through, you can cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Reheating Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer
Chicken tenders are a great snack or meal option, but they can be tough to reheat without drying them out. To reheat chicken tenders in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken tenders in the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the chicken tenders are still not heated through, you can cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes.
So that’s the chicken and steak side of things done and dusted. Now what about the important things like fries and pizza?
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Reheating French Fries in an Air Fryer
French fries are a favorite side dish, but they can lose their crispiness when reheated. To reheat chips or french fries in an air fryer, it’s best to spray them with a cooking spray or brush them with some sunflower oil first.
Heat the air fryer to 400°F, and be sure to put the fries in the basket in a single layer.
How Long?
The amount of time it takes to reheat fries in an air fryer can vary depending on the amount of fries and the type of air fryer. And naturally, whether you’ve got skinny fries or fat chips. As a general rule, it usually takes about 3-5 minutes to reheat fries in an air fryer. But because nobody wants burnt chips and because fries are a personal choice as to how crispy you like them, its a good idea to check halfway through.
Reheating a Burger in an Air Fryer
Burgers are a classic comfort food, but the bread, mayo, and other toppings can get a little soggy when reheated in a microwave. Or even when left overnight. To reheat a burger in an air fryer, put the burger in the basket and cook for around 2 minutes. It’s best to take the top bun off and leave cheese on the burger patty if you can (so you get that lovely melted texture).
Then, pop the bun back in for the last 30 seconds or so to crisp it up and take the chill off any other toppings and sauces.
How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer
Pizza is a favorite takeaway food across so many countries. But microwaving it makes the base go limp and soggy, especially if you love thin crispy base pizza. Using an air fryer can help you retain the right texture, luckily. Like with most of the other dishes, set the air fryer to 375°F. Place the pizza in the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Some toppings might burn or overcook at this temperature, like onions, peppers, or even bacon. If you’re worried about that, you’ll be glad to know that air fryers are foil friendly. Just cover the top with some foil to get everything piping hot without burning them to a crisp.
Reheating Ribs in the Air Fryer
Ribs are a delicious and hearty meal, but reheating them can be tricky. If you’re wondering whether to go high or low on the temperature, know that reheating them too high can make them tough instead of tender. Opt for 350°F. For foolproof and delicious reheating, wrap them in some foil and brush with BBQ sauce before you reheat them. You can skip the foil, but they might be slightly tougher – and your air fryer will be dirtier! Ribs will take around 6 minutes to reheat in an air fryer.
Never Eat a Soggy Meal Again
Reheating food in an air fryer can be a quick and easy way to enjoy your leftovers. With the right temperature and time settings, you can reheat a variety of foods, from chicken tenders to pizza, while keeping them crispy and flavorful.
But why stop there? Check out Whisk’s collection of air fryer recipes and save them to use later. You’ll soon find yourself wondering why you ever limited yourself to reheating when you can do so much more.
Plus, we even have an interview with an air fryer expert who has done everything from cheesecakes to fish in his.
