Introduction

Air fryers have been a blessing ever since their invention. In fact, your air fryer is much more diverse than you would originally have anticipated. Reheating is one of the functions amongst many that all the air fryers are capable of doing. For instance, did you know that air fryers can also be used to dehydrate or even reheat select leftover foods!? We all know how terrible it is to reheat your crispy meals in a microwave or traditional oven just to find that it has gone all soggy. One of the major advantages of reheating in air fryer is that it does not compromise on the crisp texture of the food.

But a lot of people have very little idea about how to reheat food in air fryer. Therefore, in this article, I have rounded up the basic steps to follow for reheating food in air fryer, precautions to take while reheating, the types of food you can consider for reheating, as well as some common tips. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Can You Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?

Reheating food in air fryer has always been a topic of confusion among consumers as to whether it is possible or not. So, let me tell you YES, you can reheat food in an air fryer. You can reheat your meals even if you did not cook them in the air fryer. The reheating of food in an air fryer is an unbelievably fast process in which the flavors and texture of the meals are retained. You must have encountered that some of your food items become soggy or lose their texture/taste when you reheat them using a conventional electric gas/oven or a standard countertop microwave oven.

This is where an air fryer comes into play and becomes your savior. With an air fryer, you will probably discover that your food’s taste and texture are preserved while they’re also crisp rather than mushy. This is mostly because an air fryer works by penetrating the heat from the outside of the food item and gradually goes inwards which is in contrast to microwaves that work by penetrating the heat from the inside out.

What Foods Can You Reheat In An Air Fryer?

Now that we know reheating in air fryer is possible and that too within a very short time, let us have a look at the types of food you can reheat with an air fryer.

In an air fryer, you can reheat anything crispy. However, reheating gravies, soups, stews, etc. might not be a good option. Reheating anything fluid or saucy does not seem to come out right, using an air fryer. You should note that you are required to thaw your frozen food before you reheat it. Below given are a few specific food items that you can reheat in an air fryer:

• Pizza
• Chicken Wings
• Chinese Food
• KFC / Fried Chicken
• Donuts
• Tacos
• Rotisserie Chicken
• Potatoes
• Tater Tots
• French Fries
• Burgers (I cook the burger and the bun and then reassemble with any salad)
• Dumplings
• Fish Fingers
• Onion Rings
• Vegetables

How to Reheat Foods In An Air Fryer?

Okay so, we are through the segment that tells us the different types of food we can consider reheating with an air fryer. But how do we do it? how to reheat food in air fryer? Do not worry, we got your back. The correct way to reheat food in an air fryer depends on what has been cooked. However, below given are a set of basic instructions you can follow to reheat your meals. Consider adjusting as per the ingredients present within the food and air fryer in order to find out what works the best for you.

1. Start by thawing your food if at all it’s frozen. Use a microwave, or just leave it on the counter, or keep it in your refrigerator overnight.
2. Once your food is thawed properly, plugin your air fryer and pre-heat it at 400°C for around five minutes.
3. Once preheated, place your food item on ​the basket present ​within the air fryer.
4. Proceed by reducing the temperature to almost 350°C and leave the food to reheat for 3 minutes.
5. Post three minutes, check your food. Repeat the whole process if you aren’t satisfied with the reheating. However, if it requires a longer time, keep checking once every 2 minutes until your food becomes crispy and warm.

A few precautions to keep in mind while reheating leftovers in an air fryer:

1. Once satisfied with the reheating and warmth of your food, remove the basket from the air fryer. You can then switch off the air fryer and clean it. However, ensure that the air fryer is completely cooled down before cleaning it.
2. You may have to do this in sections if you plan on reheating a lot of food to make sure you do not over-stuff the air fryer. This may damage the equipment or take a long time to heat the meal.
3. The degree of reheating varies with food types. Hence, monitor your food at regular intervals to avoid burning your food.
4. It is strictly advised not to put a lid on the air fryer while it’s in use because that might lead to an explosion. Hence, food that requires a lid will not work well with an air fryer.

Common Air Fryer Cooking Tips

1. Avoid using wet batter such as beer batter or tempura while preparing any type of fried food item by yourself.
2. Cooking time is an air fryer differs with different food items.
3. Even heat is not suitable for all dishes (e.g., sunny side up).
4. Wet or oily foods are not suitable for air fryers.
5. Air fryers and pressure cookers do not work the same way.
6. Toss, shake, or stir your fired food items so that they can get reheated evenly. However, it is not required for baked foods.
7. Always pre-heat the air fryers before reheating food in air fryer.

Conclusion

Air fryers have gained a huge fanbase for their multifunctionality. It has indeed become a boon for the ones who use it. Among various functions, reheating is one of the most helpful options that air fryers provide you with. By now you must have gotten an idea of how easy and simple reheating food in air fryer is. If you’ve been using this magical gizmo for a while, you must know what the hype really is. But if you’re still not on the wagon, you’re missing out. It is advisable to begin with a fryer that’s compact and economical at first. If you happen to be looking for one, use our guide to narrow down to best air fryers that can be bought under $100.

Try to follow the aforementioned steps to reheat your food and modify the steps according to your food and ingredients. However, keeping the precautions in mind is the first and foremost thing to do. So, follow the tips and be careful while reheating your food so that you could have a wonderful experience eating your favorite food items after reheating them.