Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (2024)

by Recipe This

Reheating In Air Fryer. Let me show you how easy it is to reheat your leftovers in the air fryer. From mashed potatoes to meatloaf to egg rolls to pizza to fries to steak, we have you covered.

Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (1)

Also, before we dive into this air fryer reheating guide, I recommend you check out our free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.

Or browse our site as we have 450+ air fryer recipes that are easy to recreate at home and we have been showing people how to use the air fryer since 2011.

Table of Contents

Reheating Food In Air Fryer

Many people replace their microwave with the air fryer. After all, the air fryer is many kitchen gadgets in one. It can grill, it can deep fry, it can be a toaster and best of all, like a microwave it can reheat food.

But did you know that the air fryer does a BETTER job than the microwave for reheating food?

That is because it makes the food crispy again rather than soggy. Just think of those times you have reheated leftover pizza or garlic bread in the microwave and thought it wasn’t as good. Or how you ruined your takeout fries in the microwave.

Can You Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can. The air fryer is fantastic for reheating food.

You need to use a lower temperature when reheating food in the air fryer and need to make sure your food doesn’t get dry, but overall, its very easy to reheat food in the air fryer.

Bur don’t worry, we have plenty of recipes showing you how to reheat your food in the air fryer and best of all, how to make your air fryer reheated food BETTER.

Warming Up Food In Air Fryer

Before we dive into how we use the air fryer to reheat food, you can also use it to warm up your food too.

I am thinking of my mum here.

She would order a kebab to be delivered and then when it was delivered would always complain that it was no longer piping hot.

Load her kebab into the microwave and give it a quick warm up for 2 minutes.

This can be done in the air fryer for 3 minutes on 160c/320f.

How To Reheat Food In Air Fryer

Now onto the meat and potatoes as people say. These are the easy recipes we have made so far from reheating leftovers in the air fryer.

After many requests from our readers for recommendations for reheating foods, we did a big experiment.

Every weekend we published two new recipes that focused on reheating in the air fryer for several weeks. Showing how we reheat our food and the best cook times and practices for doing so.

Below is the air fryer reheat recipes and do post in the comments if you are looking for advice to reheat a specific food that is not mentioned.

Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (3)
  • Reheat Burger In Air Fryer – Using leftover burgers from McDonalds we showed you how to get the burger piping hot again but without the burger bun going soggy.
  • Reheat Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer – This is perfect for when you are feeding kids and they leave the food on the plate and you don’t want food waste. You can simply reheat it the next day.
  • Reheat Chinese Food In Air Fryer – One Chinese food that I love to reheat is egg fried rice. You can use frozen containers that you have bought from the supermarket, or your own that you have reheated.
  • Reheat Cooked Steak In Air Fryer – Another option is to reheat your favourite steak. We tested reheating steak in the air fryer with ribeye, sirloin and rump and they were all delicious.
  • Reheat Egg Rolls In Air Fryer – I love how crispy you can make egg rolls when you reheat them in the air fryer. Because they have been cooked twice, I find that they taste better than
  • Reheat Baked Potatoes In Air Fryer – This is fantastic for make ahead cooking too and shouldn’t be limited it just reheating your leftovers. What you can do is make your baked potatoes in advance and then reheat them as you need them in the air fryer.
  • – You will love our ideas of reheating the last of your leftover mac and cheese. Truly delicious and perfect for avoiding food waste too.
  • Reheat Fries In Air Fryer – Forget those soggy microwave fries this is how to reheat your frozen fries that you have previously cooked in the air fryer. It amazes me how delicious these are the second time around.
  • Reheat Pizza In Air Fryer – The first food that we ever showed you how to reheat in the air fryer. Years later, we have updated it for you, and you will love how delicious your pizza leftovers are.
  • Reheat Fried Fish In Air Fryer – This is perfect for when you have cooked fish and chips or had a Friday night supper and have some left over. I love how crispy the batter goes on the fish and how flavoursome it is.
Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (4)

Well, they are our top 10 air fryer recipes from leftovers, but we have more. Here are three bonus recipe ideas that you will not have thought of that are ideal for the air fryer.

  • Reheat Mashed Potatoes – You will love this post and how many different ways you can reheat mashed potatoes in the air fryer or use mashed potatoes for exciting new recipes. We even have Jorge’s homemade gnocchi!
  • Reheat Meatloaf – I also love to use the air fryer to reheat meatloaf. You can warm up slices of meatloaf with tomato ketchup for sandwiches, or use the air fryer to make a meatloaf hash.
  • Reheat Quiche – Another air fryer reheat recipe that is better in the air fryer compared to the microwave. Forget soggy crust this is how to perfectly reheat your quiche. Do small slices for a quicker cook time or bigger ones.

Can’t read it now? Then pin it for later!

Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (5)
Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

Recipe This | Reheating Leftovers In An Air Fryer? ›

Preheat the air fryer at 350-400F for 4 to 5 minutes. Place the food you want to reheat in the basket without crowding. Air fry 3 to 5 minutes or so until crispy and heated through but keep a close watch on it.

How long to cook leftovers in air fryer? ›

Preheat the air fryer at 350-400F for 4 to 5 minutes. Place the food you want to reheat in the basket without crowding. Air fry 3 to 5 minutes or so until crispy and heated through but keep a close watch on it.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

What does not cook well in an air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  • Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What's the difference between reheat and air fry on an air fryer? ›

The Reheat function is to be used to revive leftovers by gently warming them, leaving you with crispy results. The Air Crisp function to give your food crispiness and crunch with little to no oil. We hope this information helps. Thank you for your feedback!

Can you use parchment paper in an air fryer? ›

Yes, and here's what you need to know. Parchment paper is a safe and effective liner to use in the air fryer. To avoid safety hazards, weigh down the paper with food and keep away from the heating element. Parchment paper can be heated up to roughly 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can I put glass in air fryer? ›

Whether you prefer the benefits of cooking in glass or you just use glass dishes out of habit, we've got good news – yes! You can use glass in an air fryer.

Is it better to use parchment paper or foil in an air fryer? ›

It's also a more sustainable option than lining your air fryer with aluminum foil. Lining your air fryer basket with a round of parchment paper is the perfect way to keep your air fryer squeaky clean and slash the time it takes to clean up. It just got a whole lot easier to make air fryer chicken drumsticks!

Can I put paper towel in air fryer? ›

Airflow is essential to the machine, so while a paper towel is useful for cleaning, it should not be used while cooking food in the air fryer. It can restrict the airflow of the machine and even catch fire. It's important to remember that the air inside the air fryer can get very hot.

What can you line an air fryer with? ›

If you don't have parchment paper, you can use aluminum foil to line your air fryer basket. Or you can leave out the parchment paper completely and just spray your air fryer basket with a little oil to prevent food from sticking. You can also use a silicone liner in your air fryer.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Here are five foods you shouldn't cook in an air fryer, lest you risk an uncleanable mess or worse.
  • Wet batter, dry seasoning. (Image credit: Shutterstock / ARENA Creative) ...
  • Raw rice. (Image credit: Shutterstock / PENpics Studio) ...
  • Whole roast chicken. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Sergii Koval) ...
  • Burger. ...
  • Popcorn.
Jan 15, 2023

Why don t chefs like air fryers? ›

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.

What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
  • Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

What does broil mean on an air fryer? ›

Broiling requires strong heat that comes just from the top of the oven. For melting cheese or browning a casserole, opt for an air fryer with a broiler feature, like the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, which will only use the direct, top-down heat to create a crisp, bubbly top on your dish.

Can I reheat pasta in air fryer? ›

To reheat pasta in the air fryer, preheat it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the pasta on aluminum foil to prevent it from drying up. Sprinkle a small amount of water onto the pasta to keep it from drying up. After around 5 to 10 minutes, the pasta should be thoroughly heated.

Can you reheat lasagna in an air fryer? ›

For a crispy top: reheat lasagna in the air fryer

"The air fryer is a fantastic tool for this task because it can help crisp up the top layer and heat the inside evenly," he says. This is all thanks to the appliance's circulating heat function, which can get the lasagna bubbling hot and golden in about 10 minutes.

Can I reheat leftovers in an air fryer? ›

Air fryers aren't just for cooking — they're also excellent tools for reheating leftovers, especially when you want to bring a little crunch back to something that was once crispy. Fried chicken, pizza, french fries and more all come beautifully back to life when popped into the fryer basket for a few minutes.

Is an air fryer the best way to reheat food? ›

When you don't want to turn the oven on just to heat up a slice of pie, the air fryer is your friend. From pizza to toasties, quiche to salmon plait, there are a plethora of dishes that can be reheated to perfection in minutes with just a little know-how.

Can you reheat ready meals in air fryer? ›

Absolutely! The air fryer is an excellent tool for reheating leftovers, including ready meals. It can help revive the crispy texture and maintain the flavour of the food.

Are air fryers good for warming up leftovers? ›

You can reheat most leftovers in around five minutes in an air fryer, but timings will vary depending on the amount and thickness of the food and the model of air fryer you have. You'll need to experiment with temperatures too, starting with lower temps (160-180℃) so as not to burn food.

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