Reheating Leftovers: Best Ways to Reheat Food | Maytag (2024)

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Reheating Leftovers: Best Ways to Reheat Food | Maytag? ›

Generally, you should reheat dishes at a low temperature like 350°F so they don't dry out. Cover your dish with foil and cook it between 8-20 minutes (depending on the food) until it cooks all the way through. Food like meats or casseroles tend to reheat well in the oven, because they don't typically dry out as much.

It can revive leftovers in minutes, but as anyone who as ever suffered through a dinner of soggy microwaved pizza can attest, some items are just better reheated in the oven — think breads, fries and crispy coated foods, like chicken fingers. That said, almost everything else is fair game for this ubiquitous machine.

The air fryer cooks almost as fast as a microwave and, in my opinion, much better. Adding an air fryer to your kitchen may feel like an upfront cost, but these budget-friendly super convection ovens are the best first step towards better leftovers. Plus, they'll save money on your energy bill over time.

To ensure foods like casseroles and roast meats do not dry out while reheating in the oven, just cover them with foil. Use a low-temperature like 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook until the dish is just heated through, depending on the item this could be anywhere from 8 to 20 minutes.

It is safe to reheat partially defrosted leftovers using a saucepan, microwave or oven. However, reheating will take longer if the food is not completely thawed. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot throughout — they should reach and maintain 165°F (70°C) for two minutes.

It is safe to reheat frozen leftovers without thawing, either in a saucepan or microwave (in the case of a soup or stew) or in the oven or microwave (for example, casseroles and combination meals). Reheating will take longer than if the food is thawed first, but it is safe to do when time is short.

Both air fryers and toaster ovens are small convection ovens that circulate air around the food using fans, which makes them perfect to reheat things such as french fries, fried chicken of all sizes, and even phyllo pastry.

Generally, you should reheat dishes at a low temperature like 350°F so they don't dry out. Cover your dish with foil and cook it between 8-20 minutes (depending on the food) until it cooks all the way through. Food like meats or casseroles tend to reheat well in the oven, because they don't typically dry out as much.

The air fryer is a kitchen appliance that combines the crispiness of conventional oven cooking with the efficiency of microwave cooking. But how exactly does an air fryer work? Often shaped like domes or cylinders, air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food.

Solo microwave ovens are perfect for basic reheating tasks. Convection microwave ovens provide additional features like grilling and baking, making them ideal for more versatile cooking.

How do you reheat food and keep it moist? ›

The toaster or toaster oven is usually my go-to reheating appliance because it provides even, gentle heating. If you're worried that food will dry out, just cover it with foil. Aim for a low-temperature oven (no more than 350°F), and check on your food once in a while until it's heated through.

Reheating your food means warming it up again after it has been stored or refrigerated, which can also dry out your food if you're not careful. To avoid this, reheat your food gently, either in the oven, on the stove, or in the microwave, and add some liquid or sauce to keep it moist and flavorful.

Stir halfway through if possible. It's a good idea to slowly reheat foods like stews and soups on the hob. To reduce the risk of your meal drying out, try adding a little bit of water and using a lid to trap in moisture. Most importantly, stir frequently so that it reheats evenly.

Methods to reheat foods

Hot holding equipment like a steam table or something like a crock pot or slow cooker wouldn't be appropriate since these devices wouldn't be able to reheat food to a safe temperature quickly enough.

Generally, you should reheat dishes at a low temperature like 350°F so they don't dry out. Cover your dish with foil and cook it between 8-20 minutes (depending on the food) until it cooks all the way through. Food like meats or casseroles tend to reheat well in the oven, because they don't typically dry out as much.

Reheating leftover food is important to kill harmful bacteria that may have grown since the food was cooked. Leftovers can be eaten cold if they have been cooked properly and cooled and put in the fridge within 2 hours (footnote 4).

The toaster or toaster oven is usually my go-to reheating appliance because it provides even, gentle heating. If you're worried that food will dry out, just cover it with foil. Aim for a low-temperature oven (no more than 350°F), and check on your food once in a while until it's heated through.