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? ›

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.

Can you cook 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.

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 are the best foods to throw in an air fryer? ›

It's great at heating frozen foods, but it's also fantastic for from-scratch foods, like chicken wings, potato chips, donuts, and extra-crisp cookies. Here, we've rounded up 81 air fryer recipes to show just how versatile the appliance can be.

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

We are happy to assist you with your inquiry about the Ninja® 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.

Can I reheat spaghetti in an 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 air fry a leftover sandwich? ›

Wrapping your sandwich in foil prevents it from drying out, keeps the ingredients intact, and ensures that cheese melts perfectly without making a mess. 4. **Air Fry with Care**: Place your wrapped sandwich in the air fryer basket. Cook for about 5-8 minutes.

What is the best thing to put on the bottom of an air fryer? ›

Parchment paper is good for food that might stick to the basket, like chicken wings, making clean up a bit easier. If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers. They're reusable and dishwasher safe, cutting down on both waste and worry.

Can you use paper towels in an 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.

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

Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.

What cannot be cooked in an air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. 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. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What is the most popular food cooked in an air fryer? ›

Insider asked chefs to share their favorite things to make in an air fryer. Their favorite dishes to make in this appliance include gnocchi, chicken, and crunchy chickpeas. It's also possible to make flavorful steak, bacon, and chicken nuggets in an air fryer.

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

Air-fryer chicken breasts

Simply roll oiled chicken breasts in the seasoning and put in the air-fryer to cook for 18-20 mins, then serve with rice, greens or a salad. Mix up the spices for interest or keep it plain, it's up to you.

Can I heat soup in an air fryer? ›

In the same way, you may use an air fryer to prepare the soup. Actually, it's doable in the same way that you can bake soup in the oven. You may cook in there as long as it's warm. But that's not how it's intended to be utilized.

Can I put glass in an 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 an air fryer better for you than a microwave? ›

The verdict

A microwave heats and reheats food well. On the other hand, an air fryer gives foods that crispy, fried quality that a microwave just can't replicate. Plus, an air fryer can be a healthier way to cook while speeding up cooking times.

How do you air fry leftover fried food? ›

Simply set your air fryer to 350 degrees, then place your leftover fries in a single layer in the fryer basket. Heat them for three to five minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. Just like with the oven method, make sure you don't crowd the air fryer basket so the fries get nice and crispy.

Can you air fry leftover McDonald's? ›

McDonald's is just not the same when it's cold, so here's how to make sure it's steaming hot when you tuck into your meal. Reheating McDonald's in the air fryer gives it that just-cooked taste.

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