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? ›

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.

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.

Is it better to reheat steak in the microwave or air fryer? ›

A steak can be zapped in the microwave, but you risk making your steak extremely dry, bordering on a rubbery texture. Fortunately, there are several ways to reheat leftover steak without drying it out, including on the stove, in the oven, sous vide, air fryer, and more.

Is it better to reheat pizza in the oven or air fryer? ›

Unless you believe that leftover pizza is a dish best served cold, using an air fryer to heat up a slice of last night's pie is the next best thing to popping it back in the oven.

Is parchment paper safe in an air fryer? ›

Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.

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

Can I put a paper towel 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.

Can I reheat baked potatoes in an air fryer? ›

How to Reheat a Baked Potato in the Air Fryer
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
  2. Place potato in air fryer basket.
  3. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until heated through.
Nov 13, 2023

Can you reheat mashed potatoes in the air fryer? ›

You literally don't need to boil them. I smashed them, cover them in the melted mixture, and broiled them in the air fryer for about 12 minutes.

Can I reheat pasta 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.

How do you reheat fried chicken in an air fryer? ›

If you happen to own an air fryer, you can certainly reheat your fried chicken in its basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and let the fried chicken come to room temperature. Next, arrange the fried chicken in a single layer and cook it for about four minutes, flipping it once to ensure even cooking.

How to clean an air fryer? ›

How to Clean Your Air Fryer
  1. Clean the Air Fryer Right After Using. After use, turn the machine off, unplug and allow to cool. ...
  2. Wipe the Basket and Pan with Soapy Water. ...
  3. For Stubborn Messes, Soak or the Basket and Pan. ...
  4. Wipe the Bottom Chamber. ...
  5. Wipe Down the Heating Element. ...
  6. Dry Before Reassembling.
Jan 11, 2023

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.

Why did my parchment paper burn in Airfryer? ›

"You should never use parchment in either the air fryer basket or baking pan if there is nothing to hold it down to secure it, like food, as the high velocity fans will cause the parchment to possibly touch the heating elements," notes Rodgers. That's a recipe for starting a small fire.

Can you use an air fryer without a basket? ›

You can use an air fryer without the basket if you want to, but it's not recommended. The air fryer's basket allows for more even cooking so the food will cook faster and more evenly. When you use an air fryer without the basket. You can just place it on a large tray or plate and put some oil in it and fry the food.

What can I line my air fryer with? ›

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.

Do you put foil in the air fryer when cooking bacon? ›

Place bacon in air fryer

If you're using an oven-style air fryer, you'll want to put the bacon on an air-fry basket (basically a mesh rack) with either a solid pan or a piece of aluminum foil folded up on the edges underneath to catch any bacon grease drippings.

Can I put fish on aluminum foil in the air fryer? ›

Yes. Fillets of equal size are the best option, since this will yield the most consistent cooking, but you can also cook fish wrapped in tinfoil. You can also cook fish cakes and fish fingers in an air fryer – especially important if you have young children.

Is it safe to cook on aluminum foil? ›

Risks of Cooking With Aluminum Foil

The amount is generally considered safe and not harmful since the majority of the aluminum will pass through the digestive tract and ultimately end up in the toilet.

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