Is there such a thing as leftover french fries? If by some means you end up with any leftovers of these delicious crispy potato spears, you’ll want to know just how to reheat them. They truly can taste just as delicious as they did the first day you prepared them, which is fantastic news because we all agree that soggy fries are among the worst things in the world. Here are some hints for reheating fries so they stay crisp for the second serving. Our advice can be useful whether you’re creating a straightforward batch or choosing something a little more exciting—like the Garlic-Parmesan French Fries at The Merc that we can’t stop ordering! After all, these techniques are excellent for reheating leftover restaurant fries, in addition to correctly reheating handmade fries. Oh, and we’re also going to share how to reheat air fryer fries.
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How should French fries be reheated?
Never, ever, we repeat, NEVER use a microwave! If you do, you are almost certain to receive soggy fries. Nobody desires this. Instead, reheating french fries at a high temperature in the oven is the preferred method. This will guarantee that the surface becomes as crispy as possible and the interior remains fluffy and light. However, you can also use an air fryer if you happen to have one. Simply set it to 350 degrees, add your leftover fries to the fryer basket in a single layer, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the desired level of crispiness is obtained. Advice: Avoid packing the air fryer basket.
How can you reheat oven-leftover french fries?
Start by setting the oven to 425°. Then, arrange your french fries so that none of them touch on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (remember, if they’re too crowded, they won’t get as crispy). Give them a quick toss after heating them in the oven for around 8 to 10 minutes. We advise baking them for 2 to 3 minutes longer if you prefer them a little crispier.
Are leftover French fries re-heatable?
Here, the response is: It depends. Of course, you can reheat them, but depending on how stale they are, you might want to just throw them away and prepare (or purchase!) a fresh batch. In the refrigerator, french fries last only a few days before they start to lose their texture and become crumbly. The lesson of the tale: Make careful to reheat and consume any remaining french fries quickly!
Not All French Fries Are Equal (ly Reheatable)
Consider the fry quality when selecting the reheating technique. Any fry can be reheated, but for the best flavour and texture retention, a thicker sliced fry is preferred.
Since skinny fast food fries are frequently sliced thinly for deep fryer efficiency, they could not reheat as well. Reheating also runs the danger of imparting a spent oil flavour because the oil is frequently inexpensive and of lower quality.
Make careful to use a potato variety that can withstand a second heating if you’re creating fries from scratch. For making french fries, large, starchy potatoes like russets and kennebec potatoes are ideal.
Fries in the Oven Reheated
The oven is our second choice for warming fries after double frying. Reheating fries in the oven or toaster oven is a fantastic backup option. Broad baking sheets are also an excellent technique to quickly reheat a large quantity of fries.
To begin, heat the oven to 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (205 to 230 degrees C). A baking sheet with aluminium foil on it should be put in the oven to preheat as well. After the baking sheet has heated through, carefully remove it, then spread the fries out in a single, even layer. After around five minutes, check on your fries; once more, the precise cook time depends on the size of your fries.
Avoid reheating fries in the microwave.
Fries not tasting as nice the next day can be attributed to the overuse of one particular kitchen tool: the microwave. Reintroducing a moist, pillowy inside and a crispy exterior to reheated fries is difficult. No matter what kind of testing technique we could devise, the microwave would always end any chance of getting that result. Additionally, microwaving french fries can bring out bitter, unpleasant odours, depending on the type and calibre of the oil used to fry them .
If using the microwave is necessary, make sure the fries are spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with paper towels. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time.
