Having leftover baked potatoes happens to all of us. Whether you made too many baked potatoes for dinner or you have some baked potatoes leftover from a barbecue, you need to know how to properly reheat them. A sad, dried out baked potato is no one’s idea of a good time.
The good news is reheating a baked potato isn’t too difficult. With the right techniques, you can revive a leftover baked potato so it tastes nearly as good as when it first came hot out of the oven. In this article, we will go over the best ways to reheat a baked potato so it stays soft and delicious.
Can You Eat a Cold Baked Potato?
You technically can eat a cold baked potato, but it will not be an enjoyable experience. Once a baked potato cools down, the starch begins to settle and the interior becomes dry and grainy. The potato skin also loses its crispiness and becomes unappealingly rubbery when cold.
Some people won’t mind the grainy texture of a cold baked potato, but the flavor will be significantly impaired. The potato will lack the rich, earthy sweetness that develops when a hot baked potato is enveloped in butter, sour cream, cheese, and other tasty toppings.
While a cold baked potato is still edible, especially if you are in a pinch, it is nowhere near as satisfying as a properly reheated baked potato. Let’s review the best reheating methods to recapture the magic.
Reheating a Baked Potato in the Oven
The oven is the best way to reheat a whole baked potato. Simply wrap the potato (or potatoes) in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 400°F and bake for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. The foil helps trap steam and restore moisture while the dry oven heat crisps up the skin again.
Make sure to prick the potato skin a few times with a fork before reheating. This allows pressure to escape and prevents the potato from exploding. Exploding potatoes make a huge mess in your oven!
While convenient, keep in mind that reheating in the oven takes about 15-20 minutes. Plan ahead so your potato is ready when you want to eat it.
Tips for Reheating Baked Potatoes in the Oven
– Choose potatoes with drier, firmer flesh rather than moist, waxy potatoes. Starchy russet potatoes revive the best.
– Rub the potato skins with olive oil or butter before reheating. This improves crisping.
– Adjust baking time as needed. Larger potatoes may require more time.
– Use a hot oven for best results. Cranking the heat helps the exterior get crispy.
– Don’t overbake or potatoes will dry out. Check potatoes at 15 minutes.
– Reheating baked potatoes works best for whole intact potatoes.
Reheating Baked Potato Wedges or Slices
While reheating a whole baked potato in the oven is easy, reheating baked potato slices or wedges requires a different approach. Since theCrosscut surfaces lead to greater moisture loss, slices and wedges can easily dry out and turn hard in the oven.
To reheat baked potato slices or wedges, use the microwave or skillet instead of the oven.
Microwave Method
– Place potato slices or wedges in a microwave-safe dish. Add a tablespoon or two of water.
– Cover the dish with a paper towel or vented plastic wrap. Poke a few holes for steam to escape.
– Microwave potato slices/wedges for 2-3 minutes until hot and steaming.
– Let rest 1 minute before serving.
The water creates steam which rehydrates the potatoes. Keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook.
Skillet Method
– Heat 1 Tbsp oil or butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
– When hot, add potato slices/wedges in a single layer.
– Cook 4-6 minutes per side until browned and crispy.
The hot skillet gives a crispy edge while gently reheating the interior. You can season with salt, pepper, herbs etc while reheating.
How to Reheat a Baked Potato in an Air Fryer
An air fryer is another excellent way to reheat a baked potato. Air frying mimics the hot, dry heat of an oven, but in a much faster time frame.
To reheat a whole baked potato in an air fryer:
– Prick potato skin multiple times with a fork. This prevents exploding.
– Brush with oil or butter for extra crispness.
– Air fry at 400°F for 7-10 minutes until hot through.
For baked potato slices or wedges:
– Toss slices or wedges with oil.
– Air fry at 400°F for 4-5 minutes until crispy.
Air fryers rapidly reheat baked potatoes with crispy skins better than a microwave. The small capacity does limit how many you can reheat at once however.
Tips for Reheating Baked Potatoes in an Air Fryer
– Adjust cooking time based on the size of your potatoes.
– Work in batches for larger amounts. Don’t overcrowd.
– Use a fork to test for doneness. Potatoes should be piping hot.
– Let potatoes sit 1-2 minutes after cooking for heat to evenly distribute.
Reheating Baked Potatoes on the Stovetop
You can also reheat baked potatoes on the stovetop using a little butter or oil:
– Heat 1 Tbsp butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat.
– Add whole baked potatoes and fry 2-3 minutes per side until hot and crispy.
– For slices or wedges, fry 4-6 minutes per side.
The butter or oil helps the potato skin get crispy in the skillet. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
While convenient, the stovetop can only reheat a few potatoes at once. It works best for single servings.
Reheating Loaded Baked Potatoes
When reheating a loaded baked potato with toppings like cheese, sour cream, and bacon, use shorter reheating times. You don’t want to overcook the toppings.
For a loaded whole baked potato, reheat at 400°F for 10-12 minutes until warmed through. Check frequently to prevent burning the cheese or other toppings.
For smaller loaded potato portions like skins or halves, cut the reheating time in half. 5-6 minutes should suffice.
And take care when handling molten hot fillings like cheese sauce and chili! Use a fork or oven mitts so you don’t burn yourself.
Can You Reheat a Baked Potato in the Microwave?
It is possible to reheat a whole baked potato in the microwave but it’s tricky.
Microwaves deliver fast, intense heat that can overcook the exterior before the inside is hot. This often results in a dried-out, crunchy skin.
If reheating a whole potato in the microwave, use lower power and heat in short increments to prevent overcooking.
– Pierce skin with a fork. Place on a microwave-safe plate.
– Microwave on 50% power in 1 minute increments.
– Check frequently and re-wrap in foil if needed.
– Potatoes may take 4-6 minutes to fully reheat.
The microwave works better for leftover baked potato slices, wedges or other small pieces since they require less time.
While microwaving baked potatoes is convenient, other methods produce superior results. Use the microwave only if you are really pressed for time.
How Long do Baked Potatoes Last in the Fridge?
Cooked potatoes only stay fresh for a limited time, so plan to reheat your baked potatoes within 3-5 days for best quality. Properly stored, they will last:
– At room temperature: 2-4 hours
– Refrigerated: 3-5 days
– Frozen: 2-3 months
Let baked potatoes cool completely before refrigerating in a covered container. Do not try to speed up cooling by refrigerating while still hot. This can compromise the interior texture.
Reheating restores the flavor of day-old potatoes. After 3-5 days in the fridge, potato quality declines. Discard any potatoes that smell sour or look grayish in color.
For long term storage, freeze whole baked potatoes up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Alternative Ways to Use Leftover Baked Potatoes
Beyond reheating your baked potatoes, here are some tasty ways to repurpose leftovers:
– Chop cold potatoes and add to homemade hash browns
– Slice and pan fry into croquettes or potato pancakes
– Mash with garlic, cheese and herbs for easy loaded mashed potatoes
– Make a baked potato soup or chowder
– Top a loaded baked potato with an over-easy egg for breakfast
– Load cold baked potato halves with tuna/chicken salad for lunch
With a little creativity, leftover baked potatoes need never go to waste. Now that you know the best reheating methods, don’t be afraid to bake some extras.
Common Questions about Reheating Baked Potatoes
Can you reheat baked potatoes without drying them out?
Yes, the key is using steam to rehydrate the potato as it reheats. Methods like the oven, air fryer and microwave all work well to retain moisture in a leftover baked potato. Just avoid reheating at very high temperatures for long periods, which causes moisture loss.
Should you wrap in foil when reheating baked potatoes?
Wrapping in foil is recommended when using dry heat methods like the oven or air fryer. The foil pouch traps in steam to keep the potato from drying out. Just remember to poke holes so pressure can escape.
How long in the microwave to reheat a baked potato?
Microwave reheating times vary based on wattage. For a whole medium baked potato, try 2-3 minutes on high. Check for doneness and microwave in 1 minute increments to avoid overcooking the skin. Sliced potatoes will take less time.
What is the best way to reheat a baked potato to keep it fluffy?
Using moist heat methods like the microwave or steaming help keep baked potato interiors fluffy when reheating. Dry oven heat tends to make leftover baked potatoes a little drier but still delicious.
Can you reheat a baked potato in the air fryer?
Yes! Air fryers do an excellent job of reviving leftover baked potatoes with crispy hot skins and fluffy insides. Air fry potato wedges or slices for just 4-5 minutes at 400°F.
Conclusion
Perfectly reheated baked potatoes are a tasty way to reduce food waste and save time cooking. With the proper reheating methods, you can recapture that hot, fluffy baked potato flavor in your leftovers.
Whether you reheat in the oven, microwave, air fryer or on the stovetop, keep an eye on cooking times. You want the interior fully hot without overdoing the exterior. Test for doneness and adjust cook times as needed based on the size of your potatoes.
With the techniques in this article, you can confidently reheat your leftover baked potatoes for delicious second-day spuds! Now go enjoy those leftover baked potatoes in their renewed glory.