French fries are a beloved food for many, whether ordering them at a restaurant or making them at home. But reheating french fries can be tricky – everyone wants hot, crispy fries, not soggy or dried out ones. So what’s the secret to reheating french fries and bringing them back to their original delicious glory?
Can You Reheat French Fries?
The short answer is yes, you can reheat french fries! With the right techniques, you can revive french fries and make them taste freshly cooked again. The key is reheating them properly to bring back that crispy exterior while keeping the insides hot and fluffy.
When french fries are initially cooked, the high heat of the oil causes moisture to evaporate from the potato’s exterior, resulting in a crispy outer crust. As they cool, the crust softens as moisture redistributes throughout the fry. Reheating them allows you to drive off moisture again and re-crisp the exterior.
So reheating french fries is absolutely possible, as long as you follow a few guidelines. The cooking method, type of oil, and some other factors will impact the end result. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll find the best reheating method for your fries.
How Should You Reheat French Fries?
Here are some of the best ways to reheat french fries:
In the Oven
The oven is one of the best methods for reheating french fries. Preheat your oven to 450°F and arrange the fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until hot and crispy.
The dry, constant heat of the oven will help drive off moisture and recrisp the exterior of the fries. Spreading them out allows for even heating. Flip the fries halfway through for evenly crisped results.
In the Air Fryer
An air fryer is essentially a miniature convection oven, so it reheats french fries remarkably well. Preheating isn’t necessary – simply arrange the fries in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 4-8 minutes, shaking halfway through.
The hot air circulating around the fries crisps up the exterior. The basket design allows for maximum airflow and even cooking. Adjust cooking time as needed based on quantity.
On the Stovetop
For a quick stovetop method, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Add the cold fries in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until hot and crispy. You can also drizzle the fries with a bit more fresh oil before serving for extra crispiness.
The hot skillet helps re-crisp the fries and the oil provides flavor and crunch. Use a nonstick skillet for easy cleanup. This works best for smaller batches of fries.
In the Microwave
Reheating fries in the microwave is quick, but won’t make them as crispy. Arrange fries on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in 30 second intervals until hot, gently stirring between intervals.
The microwave can make fries soggy, so only use this method for fries that were very crispy originally. The intermittent stirring helps prevent overcooking.
In the Toaster Oven
A toaster oven combines the quick heating of a toaster with the crisping power of an oven. Place fries on the tray, set heat to 450°F, and cook for 4-8 minutes until hot and crisp. Stir or flip halfway for even reheating.
The smaller size of most toaster ovens means fries heat rapidly. Keep an eye on them as cook times will be a bit shorter than in a full sized oven. The direct top heating helps re-crisp the surface.
In an Air Fryer Toaster Oven
An air fryer toaster oven offers the convenience of a toaster oven with built-in air frying capabilities. Cook fries at 400°F for 3-5 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. The combo of hot air and top heating crisps fries quickly.
Deep Frying Again
You can also re-fry french fries by heating oil to 350-375°F and frying for 1-2 minutes until hot and crispy. This works best for fries cooked in a deep fryer originally. Re-frying takes the least time but requires hot oil.
Tips for Reheating French Fries
Follow these tips for the best results when reheating french fries:
- Start with fries that were crispy when initially cooked. Old or soggy fries don’t reheat as well.
- Use fries that were originally deep fried or baked with oil. Air fried or oven baked fries tend to reheat poorly.
- Spread fries out in a single layer during reheating for even crisping.
- Preheat your oven or air fryer before reheating for optimal results.
- Don’t overcrowd fries – too many can steam instead of crisp.
- Flip or stir fries midway during reheating to promote even cooking.
- Brush or drizzle fries with a little oil before serving for extra crunch.
- Avoid reheating more than once – fries lose their texture with multiple reheatings.
What About Reheating French Fries in the Fryer?
Yes, you can reheat french fries by frying them again. This method re-crisps the exterior and heats them most similarly to their initial cook. However, re-frying does add more fat and calories. Here are some tips for reheating french fries by frying:
- Use a deep fryer or dutch oven with at least 4 inches oil. Maintain oil temperature between 350-375°F.
- Fry cold fries for 1-2 minutes until hot and crispy, cooking in batches if needed.
- Let oil come back up to temperature between batches for best results.
- Fry for less time than it took to initially cook them to prevent burning.
- Blot off excess oil after frying before serving.
Re-frying is quick and gives great results, but does add more fat. It works best for fries that were initially deep fried rather than baked or air fried. Be careful not to over fry them.
Should You Soak Fries Before Reheating?
Soaking fries in water before reheating is not recommended. Here’s why:
- Water will make the fries soggy instead of crispy.
- It rinses off any oil coating originally on the fries.
- The water can dilute flavors instead of concentrating them.
- Moisture prevents the exterior from getting crispy again when reheated.
Rather than soaking in water, pat off any excess moisture before reheating fries. You want the surface as dry as possible for optimal crisping.
How Long Do Reheated Fries Last?
Properly stored, reheated french fries last:
- Room Temperature – 2-3 hours
- Refrigerated – 3-5 days
- Frozen – 1-2 months
For food safety, discard any fries reheated but not eaten after sitting out for more than 2 hours. Refrigerate within 1 hour of cooking if not consuming immediately.
Reheated fries won’t have quite as long of a shelf life as freshly cooked fries. Their texture tends to degrade faster after reheating. Prioritize eating reheated fries within a few days for best quality.
Conclusion
Reheating french fries allows you to enjoy their crispiness and flavor for a second time. Using dry heat methods like the oven, air fryer, or stovetop best revive the texture of fries. Starting with very crispy fries and reheating them properly are keys to success. With the right techniques, you can easily reheat french fries to be hot, crispy, and delicious once again.