How To Reheat Ribs In An Air Fryer

It's no secret; having your favorite dinner item as leftovers always seems like a downgraded version of its natural flavor. And leftover ribs are like the last thing you'd want as leftover. Because who would want to have its delectable taste extinguished by that of leftovers?

Well, not every cooking appliance works efficiently enough to reheat food. Each needs a little adjustment, so this article will help you properly reheat ribs using an air fryer and decide if it's good enough for everyday use.

Are Leftover Ribs Safe To Eat?

If your leftover ribs have been stored properly, they will be safe for consumption. And the way to check this is if:

They've been stored in the fridge within 2 hours of being cooked. If not, they're most likely affected by bacteria, and the best you can do is to discard them.
The meat is heated to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F. Eating cold ribs can be chewy, flavorless, and give you stomach upsets. So, reheat them!

A Guide To Reheating Ribs In The Air Fryer

Air fryers work excellently at giving tender reheated meat with a crispy, golden exterior; they're almost as good as freshly prepared ribs that just got off the grill. This makes air fryers the most-loved kitchen appliance. Follow these steps to perfectly reheat ribs using an air fryer:

Carve the ribs into portions small enough to fit into your air fryer. Doing this will provide a homogenous, even heating, making the meat flavorful and moist throughout.
Set your air fryer's temperature to 350° F (175° C). A high heat may quickly dry the ribs before it gets heated, while a low heat will repeat the cooking process, making the meat taste overcooked.
Lightly coat the ribs with cooking oil, cover with foil and place them inside the fryer basket. The oil gives the ribs extra moisture and prevents the meat from drying out, while the foil prevents too much moisture from escaping.
Reheat for 5 minutes and check if the internal temperature reads 145° F.
Once ready, remove from the fryer basket and cool for a minute before serving.

When working with an air fryer, always line the food in a single layer; overcrowding is the sole reason for unevenly reheated meat. And since the fryer baskets are primarily small, you have no choice but to work in batches. But it's worth waiting.

The benefits of reheating ribs using an air fryer are many, and here are a few:

Quick results: Unlike the oven, where you have to use a low-heat and slow-cook method, an air fryer has just the right amount of heat to prepare your meal in minutes.
Flavorful as freshly cooked: The heating technology coupled with the added oil gives a perfectly crispy exterior while keeping the meat tender, moist, and full of flavor.
Uses fewer resources: Most appliances will demand a lot more additional liquid while reheating, but an air fryer is not so. It quickly reheats but doesn't dry out the food even when you use minimum extra oil.

Storing Leftover Ribs

Ribs are juicy and retain so much flavor because they absorb the seasonings well. Proper storage can keep them lasting for days, while a simple mistake can put you at risk of health concerns. Never leave the ribs (or any other food) in the danger zone temperature (40° F to 140° F) for more than 2 hours after it has been cooked.

Whether you've kept the ribs whole or sliced them into individual portions, tightly wrap each piece in plastic or foil and place them in an airtight container. Once refrigerated, you can consume them within 4 days. But if you freeze them, their shelf life will be much longer, extending up to 3 months.

To freeze ribs, wrap each piece in foil and vacuum seal them or place them inside a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label the date to know how long you can keep them. However, there's a setback to storing ribs for too long– you'll be risking its flavor. So, try finishing the delicious ribs before you lose their taste to time.

Using Leftover Ribs

Sometimes, you'll find that the leftover ribs often fall off easily. This isn't entirely bad because you can use the savory meat elsewhere, and it'll make your basic dishes much better.

Salad: The meat in ribs makes great options as salad ingredients. Simply remove the bones, chop the meat into small pieces and add them to your favorite bowl of veggies. Topping with some shredded cheese always works.
Add the meat to sandwiches: Ribs have a distinct aroma and juicy meat, making them suitable for plain food like bread. So, remove the bones, shred the meat, and sandwich them between two bread slices with a few extra seasonings.
Make a meat stew: A stew is a perfect way to turn savory ribs into a hearty dish. It's great when cooked with some veggies, and you can use the ribs bone-in or boneless.