How to reheat fries
Introduction
Called by many names and favored by millions, fries, chips, or French fries are deep-fried potatoes served warm with a sauce as a snack or a side dish. First mentioned in the 18th century, fries have become the world’s favorite snacks. Now, you can find the popular delicacy in most fast-food joints around the globe.
While fries are incredibly delicious, there is one disadvantage. The deep-fried potatoes are amazing only when they are hot. When cold, they become soft and lose their flavor. So, how to reheat fries? Is there only one method or several?
Not everyone has the same appliances, so If there are several methods, you can use the most suitable technique. If you are wondering how to reheat fries, continue reading.
How to Reheat Fries?
The good news is there isn’t just one but a number of ways to reheat your fries, so even if you don’t have one appliance, you can use the other. If you have all of them, then you never have to worry about reheating your cold French fries. You can reheat the fries in the following ways:
- Air fryer
- Convection oven
- Oven
- Skillet
- Refry the chips
Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer, that’s good news because you can reheat your fries using the appliance. While it’s quick, you must do several batches because it’s a small device. But it’s a great way to reheat fries.
Dos and Don’ts
An air fryer is a small appliance, so don’t heat large quantities at one time.
Convection Oven
If you have a convection oven, you’re lucky because it’s considered the best method to reheat fries. The appliance is unique because it has a fan that blows hot air inside the oven.
The fan provides two benefits. Firstly, it speeds up the cooking process, and secondly, it makes the outer layers of the food crispy and brown. However, the insides remain the same.
When heating fries, you need a crispy outer, and a convection fan works the best way because it produces hot and dry air.
But it doesn’t work with a microwave because the appliance produces moist and steamy air, which cooks the potatoes from the inside out and makes them soggy.
Dos and Don’ts
It’s important not to go beyond the recommended time, or the fries may get burned.
Oven
A conventional oven is another good option to reheat your fries if you don’t have an air fryer or a convection oven. You can get delicious hot fries once finished.
- First, you must preheat the oven to at least 450⁰F.
- Next, place the fries in a single layer on a flat baking sheet.
- Add a little cooking spray.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and heat the fries for five to ten minutes. Flip it once when it’s heating so that every piece warms up evenly.
Dos and Don’ts
To avoid overcrowding, you must only place one layer of fries on the baking sheet. Else, the chips may get soft.
Skillet
It’s not the best method, but it will do if you don’t have any of the above-mentioned appliances. You must, however, keep in mind that it won’t work well for items like curly fries and tater tots. The techniques mentioned above are suitable for those types of fries.
- Place an iron-cast skillet (if you have; otherwise, use whatever you have) on the stove and add one-two teaspoon of vegetable oil.
- Once the oil is hot enough, place the chips in a single layer and see that you don’t overcrowd them.
- Turn the fries from time to time and not in a rush so that each piece heats up nicely, and the oil makes the exterior crispy.
- Sauté the fries in the same way for three to five minutes, depending on the thickness of the chips.
- Once done, you can serve it hot.
Dos and Don’ts
Keep a watch on the fries and flip them regularly but give them a chance to become brown and crispy.
Refry
Last but not least, refrying is another method to reheat the fries. It takes a little more time but produces the same yummy fries, so you can do it. If you own a deep-fryer with the oil already in it, you can reheat the fries.
You only require heating the oil to about 325⁰F and fry the chips for 1-2 minutes. Next, you have to drain the oil and serve hot.
If you don’t have a deep fryer, use a wok to refry the chips. Pour sufficient oil, let it heat and fry the potatoes few minutes. Do it in batches, or you will overcrowd the wok, and the chips will not become crispy.
Use this method only if other options are out. However, if you want the fries to taste the first time, you can refry them.
Dos and Don’ts
Fry the chips only when the oil is extremely hot, or your fries won’t be as crispy.
What to Serve with Fries?
You can eat many items with fries, including
- Fried Mozzarella sticks
- Tomato sauce
- Gravy
- Enchiladas
- Roasted veggies
- Mac & cheese
- Barbeque sauce
- Baked beans
- Hot chili sauce
Besides these items, there are also many more dishes which you can enjoy with fries. The potatoes pair well with any item. Hence, you enjoy the chips alone with a sauce, as a snack, or with other items.
Final Thoughts
Fries are yummy; you can make them at home whenever you want to enjoy some chips. But they are best served hot. Cold fries don’t have much flavor, and they become very soft. You may just want to throw them away at first.
However, you have seen several methods to reheat the fries. So, you can enjoy them as fresh as they were. If you have all the appliances mentioned above, you have several options to reheat the fries. You can use the one whichever is most convenient.
All you have to do is follow the instructions, and you will have the best fries. Eat them with any other dish or dips and sauces as desired.