4 ways to reheat leftover fries (and 1 to avoid!)
Leftover fries?? HAHAHA, I hear you thinking. But seriously, it happens! And throwing food away is a shame; especially if you got your fries from a fancy fry shop. So instead of chucking that half-full family bag into the bin, here are four really good ways to enjoy your haul again the next day.
Because admit it, leftovers are wonderful to find in your fridge, right? Food waste is a serious problem, and with a little ‘out-of-the-box thinking’, you’ll probably soon conclude that reheating leftovers is not only easy but also economically beneficial. Win-win! And when it comes to fries, the best way to do that is one of these:
Hot oven
The most obvious option, with the least splattering and fuss, but you do need a little patience. Two things are important: your oven must be really hot (200° C should do the trick), and you need to spread the fries out in a single layer on a baking sheet. After 5–10 minutes, carefully tossing them halfway through the baking time, you’ll have crispy golden fries again. And if you’re really keen, you can place them on a rack set over the baking sheet too—but then you’ll first have to lay out all the fries crosswise on the rack one by one, at least if the rack doesn’t have a handy grid pattern. The advantage is that you won’t need to toss them halfway through, because the heat can circulate around them.
(Re)frying
Of course, this method gives you the most delicious reheated fries. You probably just won’t feel like heating a pool of oil in a pan the next day for two handfuls of leftover fries. But if you have a really good amount left over, this method is worth it. In a large frying pan, heat 5–10 cm of peanut or sunflower oil to 180° C. Add the cold fries with a slotted spoon, and scoop them out after a minute or two (do this in batches). Let them drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and they’ll be as good as new.
Air fryer
The most modern way to perk up fries is in the Airfryer. You can first toss the leftover fries in a bowl with a tablespoon of oil, but you don’t have to. Just make sure that, as with reheating them in the oven, you place the fries in a single layer in the basket. Set it to 190° C and heat them for about five minutes, until they’re deliciously crispy again.
In a frying pan
You may not have come across this method before, but people swear by it! Much less hassle than frying, and ideal if you don’t have an oven (or don’t want to turn it on). Simply place a frying pan with a reasonably heavy base over medium heat, with a few tablespoons of oil in it. Once the oil is hot, add a single layer of fries, carefully toss them after a minute or two, and fry them for another three minutes or so until they’re crisp and hot again. Scoop them out of the pan with a slotted spoon and let them drain on a plate or dish lined with paper towels. Add ketchup or mayo (or make a super-quick top sauce by marbling two teaspoons of sriracha through a small bowl of mayo—delicious!) and you can celebrate for yet another day!
Strictly forbidden
Now we come to the only method you really need to avoid if you want to reheat fries. The microwave is absolutely out; it’s not allowed to join the second-day fries festival. The microwave is actually always out when you want to reheat something that should be crispy, so it only comes back into the picture when, for example, you want to warm up tomato soup or a delicious stew.
Also read:
- How to make Anthony Bourdain’s legendary French fries
- Recipe: how to make perfect oven fries
- Sergio Herman opens a new Frites Atelier location
Source: Delish
