Best Way to Reheat Deep-Fried Foods & Keep Them Crispy

Editor: Arshita Tiwari on Mar 24,2025

 

Deep-fried foods have a unique crunch and flavor that make them irresistible. However, reheating them the wrong way can leave them soggy, chewy, or overly greasy. If you’ve ever struggled to bring back the crispiness of leftover fried food, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through the best methods for reheating deep-fried dishes to restore their delicious crunch without compromising taste.

Why Fried Foods Lose Their Crispiness

Before diving into the best way to reheat fried food, it is very important to understand why deep-fried foods tend to lose their crispness in the first place. When frying is done, the high temperature of the oil evaporates moisture from the outermost layer of the food to produce a crunchy texture. But as the food cools down, moisture from inside moves outward, softening the crispy exterior. If it is reheated incorrectly, such moisture will be trapped as the food is warmed, leading to a soggy texture.

Best Methods for Reheating Deep-Fried Foods

deep frying food in oil

To reheat fried foods all crispy, you will need an effective technique to get rid of moisture and heat change heat evenly. Here are the best fried food reheating methods:

1. Reheat in oven or toaster oven

Best type of frying for reheating fried food maintains a really good texture without the greasy feel. The dry heat enables the crisping of the coating without turning greasy.

Steps:

  1. Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 375F (190C).
  2. Place the fried food on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This allows heat to circulate around the food, preventing sogginess.
  3. Heat for ten-to-fifteen minutes, flipping halfway through for even crisping.
  4. Check for desired crispiness and remove when done.

Best for: Fried chicken, French fries, fried fish, spring rolls

Why It Works 

Crispy-fired foods can be prepared with the oven method because air can circulate around them. Unlike the microwave, which produces steam and makes the crust soft, the oven dries out externally while keeping moisture within. An important reason: The food must be placed on a wire rack so that hot air can circulate freely, thus avoiding sogginess.

2. Reheating in an Air Fryer

Great for any deep-fried item, the air fryer involves circulating hot air around the food to bring back its crispy texture without adding additional oils.

Steps:

  1. Preheat the air fryer 375F (190C).
  2. Place fried food in the air fryer basket in a single layer to ensure even reheating.
  3. Cooking is done for 3-5 minutes while shaking the basket halfway through.
  4. Check crispiness and if needed adjust the time.

Best for: Fried chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, potato wedges

Why It Works

Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food which acts like deep frying without the excess oil. It works perfectly well with small to medium fried foods, such as chicken tenders and fries. Because air fryers heat quickly, they should be checked frequently during cooking to avoid overcooking.

3. Reheating in a Skillet

Using a skillet is another amazing way of reheating deep-fried dishes since it restores the crispiness inside while helping retain moisture.

Steps:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of oil (about a teaspoon) to help re-crisp the coating.
  3. Put in the skillet your fried food, and fry for about 3-5 minutes while flipping occasionally.
  4. Once evenly heated and crispy, remove and serve.

Best for: Fried dumplings, tempura, fried shrimp

Why It Works 

Oven frying is a technique to control the heat and crisp up the superficial layer without completely cooking the food on the inside. A little bit oils refreshes up the fried coating to taste freshly cooked.

4. Reheating in the Oven with Broiler

The broiler function in your oven provides a blast of direct heat that can restore the crunch of fried foods quickly.

Steps:

  1. Put the oven in broiler mode to heat.
  2. Arrange the fried food on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
  3. Position the food around 6 inches from the broiler.
  4. Heat for 2-3 minutes each side while closely watching the fried food so as not to burn it.

Best For: Fried wings, fried calamari, crispy tofu

Why It Works

The broiler method is good for the kind of food that needs a quick burst of high heat to become crunchy again. But also, it requires a lot of attention since broiling will burn food very quickly once it's unattended. 

5. Reheating in the Microwave Using Crisping

The microwave by itself is not great at reheating deep-fried food, but it can be used along with another method to maintain crispiness. 

Steps:

  1. Put a paper towel on the microwave-safe plate to absorb moisture. 
  2. Heat for 30-60 seconds on medium power. 
  3. Transfer to the oven, air fryer, or skillet to crisp. 

Best for: Fried rice, deep-fried foods containing fillings

Why It Works

Microwaving first can speed up the reheating of any type of thick food but always finish with another method (oven-or-skillet) to crisp up the surface.

Also Read: Deep Frying vs. Air Frying: Health, Taste & Cooking Compared.

Additional Tips for Keeping Fried Foods Crispy 

  • Preheat Your Reheating Appliance: Regardless of whether you are reheating in an oven, an air fryer, or a skillet, the appliance has to be preheated for proper heating. 
  • Avoid Overcrowding the Food: Fried food should be placed in a single layer to guarantee equal reheating and to ensure that moisture will not build up over the food.
  • Place Parchment Paper or a Wire Rack: This allows air circulation and avoids sitting food in grease.

Methods to Avoid

There are many ways to reheat fried foods, but some leave the food soggy, chewy, or greasy:

  • Microwaving alone: The buildup of steam renders fried food mushy.
  • Reheating in a covered container: The steam accumulates and softens the crispy exterior. 
  • Oiling it too much: Rather than restoring crispiness, this makes the food greasy.

Explore more: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Deep Frying at Home

Tips for Storing Fried Foods for Better Reheating

  • Proper Storage: This can really help for how fried things get reheated.
  • Use Paper Towel: Paper towel means storing the leftovers on a plate lined with tissues. Absorbs oil.
  • Keep Food Uncovered Until Cooled: Preventing softening of the crust by condensation.
  • Store Airtight: Store in a single layer to prevent sogginess.
  • Freeze for Long-Term Storage: Any storage longer than a day, freeze airtight, then reheat in an oven or air fryer.

How Long Can Fried Foods Be Stored?

Fried items should ideally be consumed between 1-2 days to make the best taste and texture. In a freezer, it can last for 3 months, but proper reheating would be important with regard to crispiness.

Final Thoughts

Reheating deep-fried foods properly ensures they retain their original texture and flavor. The oven, air fryer, and skillet are the best methods to bring back crispiness without drying out the food. By following these fried food reheating methods, you can enjoy leftovers that taste just as good as when they were freshly cooked.

The next time you wonder how to reheat deep-fried foods, use these techniques to keep them crispy and delicious! Whether you’re enjoying fried chicken, tempura, or onion rings, these methods will help you savor every bite as if it were freshly made.


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