Can you reheat fried potatoes? (3 best methods)

In this article, we are going to answer the question “Can you reheat fried potatoes?” and discuss why should you reheat fried potatoes, the possible methods to reheat fried potatoes, and their benefits and drawbacks.

Can you reheat fried potatoes?

Yes, you can reheat fried potatoes and you should reheat fried potatoes (1, 2). You can also submit the potatoes to a new and fast frying procedure by deep frying or air-frying (3).

Although reheated fried potatoes are not as flavourful as fresh fried potatoes, their flavour can be improved by consuming them warm (4).

Why should you reheat fried potatoes?

You should reheat fried potatoes for a safe consumption of the fried potatoes. Food leftovers should always be reheated to a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) before consumption, which is the temperature of destruction of most of the viable pathogenic microorganisms that are possibly present in the food (2, 3).

During cold storage in the refrigerated temperature, although the rate of microbial growth is reduced, their multiplication does not stop.

Many pathogenic bacteria which are present in the form of thermo-resistant spores develop to a number considered unsafe for consumption, in addition to producing harmful toxins (2, 3).

Reheating the fried potatoes to a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) measured in the core of the food can significantly improve their safe consumption (1).

How to reheat fried potatoes?

Fried potatoes can be reheated by three methods: using a microwave, the air-fryer and the oven (1, 3, 5, 6). Each of these methods has its benefits and drawbacks.

How to reheat fried potatoes in the microwave?

To reheat fried potatoes in the microwave, you should place the fried potatoes in a microwave-safe dish, cover them with a plastic microwavable foil or glass plate and set the heat to high energy.

Heat the fried potatoes for about 90 seconds or till the inner temperature of the fried potatoes reaches 165 °F (74 °C) (7).

What are the benefits and drawbacks of reheating in the microwave?

The benefit of reheating fried potatoes in the microwave is that, due to its high efficiency, microwave heating is fast and practicable.

According to studies, reheating cooked potatoes, after a period of storage in the refrigerator, and using the microwave, can enhance the amount of resistant starch in potatoes, which reduces the rate of the rise in the glucose level in the blood (7).

The drawback is the lack of crispness and increase in the moisture of the fried potatoes, which compromises their sensory properties.

How to reheat fried potatoes in the air-fryer?

To reheat the fried potatoes in the air-fryer, place the fried potatoes in the air-fryer basket and set the air-fryer temperature to 180 °C (350 °F) to pre-heat the heating chamber.

Reheat the fried potatoes for 3 minutes or till the temperature of the fried potatoes reaches 165 °F (74 °C) (4).

What are the benefits and drawbacks of reheating in the air-fryer?

The benefit of reheating fried potatoes in the air-fryer is that the texture of the fried potatoes can be recovered to better quality, as the fried potatoes are submitted to a new frying process and there is a loss of moisture during the reheating (4).

Air-frying is considered a healthier method to fry food due to the lower absorption of oil by the food. The airflow inside the heating chamber promotes a more fast and even distribution of heat.

The drawback of reheating the fried potatoes in the air-fryer is the high energy needed to pre-heat the heating chamber (4).

Other FAQs about Potatoes that you may be interested in.

How to boil potatoes and carrots?

Are potatoes fruit?

Are potatoes a root?

How to reheat fried potatoes in the oven?

To reheat the fried potatoes in the oven, you should pre-heat the oven, setting the temperature to 350 to 400°F (180 to 200 °C) (6).

Place the fried potatoes in an oven-safe dish and reheat the potatoes till the temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).

What are the benefits and drawbacks of reheating in the oven?

The benefit of reheating fried potatoes in the oven is that the sensory properties are better maintained when compared to microwave reheating, because the moisture is removed during reheating (6), resulting in a more dry texture of the fried potatoes.

The drawback of reheating fried potatoes in the oven is the long time needed for the reheating process.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you reheat fried potatoes?” and discussed why should you reheat fried potatoes, the possible methods to reheat fried potatoes, and their benefits and drawbacks.

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References

1.-

Usda.gov. [cited 2023 Aug 11]. Available from: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/leftovers-and-food-safety

2.-

Bryan FL, Jermini M, Schmitt R, Chilufya EN, Michael M, Matoba A, Mfume E, Chibiya H. Hazards associated with holding and reheating foods at vending sites in a small town in Zambia. Journal of food protection. 1997 Apr 1;60(4):391-8.

3.-

Coorey R, Ng DS, Jayamanne VS, Buys EM, Munyard S, Mousley CJ, Njage PM, Dykes GA. The impact of cooling rate on the safety of food products as affected by food containers. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2018 Jul;17(4):827-40.

4.-

Teruel MD, Gordon M, Linares MB, Garrido MD, Ahromrit A, Niranjan K. A comparative study of the characteristics of french fries produced by deep fat frying and air frying. Journal of Food Science. 2015 Feb;80(2):E349-58.

6.-

Rabeler F, Feyissa AH. Modelling the transport phenomena and texture changes of chicken breast meat during the roasting in a convective oven. Journal of Food Engineering. 2018 Nov 1;237:60-8.

7.-

Colussi R, Singh J, Kaur L, da Rosa Zavareze E, Dias AR, Stewart RB, Singh H. Microstructural characteristics and gastro-small intestinal digestion in vitro of potato starch: Effects of refrigerated storage and reheating in microwave. Food chemistry. 2017 Jul 1;226:171-8.