Anyone who has thrown away leftover fries wished there was a way to reheat them. By continuing to read the article, you will discover that they can become crunchy again, as long as you do not use the microwave to heat them. You can put them in the oven, in the pan or again in the deep fryer for a few minutes; they will come back as crunchy and delicious as freshly made.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Reheat French Fries in a Pan
Step 1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes
Place it on the stove and turn on the flame to warm it up before adding the fries. If possible, use a cast iron skillet. The fries will be very crunchy again thanks to the fact that the cast iron retains heat better than normal non-stick pans.
Alternatively, use the sturdiest, heaviest non-stick pan you have
Step 2. Pour two tablespoons of oil into the pan and let it heat for 30 seconds
Use an oil with a high smoke point to prevent burning, such as peanut or olive oil. Give it time to warm up before you pan the fries.
If you have more than a handful of leftover fries, use 1-2 teaspoons more oil
Step 3. Pour the fries into the pan
Do not heat more than a pound at a time, otherwise they will not become crunchy. Arrange them in a single layer for a uniform result. Do not overfill the pan even if there are many fries to reheat; be patient and proceed several times.
Suggestion:
If there are so many left over fries, it is best to arrange them in a large pan and heat them in the oven.
Step 4. After 2 minutes, flip the fries
Let them heat up for a couple of minutes and then turn them with a flat scoop. Wait a minute and then turn them again.
The total time depends on the thickness of the chips. If they are thin, just heat them for 2-3 minutes to make them crispy, while the thicker ones will have to remain in the pan for 4-5 minutes
Step 5. Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined plate and serve them to the table
Tear off 1-2 sheets of kitchen paper and use them to line a large serving dish. Drain the fries from the oil using a slotted spoon or skimmer, then gently place them on the paper. Serve them while they are hot and crunchy.
The paper will absorb the excess oil from the chips
Method 2 of 4: Reheating French Fries in the Oven
Step 1. Turn on the oven at 230 ° C
While you wait for it to heat up, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Use a pan with high sides to prevent the fries from falling out when you tilt it to put it in the oven
Step 2. Arrange the fries in the pan
Try to distribute them evenly without overlapping them, otherwise they may stick together and become soggy. The ideal way to make them crunchy is to arrange them in a single layer.
Suggestion:
If there are a lot of fries, it is better to divide them in half and spread them out on two baking sheets.
Step 3. Heat the fries for 2-3 minutes
Place the pan in the hot oven and let them warm up. If they are thin, check if they are ready after a couple of minutes. If they are thick, leave them in the oven for 3 minutes before checking if they have become crunchy.
Step 4. Remove the fries from the oven when they are hot and crisp
After 2 to 3 minutes, open the oven door and remove a chip from the pan using a flat scoop. Cut the potato chip in half to check if it is hot in the center as well. Remove them from the oven when they are hot and slightly crunchy.
If the chip is still cold in the center, set an extra minute on the kitchen timer. When it rings, check again, most likely they will be ready by then
Method 3 of 4: Reheat French Fries in the Deep Fryer
Step 1. Turn on the deep fryer to 180 ° C
Insert the plug into the socket, set the temperature and press the power button. Wait for the indicator light to go out to signal that the oil has reached the desired temperature.
Step 2. Pour the fries into the fryer basket
Heat one or two handfuls at a time and distribute them evenly throughout the basket. Keep in mind that it is best not to fill it more than halfway, otherwise the fries will not come back crunchy.
If there are a lot of fries to reheat, proceed several times
Suggestion:
If you have any croquettes left over (chicken, potatoes, etc.), you can reheat them along with the fries.
Step 3. After 2-3 minutes open the fryer and shake the basket to mix the fries
Let them heat for 2-3 minutes, then gently shake the basket to stir them. Return the basket to the deep fryer and allow them to heat for another 1-2 minutes, depending on the thickness.
If the fries are thick, they should be heated an extra minute
Step 4. Transfer the fries to a paper towel lined plate
Arrange them evenly on the paper and immediately remember to turn off the fryer. The kitchen paper will absorb excess oil. Serve them while they are hot and crunchy.
Method 4 of 4: Getting the Most Out of Taste and Texture
Step 1. Salt the chips before serving
Even if they were originally salted, you might need more salt after you reheat them. You can also use some other spices: at the supermarket you will find different ready-made combinations or you can mix the spices at home. You can make a very tasty dressing by combining the following spices:
- 70 g of salt;
- 2 tablespoons of paprika;
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder;
- 1 tablespoon of garlic flavored salt;
- ½ tablespoon of cumin;
- ½ tablespoon of black pepper powder;
- ½ tablespoon of dry basil;
- ½ tablespoon of dried parsley;
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper;
- ½ teaspoon of celery salt.
Step 2. Do not reheat French fries in the microwave unless it is the only tool available
If you don't have an oven, stove or deep fryer available, you can reheat the fries but you won't be able to make them crispy. Pour a drizzle of seed oil over them and then distribute them on a plate lined with absorbent paper. Reheat them in the microwave at 20-second intervals until they are hot enough.
Suggestion:
Make sure the paper is suitable for use in the microwave. Some varieties of kitchen paper, especially those made from recycled paper, are not suitable for use in the microwave, so check the directions on the package to be safe.
Step 3. Pair the fries with your favorite sauces
Yesterday's fries are sure to be tastier when dipped in a flavorful sauce. Bring your favorite sauces to the table, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, ranch sauce, or barbecue sauce. French fries go perfectly with even the most original sauces, for example:
- Burger sauce or chicken sauce;
- Mexican Sauce;
- Aioli sauce;
- Curry sauce.
Step 4. Reinvent French Fries
If you want to make them the protagonist of a new dish, heat them in a pan, oven or deep fryer. When they are hot and crunchy, transfer them to a plate and pour over a beef broth (or gravy) to replicate the rich Canadian dish called "poutine". Alternatively, you can melt the cheese on top and serve them with a spicy sauce or guacamole as if they were nachos.
