Did you ever wonder if it was possible to reheat fried pickles without them becoming mushy? You do have options. It is not impossible to reheat crispy, crunchy fried pickles.
How do you reheat fried pickles? Fried pickles can be reheated in four different ways. You can make fried pickles in the microwave or on the stovetop or in a deep fryer, however, you will get a crispier result if you use the oven, stovetop, or re-deep fryer instead. You should re-fry them.
Microwaves cannot re-heat fried foods, including salty delicious fried pickles, to their original crisp splendor. Continue reading to learn how to reheat fried pickles in other ways.
Reheating Fried Pickles
Each of us has been there. It ends up that you have leftover fried food when you order too much.
In some cases, these leftovers are fried, so you only take them home so that you don’t waste food, but you hesitate to pack them up at the restaurant because you know they won’t taste as good in the morning.
No matter what your favorite food is – fried okra, chicken, avocados, or pickles – bringing them back to life after a night of frying can be a challenge. How many ways are there to do this?
Depending on how much effort you wish to put into it, and what equipment you have access to in the kitchen, you can actually reheat fried pickles (and other fried foods) in a way that will bring them back to their original crisp and crunchy state.
The same as at the restaurant. Perhaps even better!
Here are some instructions on how to reheat them in the microwave, just in case you are in a rush or you need to heat them up at work but do not have access to a kitchen.
The other methods, which we strongly recommend, will also be described step by step.
The fried pickles will also be discussed in terms of their shelf-life and how they should be stored in the refrigerator.
The oil in fried pickles, as well as the ingredients in the batter, must be stored in the fridge.
You can really enjoy leftover fried pickles more if you spend a few extra minutes warming them up. The effort pays off in the end.
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How to Reheat Fried Pickles
Fried pickles can be reheated in four different ways. Their difficulty levels and level of involvement vary widely. There will be some that require more prep, will take longer, and will require more cleanup than others.
1. Using the Microwave
If you can’t access a full kitchen, or if you’re in a hurry, you can microwave your fried pickles.
By simply pressing that automatic 30-second button, you can make them look a little better than they would.
Here’s how to use the microwave to reheat fried pickles:
- On a microwave-safe plate, place a paper towel.
- On the paper towel, lay the fried pickles flat. Space them as far apart as possible.
- On top of the paper towel, add another one. It increases the chances of your fried pickles getting crispy by absorbing moisture from the paper towels.
- Change the power setting to 50% and reheat the pickles for 30 seconds. You will be able to reduce the buildup of steam.
- Before digging in, remove the top paper towel and wait about thirty seconds. This will prevent you from burning your mouth and allow the batter to reharden.
If you prefer leftover fried pickles warm, a microwave will work. You will not get perfectly crispy pickles, but you will get warm pickles.
2. Using the Oven
Besides the microwave method, this is the easiest and least messy method (aside from microwaving).
It is possible that they will dry out in the oven. A light coating of oil on your baking sheet can reduce this by using a pan spray or paper towel.
Here’s how to reheat fried pickles in the oven:
- Preheat the toaster oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be quicker to use a toaster oven with a bake setting if you do not have access to a conventional oven.)
- Prepare a non-stick baking sheet by rubbing it with oil. In the absence of non-stick bakeware, you can use aluminum foil. We recommend using a wire rack insert if your baking sheet has one. It will increase the crispiness if a bit of air is allowed under the pillow by the wire rack.
- You can either use a wire rack or a tray to lay out your fried pickles. Leave room for them to spread out.
- 10 minutes in the oven. Flip the pickles after 10 minutes.
- Bake for a further 10-15 minutes. Make sure the pickles are not burning. You should see a little browning on the pickles, but more importantly, you should see grease bubbling on the surface.
- After 5-10 minutes, remove the pickles from the heat and allow them to cool. The crispier the pickles, the better. Salt and pepper can be added to fried pickles right after they are taken out of the oven.
It will be almost as crispy as the fried pickles from the restaurant if you reheat them.
3. Pan Frying
Using a frying pan to reheat your fried pickles takes a little more time and will require more cleanup than using the oven. You will, however, get a crispier reheated pickle (as opposed to deep frying) since it is faster than the oven.
Here’s how to reheat fried pickles by pan frying:
- Add enough oil to coat the bottom of the frying pan and heat it on medium-high. Heat the oil until it begins to run.
- Make sure you fry your pickles quickly and safely. Be sure to leave plenty of room between each pickle.
- Then flip it and cook it for another 1-2 minutes. You want it to become golden brown in color.
- Put the pickles on a wire cooling rack or paper towel to cool. Add salt and pepper when the pickles are cool and allow to cool for 4-5 minutes. Cooling for longer will make the pickles crunchier.
If possible, use a cast iron pan and vegetable or canola oil, but a frying pan of any type and nearly any oil will do. A cast iron pan has excellent conductivity and vegetable oil has the highest flash point for deep frying.
4. Deep Frying
The best way to re-heat your fried pickles is to deep fry them; this will result in a product as crisp as it was at the restaurant.
For those without deep fryers, use the pan fry method above. You will simply waste a great deal of oil if you deep fry in a pot.
For reheating your fried pickles, we recommend using a deep fryer with oil already inside.
Here is how to reheat fried pickles in the deep fryer:
- 350 degrees Fahrenheit should be the temperature of the fryer.
- The pickles should be placed in the fryer carefully. Alternatively, you can drop them with your hands if you don’t have a basket. Getting closer to the oil before you drop anything into it will decrease your risk of getting burned by oil splashes.
- 3 to 5 minutes to fry the pickles. The color you want is golden brown.
- Pickles should be placed on a paper towel or a cooling rack. Let them cool for a few minutes after being sprinkled with salt and pepper. Giving them time to cool allows them to get crispier.
You may not get the healthiest results if you deep fry, but the results will be fantastically crispy!
Related Questions
In addition to some quick answers to your other questions, here is what you need to know about fried pickles, including their shelf life.
How Long Are Fried Pickles Good for in the Fridge?
Pickles can be stored in the fridge for about two to three days. They should not be frozen.
Is There a Preferred Way to Store Fried Pickles in the Fridge?
You should store your fried pickles in an airtight container with a paper towel underneath and on top. By removing moisture from the paper towels, you can increase the crispness of the dishes when reheated.
Can You Use an Air Fryer for Reheating?
The effectiveness of air-frying fried pickles has received mixed reviews.
You should definitely give it a try. The temperature setting should be higher than 350°F and the pickles should be refried in batches so they do not stack on top of each other.